Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Today Vermont sued Volkswagen AG and its affiliates Audi AG and Porsche AG, as well as their American subsidiaries, for the sale and lease of diesel automobiles that were fitted with illegal “defeat devices.” The devices concealed the release of large amounts of nitrogen oxides (commonly referred to as “NOx”), a harmful pollutant, in excess of Vermont’s motor vehicle emissions standards. The state is asking for restitution for consumers who bought the cars in question, unspecified punitive damages and reimbursement of legal fees. The suit did not mention actual dollar amounts.

“For seven years, the defendants polluted our air, covered up their wrongdoing in order to mislead environmental regulators, and then sold their vehicles, at a premium, to unsuspecting customers. We will not tolerate blatant disregard of laws designed to protect our environment, the public health, and our consumers,” said Attorney General Sorrell.

Vermont Business Magazine A $50,000 appropriation was approved in the last legislative session to purchase sound monitoring equipment for Lyndon State College. The equipment will be used in the classroom to conduct research in a variety of industrial settings. The funding will allow Lyndon State College to do exactly what it does best—provide hands-on, real-world experiences for its students. To receive the appropriation, LSC needs to raise $50,000 to match the award. Wind power proponents raised concerns this week that the appropriation was for the benefit of wind opponents.

“Lyndon State is excited that our faculty will have the opportunity to conduct academic research with equipment purchased with these funds,” says Interim President Nolan Atkins. “As interim president—and as a scientist myself—I am confident that the appropriation will be used for the highest quality research.”

Vermont Business Magazine Vermonters are gathering at three events next week to celebrate the clean-air and cost-saving benefits of electric cars in support of the sixth annual National Drive Electric Week. Drive Electric Vermont is partnering with the Vermont Clean Cities Coalition and Burlington Electric Department to host three different electric vehicle showcase events in Williston and Burlington. Local electric car owners and dealers will attend each event to demonstrate the benefits of driving electric and provide helpful information about the high-tech vehicles to interested Vermonters. Many models, including the Nissan LEAF, the Tesla Model S, the Ford C-Max Energi, the Chevrolet Volt, the Ford Fusion Energi, and the Volkswagen e-Golf, will be on display and available for test rides and drives at the events.

Vermont Business Magazine Julie Bushey of Highgate, Vermont was convicted on September 6, 2016 on two felony counts of Medicaid Fraud. The charges were related to a personal care services scheme in Franklin County that resulted in over $100,000 in losses to the Vermont Medicaid Program over a nearly five-year period. Karen Tucker, who was convicted last month on four counts of Medicaid fraud, orchestrated the scheme and enlisted Bushey and three other women to submit false timesheets. All participants in the fraud have now been convicted and sentenced in connection with the fraudulent conduct.

by Joshua E Brown With nearly sixty percent of American adults now taking prescription medications—from antidepressants to cholesterol treatments—there is growing concern about how many drugs are flowing through wastewater treatment facilities and into rivers and lakes. Research confirms that pharmaceutical pollution can cause damage to fish and other ecological problems—and may pose risks to human health too. Scientists have assumed that people flushing their unused medications down the drain or toilet was a major source of these drugs in the water. But a new first-of-its-kind study tells a different story.

Vermont Business Magazine Picking up trash out of a river may not sound like the most fun way to spend a weekend morning, but the hundreds of Vermonters who annually participate in river cleanups would beg to differ. This September, join the fun by volunteering to clean up your local river as part of Vermont’s official River Cleanup Month. “Spending just a few hours one weekend picking up trash from a river can make a big difference,” said Lyn Munno, Director of Watersheds United Vermont, “River cleanup volunteers are critical in removing shopping carts, plastic bottles and tires from our waters. Many Vermonters are concerned about clean water, and river cleanups are a great way for citizens to get involved and make a visible difference in the health of their local river.”

by Michael Bielawski The town of Grafton will hold a vote on a 28-turbine wind energy plant proposed by Iberdrola Renewables. By a 3-to-1 vote Tuesday night, the Grafton Selectboard approved a townwide vote on the Stiles Brook Wind Project to occur in late 2016 or early 2017. Board Chair Ron Pilette advocated holding the vote during the November 8 election, when neighbors in Windham will vote on the same project, but the board ultimately voted against it.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont tax revenues have suffered through several months below expectations, even as targets have been lowered, but in August they improved with the vital Personal Income Tax rebounding and the Corporate Tax leading the way. The one notable disappointment was the Sales Tax. The General Fund for the month of August collected $96.71 million, +$2.33 million or 2.47 percent above revenue targets adopted by the Emergency Board on July 21, 2016. This better than expected performance was driven primarily by the following tax components; Personal Income Tax at +$1.03 million or +2.47%, Corporate Tax at +$1.28 million, or +79.48% and Meals and Rooms Tax at +$1.25 million +8.35%. These gains were slightly offset by underperformances in the following taxes; Sales and Use, Inheritance and Estate and Insurance Premium.

Vermont Business Magazine US Senate Candidate Scott Milne today announced that his campaign’s kick-off will be in Washington, VT, on Saturday, September 10, at 10 am. The public is invited to the event, which the campaign has labeled Bringing Washington, Vermont values to Washington, DC. Milne grew up in Washington, VT, and graduated from the Washington Village School.

“One of the biggest problems in America today is career politicians in Washington, DC,” said Milne. “I am inspired by my hometown’s namesake, George Washington, who led by example when he turned the Revolutionary Army over to the people’s Congress after we won Independence. He led by example again when he stepped down after two terms as president.  

Vermont Business Magazine FairPoint Communications has completed broadband expansion projects in 38 towns in Vermont. As a result of these upgrades, faster broadband speeds are available to approximately 39,250 locations in these communities – including some addresses for the first time.

Vermont Business Magazine Phil Scott released a healthcare plan today detailing his approach for getting healthcare reform back on track and increasing affordable choices for families and businesses. “Over the last six years of one-party rule, healthcare costs have increased by well over twenty percent,” Scott said Wednesday. “To get healthcare costs under control, Vermont needs to be honest about the scope of the challenge,” Scott said.  “Politicians have been promising quick-fixes for far too long. The reality is, we will not be able to fix the problem on day one, and it is going to take focus and discipline to get healthcare reform back on track.”

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin today announced a plan that would allow for lamprey treatment of the LaPlatte River – a tributary to Lake Champlain that has become a major source of lamprey – while protecting the drinking water supply serving the Champlain Water District. Joining the governor at the announcement was Jim Fay of the CWD, a representative of Senator Patrick Leahy’s office, Bill Archambault and Brad Young of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and state Natural Resources Agency and Health Department officials. 

Lake trout with lamprey attached. New York DEC photo.