Current News

by Mike Faher/The Commons In 2012, the Vermont Public Service Department argued that meteorological-testing (MET) towers should not be installed in the town of Widham because they were “wholly contrary” to town regulations. Three years later, those testing towers are in place, and a developer is making controversial plans for Vermont’s biggest wind-turbine facility on the site. And when those plans are submitted for state review, it appears the department — now under the leadership of Commissioner Chris Recchia — won’t be deferring so wholeheartedly to Windham’s prohibition against big turbines.

In a recent interview, Recchia said Iberdrola Renewables’ proposal will be reviewed with the big picture in mind — a picture that includes the state’s vision of a “successful, stable, renewable-energy future.”

by Mike Faher/The Commons In some ways, it’s easy to measure the losses caused by Vermont Yankee’s December 2014 shutdown: There are hundreds of fewer jobs in Windham County, and the nuclear plant’s tax payments already have dwindled, with more reductions to come. But nonprofit organizations around Windham County are making new calculations as administrators try to figure out how to replace the firm’s charitable giving and its employees’ reliable volunteerism. Nearly all of the company’s annual donations have ended, and far fewer plant staffers remain to give their time in the community. The impacts are many and varied.

Youth Services is missing the corporate financial help with its Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

Harris Hill Ski Jump organizers are coping with the absence of a longtime sponsor.

Rescue Inc. has lost an important contributor to its ever-more-costly ambulance purchases.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power announced today that it is the first utility in the country to offer home battery offerings for customers. Under this innovative filing, Vermonters have the option to purchase the Tesla Powerwall battery outright or lease with no upfront cost. The cutting edge battery technology will empower customers to become more energy independent while also allowing the company to reduce peak demand on the system, providing cost savings to all customers. GMP is the first utility in the country to partner with Tesla to offer the Powerwall. Tesla is the maker of the all-electric vehicle powered by its proprietary battery and charging system.

by Mike Polhamus vtdigger.org A hearing before the Public Service Board Tuesday began with a faux Christmas carol and ended with bickering between lawyers over an agreement between the state and Vermont Gas that caps ratepayers’ liability for a 41-mile pipeline in Northwestern Vermont. Critics say ratepayers shouldn’t be on the hook for the project; lawyers for the state and Vermont Gas say the pipeline will boost the economy of Addison County, in part by lowering energy costs for Agri-Mark, a farmers cooperative that manufactures Cabot Cheese in Middlebury.

Vermont Business Magazine The City of Burlington and the Burlington community have a significant investment in Burlington Telecom’s success and interests in ensuring affordable, effective, and responsive fiber optic services for its residents. To that end, the City is engaged in a public process with the residents of Burlington to determine criteria by which the City should be guided in a future transaction involving the ownership of Burlington Telecom. We invite you to join the discussion and share your thoughts at the next public meeting:

Wednesday, December 9

City Hall, Contois Auditorium

5:30 – 7:00 pm

A survey that allows respondents to rank the relative importance of different community goals in connection with Burlington Telecom is available on the City’s website at http://www.btcriteria.com/.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor’s Middlebury office will be hosting the US Census Bureau hiring event for Census Interviewers for the Addison County, Vermont area on Thursday, December 10, 2015 . The Vermont Department of Labor’s Middlebury office is located at 1590 Route 7, Suite 5, Middlebury, VT. Census Interviewers will make $12.19 per hour plus $0.575 per mile reimbursement. Part–time and flexible hours available.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin will travel to Paris next week to attend 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference. The governor is one of three American governors participating in the summit, which brings together global leaders to develop a worldwide framework and agenda to combat climate change. Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Deb Markowitz will accompany Shumlin to Paris for the Summit.

“I am proud to join leaders from around the world who are serious about climate action and working towards regional, national, and global agreements that will curb the devastating effects of global warming,” said Gov. Shumlin.

Vermont Business Magazine Winter requires farmers to operate with great care and also abide by season-specific rules. "Winter presents all of us with weather-related challenges, but for farmers, there is a heightened need for vigilance," according the Chuck Ross, Vermont's Secretary of Agriculture. "Safety, stewardship practices, and advance-planning must remain top-of-mind for all our farmers this winter." The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets is issuing the following reminder to farmers that the manure spreading ban will once again take effect December 15.

This annual ban is part of an overall strategy to protect our working landscape and natural resources, as outlined in Vermont’s Accepted Agricultural Practices (AAPs). The Agency works closely with farmers across the state to ensure the AAPs are enforced.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) announced today that a five-year, $305 billion transportation bill agreement reached Tuesday by House and Senate negotiators will deliver nearly $1.1 billion to Vermont to improve the state’s roadways. As a member of the committee with primary jurisdiction over federal road and bridge programs, Sanders successfully fought for a funding formula that helps Vermont. The final agreement includes a 5 percent increase in funding for Vermont in the first year and a total increase of 15 percent over five years.

“While this legislation does not have everything I would have hoped for, I am pleased it includes more than $1 billion for Vermont’s roads and bridges in the coming years,” Sanders said.

Vermont Business Magazine The Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday held a hearing on the impact of trade secret theft on American businesses. At the hearing, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) noted that Vermont businesses rely on trade secrets to protect their intellectual property and emphasized the importance of those protections. “In Vermont, trade secrets protect the specialized knowledge of woodworkers and artisans who have been crafting heirloom products for generations. They protect the secret recipes for Vermont craft brews and closely guarded customer lists for our top tourist services. They protect cutting-edge technologies that Vermont businesses are developing in plastics, complex manufacturing, software and green technology,” Leahy said.

Vermont Business Magazine The Emergency Board on Tuesday approved Governor Peter Shumlin’s recommendation to increase the cap on the Vermont Employment Growth Incentive for projects in economically distressed regions of Vermont. The approval allows for consideration of proposals that could, if approved, create 200 new full-time jobs and $6.5 million in new payroll. The E-Board is comprised of the governor and the chairs of the four money committees in the Legislature.

“I want to thank the members of the Emergency Board for joining me in support of job creation and investment in parts of Vermont that need it most,” Gov. Shumlin said. “Allowing increased incentives for these regions of the state means job creation and opportunity for Vermonters where it is most needed without additional cost to the rest of the state.”

Vermont Business Magazine Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott officially launched his campaign for governor Tuesday evening at the Sheraton Burlington. Scott had previously announced he was running. The construction company owner and race car driver joins Bruce Lisman on the Republican side, while former VTrans Secretary Sue Minter and former state Senator Matt Dunne are running for the Democratic nomination. Scott's campaign counted 700 supporters at the event. The text of his speech follows.