Current News

by John McClaughry What follows is the story of one of the most thoroughly disgraceful special interest schemes ever brought into being in these United States. It is also one of the most fiendishly intricate government programs ever conceived, and its name is Ethanol.

Back in the Nixon years scientists discovered that tetraethyl lead used to improve combustion in gasoline led to serious environmental and health damage. Adding lead to gasoline was banned. That was a good thing.

But gasoline needed an oxygenating additive to turn poisonous carbon monoxide into harmless carbon dioxide. For a while a petroleum-based compound called MBTE filled the bill, but if it escaped into the water supply, it produced seriously negative effects.

Vermont Business Magazine Sterling College has been recognized by two national media outlets for its sustainability efforts. Sierra magazine has awarded a Special Achievement Award in Food, and the College has also been named one of BestColleges.com’s “Greenest Colleges and Universities.” Sierra magazine conferred the Special Achievement Award in Food to Sterling College as part of its annual “Cool Schools” for 2015. This list, released by the Sierra Club’s official publication, ranks universities that lead sustainability initiatives.

Don Rendall, President & CEO of Vermont Gas issued the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement of draft federal regulations to cut methane emissions from the nation’s oil and natural gas industry:

“The EPA today set forth an ambitious and important goal aimed at cutting methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 40% to 45% over the next decade from 2012 levels.

“At the natural gas distribution level, our company along with others has implemented a strong program to eliminate and reduce potential leaks, with the result that our system today is among the tightest and most efficient in the nation.

“Similar care must be taken throughout the industry, including in exploration, production, processing and transportation of natural gas. We commend those companies who have adopted strict standards and new technologies, and further see the value of strong rules, standards, and enforcement.

Vermont Business Magazine A Rowley Fuels employee delivered 222 gallons of Kerosene to an improperly installed tank on the shore of Lake Champlain in South Hero, VT. As a result the kerosene left the tank and migrated under the building’s foundation and into Lake Champlain.

A major clean-up initiative was launched which included the demolition of a brand new bunkhouse, removal of the foundation and removal of 425 tons of contaminated soils. Absorbent pads were placed leading to the lake, and absorbent booms were installed into Lake Champlain to help capture the kerosene. The contractor collected 140 gallons of free product with the absorbents during the operation.

After the clean-up was completed, Rowley Fuels agreed to pay a penalty of $11,250 to resolve the violation. That settlement has now been approved by the Environmental Court.

You can help improve the streams and rivers of Vermont! Volunteers are needed for events throughout the month of September which is Vermont’s official River Cleanup Month. To find out about an event near you, check out the Vermont River Cleanup web pages at www.watershedsunitedvt.org/vtrivercleanup or call Watersheds United Vermont at (802) 585-3569.

On the ground work has begun and events are currently planned from Springfield up to Morristown and from the Connecticut River Valley to Burlington with many in between. Find the event closest to you via the Watersheds United Vermont’s River Cleanup page. There you will find an interactive map and details about each event. Check back often as new events are posted weekly.

Vermont Commission on Women and Main Street Alliance of Vermont will host a series of free community forums across the state this fall focusing on long-term paid family and medical leave. These forums examine the possibility of developing and implementing a state-run Temporary Disability and Caregiver Insurance (TDCI) Program in our state as a funding mechanism for leave. Participants will explore the need for a TDCI program; how similar programs have been implemented in other states; and what a successful TDCI program could look like for Vermont. The forums will consist of a brief presentation followed by a discussion with business owners and community members. Coffee and refreshments will be served.

Burlington Electric Department today announced that, based on a forecast of temperatures nearing 90 degrees, it has postponed tonight’s scheduled power outage that would have affected locations in the Old North End, specifically those customers located at:

NORTH CHAMPLAIN ST - #s 15 – 138

PEARL ST - #s 26 – 34

PERU ST - #s 9 - 69

PARK ST - #42

MONROE ST - #s 7 – 85

JOHNSON ST - #s 1 – 27

GEORGE ST - #s 13 – 76.

“Nothing is more important that the safety of our customers and our BED workers,” said BED General Manager Neale Lunderville. “Despite our careful planning several weeks ago and our balancing of community needs as to the timing for the outage, the BED team always stands ready to adjust in the face of unpredictable factors like the weather to ensure the safety of our community.”

Vermont Business Magazine Shapleigh "Shap" Smith became the first declared candidate for governor today, as the Democratic Speaker of the House made the announcement in his home town of Morrisville. Smith, 49, is an attorney with Dinse Knapp & McAndrew PC in Burlington and has been Speaker for three terms. He previously was a member of the House. Born in Connecticut, he graduated from the university of Vermont in 1987 and the Indiana University School of Law in 1991.

Speech

Shap Smith announces candidacy in Morrisville August 19, 2015.

Lyndon State President Joe Bertolino was appointed to the Vermont Delegation of the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE). Governor Peter Shumlin appointed Bertolino in June 2015.

NEBHE promotes greater educational opportunities and services for New England residents. Their core programs and services focus on cost savings and affordability and college access and success. They also provide policy leadership on key issues related to education and the economy.

“I am honored to have been appointed by Governor Shumlin to serve as a Vermont delegate to the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE),” said President Bertolino. “Lyndon students, especially those in our specialized niche programs, continue to benefit from our partnership with NEBHE. I am delighted that LSC will play a leadership role in supporting our peer institutions in New England.”

The Small Business Administration is teaming up with the City of Burlington’s Community and Economic Development Office, and the Micro Business Development Program to host the Burlington Business Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 21 at Burlington City Hall.

The annual fair is free and open to the public.

Fair goers have will have the opportunity to learn about health insurance, labor issues, marketing, taxes and more.

“Many of the exhibitors are from local, state and federal government agencies dedicated to assisting small businesses, and all of our resource partners have a passion to assist entrepreneurs who want to make their dream a reality,” said Vallerie Morse, SBA Vermont District Office Deputy Director.

The fair will also have free workshops and the “Professional Corners” to provide one-on-one consultations, including legal, financial and insurance advice. The workshops available are Hiring Employees at 10 a.m. and Alternative Financing at noon.

Mayor Miro Weinberger today responded to the retirement announcement of Burlington Fire Chief Seth Lasker, in which he informed the Mayor of his plans to retire on October 31, 2015. Lasker has served the City of Burlington for 26 years, working his way through all of the ranks of the Department excluding Fire Marshal; Lasker served as Battalion Chief (one year) and Deputy Chief (five years) before serving five years as Chief of the Burlington Fire Department.

Disclose Risks And Increase Transparency

In continued efforts to halt offshore oil drilling in the Arctic Ocean, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and other senators this week called on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to require increased transparency from companies engaged in offshore drilling in American waters.

The senators’ call follows the Obama Administration issuing drilling rights to royal Dutch Shell plc. (Shell) to explore in the deep water off Alaska’s northwest coast for the first time in more than two decades. The decision came only weeks after it was made public that shell had not disclosed risks inherent to drilling at unprecedented depths in one of the world’s most fragile ecosystems.