Current News

Recent polling data conducted by Braun Research on behalf of Saxon Partners, a real estate development firm, shows broad community support for the creation of a new South Burlington City Center, with additional support for the sale of the Marcotte Central School site to a developer who would provide significant funding to help bring the long-delayed project to fruition. SEE RESULTS BELOW

The poll, which queried 191 South Burlington residents 18 years or older, was conducted from November 13th to 15th. Among its findings, South Burlington voters responded favorably to the idea of a new City Center by the overwhelming margin of 7 to 1. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 6%.

by Governor Peter Shumlin Earlier this week, I made one of the most difficult decisions of my public life when I announced that I cannot support a move to a publicly-financed health care system in Vermont at this time. I have advocated for such a system for much of my public life, but over the past two weeks it has become clear to me that the risks and economic shocks of moving forward at this time are too great.

Vermont Business Magazine Don Rendall, the incoming CEO of Vermont Gas Systems (VGS), today announced a reset of the Company’s Addison Rutland Natural Gas project. The company will ask the Vermont Public Service Board (PSB) to postpone hearings on Phase II of the project, scheduled to begin in January. The company will also file with the PSB a revised cost estimate for Phase 1 of the project, from Burlington to Middlebury. The Middlebury phase is now estimated at $154 million from its original $86 million. This is the second cost estimate increase.

SEE VIDEO BELOW

Vermont Business Magazine All key indicators showed small improvement last month as the labor situation showed marked improvement for the first time in several months. The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for November 2014 was 4.3 percent. This represents a decrease of one-tenth of a percent from the revised October rate (4.4 percent). The equivalent national average was 5.8 percent, which experienced no change from the previous month’s estimate. Vermont’s unemployment rate remains tied for tenth lowest in the US.

Randolph, Vermont, December 17, 2014– Aegis Renewable Energy installed the largest single rooftop solar array in the state at Ayers Brook Goat Dairy in Randolph, VT owned by Vermont Creamery. Generating 200,000 kWh of electricity per year, the array will power the farm and send excess energy through the GMP-Green Mountain Power regional grid to offset electricity used at the Creamery’s cheese making facility. Vermont farms are increasingly investing in long-term sustainable and renewable energy like solar and wind power to reduce operating costs and support environmental and sustainability goals. More than 50 Vermont farms have installed renewable energy systems to offset their electricity usage and source their energy locally.

EPA has released a short video that applauds the voluntary efforts of a professor and students at Bennington College to help their local community combat climate issues by analyzing energy use of municipal streetlights and working with the local power utility to dramatically increase efficiency, saving the town thousands of dollars and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2012, EPA’s New England office began an informal partnership with Bennington College to work with students in a class called “Solving the Impossible.” The class, taught by Professor Susan Sgorbati, charges students to study difficult policy problems and develop the skills to identify and implement solutions. EPA helped Professor Sgorbati by identifying environmental public policy problems for the students to address. One recent class tackled the issue of climate change.

By a vote of 335 to 303, University of Vermont staff members chose not to be represented by the Vermont State Employees Association union. A simple majority of employees who participated in the December 16-17 election was required to determine the outcome.

Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger and Director of Aviation Gene Richards today announced the successful closing of a $15.7 million revenue bond refinancing for Burlington International Airport (BTV), saving the Airport nearly $1 million. A lower interest rate, increased savings, reduced debt load, and improved cash flow were made possible through the recent Moody’s Investors Service credit rating upgrade from “junk” bond status to investment grade – the first upgrade in more than four years.

“Today’s closing is more evidence that the nearly three years of focus and commitment by Burlingtonians on improving municipal finances are paying off,” said Mayor Weinberger. “The long-term savings will reduce the Airport’s expenses and continue the growth of the Airport’s fiscal strength. I am grateful to the Airport staff, City financial officials, the Airport Commission, and the City Council, who have worked together so effectively to achieve these substantial savings.”

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin announced today that tax rates would be too great at this time to move forward with a single-payer health insurance plan. A long-time supporter of moving to a universal, publicly-financed health care system in Vermont, the governor said he would not support such a plan at this time. He detailed his administration’s health care financing report, set to be delivered to the Legislature in January, at a press conference in the State House Wednesday afternoon.

ANR Secretary Deb Markowitz has announced that William L "Trey" Martin III will become the new Deputy Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. Martin will replace Justin Johnson, who leaves the Agency in January to become Governor Shumlin’s Secretary of Administration. Martin is set to start on January 2, 2015. Martin, who currently serves as Senior Counsel for Government Affairs for the Agency’s Department of Environmental Conservation, has been with the ANR since 2012. In that role he has worked extensively on legislative and policy initiatives for the department, as well as serving as a departmental liaison to the legislature.

FairPoint Communications, Inc CEO Paul Sunu today sent the following letter to Governor Peter Shumlin in response to the governor's public letter dated December 12, 2014. Vermont's congressional delegation sent an open letter to Sunu yesterday. The governor and the delegation urged the two sides to get back to the bargaining table and pointedly stated that FairPoint must do more to find a solution to the strike that began October 22. The contracts with unions expired in August and FairPoint subsequently implemented a new benefit plan.

LETTER FROM PAUL SUNU

Vermont House Speaker Shap Smith today asked Vermonters, policy makers and stakeholders to submit education finance and education spending proposals for consideration in the coming legislative session as lawmakers work to create an education system that is sustainable and affordable for taxpayers.

“Vermonters value high quality public education,” said Speaker Smith, “but the current delivery and funding systems have resulted in annual property tax increases that many Vermonters cannot afford. We need to work together to solve this problem. That’s why I am inviting taxpayers, stakeholders and policy makers to add their voices to the conversation the House will undertake when we reconvene in January.”