Current News

The Vermont Public Service Board, which is the state's utility regulator, opened and then suspended two requests from Vermont Gas Systems to allow it to take private land in order to complete its Addison County gas pipeline extension. The orders are dated April 29 and are copied below. The PSB states that it will not rule on the eminent domain requests until it has ruled on the larger question of whether to reopen the VGS case. VGS serves Franklin and Chittenden Counties and has already started construction on the Addison pipeline. Because of two increases in cost estimates in 2014, VGS' Certificate of Public Good was appealed to the Vermont Supreme Court, which sent the case back to the PSB for further review in February. If the PSB reopens the case, "the possible outcomes include that the Board could affirm, modify, or revoke the CPG that was issued." The PSB is expected to rule before the end of summer.

PSB Rulings:

Two companies with Vermont offices have merged. ENPRO, with an office in Burlington and TMC, with an office in South Burlington, have merged to form the premier environmental services firm in the Northeast. TMC Environmental dba TMC Services, Inc of Franklin, MA (TMC) and ENPRO Services, Inc. of Salisbury, MA and its related entities, ENPRO Services of Vermont, Inc., ENPRO Services of Maine, Inc. and Terralink Software Services, Inc. (ENPRO) announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which a newly formed parent company, ENPRO Holdings Group, Inc. (EHGI) has acquired all outstanding shares of the named companies in a stock transaction valued at approximately $20.0 million. This combination reflects both companies’ commitment to drive sustainable growth, creating one of the region’s leading environmental & industrial service providers. EHGI will maintain its operating locations throughout the northeastern United States and Florida.

On Tuesday, May 12, 2015, the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation rescinded the statewide order directing the Town Forest Fire Wardens to cease issuing open burning permits for all Vermont counties except Bennington and Windham. This order was issued at 3:00 pm on May 5, 2015. Widespread soaking rain over the last 2 days and progress in leaf-out and greening of the State’s vegetation has reduced the fire danger concerns to levels low enough to warrant the removal of this order for much of the state.

In Bennington and Windham counties, the order to cease issuing open burning permits remains in effect. Critically dry fuel and weather conditions continue due to a lack of rain for the past 2 weeks. Other than scattered showers this afternoon and evening across southern Vermont, a return to a dry weather pattern is expected for the rest of the week. The order is set to expire in these counties on Tuesday, May 19, 2015.

According to the Chittenden Solid Waste District, here's what happened when someone tossed a small container of household hazardous waste into their recycling bin. One container of household hazardous waste shut down CSWD's recycling facility for a day in late April and sent several people to the hospital. UPDATE: The substance was bear repellant, according to Vermont Emergency Management.

Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) issued the following comment Wednesday after the House overwhelmingly approved the bipartisan, bicameral USA FREEDOM Act to end the NSA’s dragnet surveillance of Americans’ phone records. Leahy is the lead Democratic coauthor of the legislation in the Senate, which he recently introduced with Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah). The White House endorsed the bill on Tuesday in a Statement of Administration Policy.

Standing side-by-side with nonprofits and charities – a sector that employs tens of thousands of Vermonters and accounts for billions of dollars in economic activity every year – Governor Peter Shumlin this morning reiterated his opposition to plans being considered in the Legislature to limit charitable giving.

“Limiting the ability of Vermonters to give to charities is not just a bad idea, it would be terrible economic policy,” Gov. Shumlin said. “Charities and non-profits in this state not only provide services to our neighbors in need, they employ our neighbors, drive economic activity, and contribute greatly to our state’s economic success.”

The Vermont Judiciary and Vermont Information Consortium (VIC) have announced the re-launch of their comprehensive online attorney licensing service, now in its ninth year. The online service, available at https://secure.vermont.gov/courts/licensing/, is now available to process 100 percent of the state’s annual attorney license renewals.

Road Pitch, a four day motorcycle tour of Vermont in which a gang of “business bikers” (comprised of investors, entrepreneurs and business advisors) ride around the state and stop in various towns to listen to entrepreneurs pitch their business concepts, has announced its 2015 schedule. Road Pitch was founded in 2014 by Cairn Cross co-founder of FreshTracks Capital. “I gathered together close to 30 other founding riders during 2014” said Cross, “and we proved the Road Pitch concept by riding 500 miles through Vermont stopping in various towns and listening to more than 30 pitches.” The idea behind Road Pitch is to bring advice and possibly investment to businesses around the state and to help connect entrepreneurs to various resources that are available to them and to promote Vermont as a perfect motorcycle touring destination.

For 2015 Road Pitch will stop in 8 towns during the first week in August. The schedule is:

Northern Power Systems Corp (TSX:NPS), a next generation renewable energy technology company based in Barre and known for its remote wind energy systems, today announced financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2015. Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2015 were $8.3 million, compared to $13.8 million in the first quarter of 2014. GAAP net loss for the first quarter of 2015 was $4.1 million, compared to a net loss of $3.1 million in the prior year first quarter. Order backlog at the end of Q1 was $43 million, an increase of $2 million during the quarter.

The State of Vermont has named the Shelburne Craft School the latest Vermont State Craft Center, a distinction designed to promote Vermont’s high-quality craft galleries and craft schools, as well as its craftspeople. The well-known Shelburne Craft School joins the Vermont Woodworking School in Fairfax and the Fletcher Farm School as Vermont’s official State Craft Education Centers. Designated State Craft Center Galleries include Frog Hollow Craft Center in Burlington, Artisans Hand in Montpelier, the Gallery at the VAULT in Springfield, and the Northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild in St. Johnsbury.

Galleries and education centers that apply for state designation are judged on a variety of measures, including the diversity and quality of work displayed in galleries and the breadth and quality of class offerings at educational organizations.

Citizens Bank is marking Small Business Month by offering eight simple small business cash flow tips. In many cases, with business owners focused primarily on day-to-day operations, cash flow is only a focal point when there is a problem. But business owners who establish proactive strategies for cash management are able to avoid those problems and create new growth opportunities through reinvestment by making their capital work better for them.

“Managing cash flow is one of the most important yet under-appreciated challenges faced by small businesses,” said Quincy Miller, President of Business Banking for Citizens. “Companies that have accelerated their receivables, streamlined their payroll and established more-advantageous payment terms and processes with their vendors, suppliers and customers have a definite competitive advantage in today’s marketplace, no matter their business.”

Consider the following tips to improve cash flow:

On May 13, more than 6,000 KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY) employees will participate in the bank’s 25th annual Neighbors Make the Difference Day, a day of volunteerism supported by paid time off. Employees will spend the afternoon volunteering on more than 700 service projects in 13 states across the nation, from Maine to Alaska, donating 24,000 hours of time. In Vermont, employees will volunteer at 11 organizations, including the Vermont Respite House and the Rutland Housing Authority.

Burlington: Key employees will volunteer for various jobs at the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelter, Sara Holbrook Center, Community Health Center and Champlain Housing Trust

Barre: Key employees will be helping with a mailing at the Vermont Historical Society

Middlebury: Key employees will be helping with spring cleanup projects at the Counseling Service of Addison County