Current News

The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has recognized seven of its nearly 80 local chapters with its Annual Chapter Awards of Excellence. The awards, presented last month in Phoenix at USGBC’s Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, are given to chapters that excel in providing local green building outreach and education and in fostering best practices among the green building community. The four award categories include: Advocacy & Influence; Community; Education; and Organizational Excellence. The awards are sponsored each year by USGBC national member Milliken & Company.

The Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) approved $7.4 million in commercial and agricultural financing for business projects throughout Vermont, leveraging another $7.4 million in private funding to support projects totaling $14.8 million.
“VEDA is pleased to support these manufacturing, renewable energy, small business and family farm projects,” said Jo Bradley, VEDA’s Chief Executive Officer. “Jobs will be sustained and new jobs created, and that growth is critically important for Vermont’s economy.”
Among the projects approved by VEDA:

This story is reprinted from Vermont Business Magazine, December 2009

by Joyce Marcel Vermont Business Magazine There is no shortage of visionaries in Vermont, but only a handful of them have had the courage, talent and confidence to carve out empires.

Governor Douglas announced today that former Secretary of Natural Resources, Elizabeth “Wibs” McLain will join the Governor’s staff as Special Assistant to the Governor. McLain will assist with Legislative affairs and agency liaison. McLain was Secretary of ANR from 2003-2005.
Douglas also announced that Secretary of Civil of Military Affairs, Heidi Tringe will serve as Deputy Chief of Staff. Tringe will replace Deputy Chief of Staff, Dennise Casey when Casey leaves the Governor’s staff at the end of the year to join the Republican Governors Association.
Governor Douglas has also elevated Special Assistant to the Governor, David Coriell to serve as Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs and Communications Director.
Staff changes are effective on January 1, 2010.
Source: Governor's office, 12.15.2009.

The Transformation Policy Commission Report on the future of Vermont public education released its Final Report of Policy Recommendations to the Vermont State Board of Education today. Among its recommendations is new standards and a new evaluation system for students based on outcomes; aligning secondary school curriculums with post-secondary curriculums; teacher evaluations which would include salary levels based on performance reviews; formation of Regional Education Districts, which would expand educational opportunities beyond the town a student lives in while reducing the number of school districts from the current 290 to as few as 13, to provide more choices for students and their families and more resources for the district.

In a first for the renewables and aviation industries, Heritage Aviation, the new General Aviation Facility at the Burlington (Vermont) International Airport, will install a wind turbine on-site at their new facility. Due to a construction delay, the Northwind 100, a 100kW wind turbine manufactured by Northern Power of Barre, Vermont, will be constructed this week rather than last week as originally planned. Heritage Aviation has already installed a 25kW solar electric system and a solar hot water (thermal) system, rounding out its complete on-site renewable energy generation portfolio.

Median family income in Vermont rose to a record high of $68,555 in 2008, according to The Vermont Economy Newsletter’s annual analysis of just-released Vermont Tax Department data. After adjusting for inflation, the income earned by the median family (half of all families earn more and half earn less than the median) rose by $300, or 0.4 percent in 2008.
“The rise in income in 2008 was very small, but it was still positive. Given that the economy was in a recession, it’s somewhat surprising” noted Art Woolf, co-author of the analysis and editor of The Vermont Economy Newsletter. “From 2003, when income growth bottomed out after the last recession, to 2008, real median family income grew by just over $4,000. And since 1975, the first year that we have data, the real income for a typical Vermont family has grown by more than $25,000.”

The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) has joined the growing list of educational facilities that are able to take advantage of a direct fiber-optic connection. The historic West Monitor Barn was recently connected in the latest phase of a Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom system upgrade that includes parts of East Main Street and Snipe Ireland Road. Approximately 62 customers in Richmond are now receiving high-speed Internet and telephone services via fiber-to-the-home technology as a result of this upgrade. Fiber-optic technology is a highly reliable and scalable technology that has the potential to offer speeds of more than 100 Mbps.

Governor Douglas today announced that he has appointed the State Representative from Pittsford, Peg Flory, to the State Senate. Flory, a Republican, replaces Republican Senator Hull Maynard who retired last month.
“It is an honor to appoint Peg to the State Senate,” said Governor Douglas. “Peg is a great leader who has represented the people in her district well over the last ten years. The people of Rutland Country will benefit from Peg’s dedication, passion and commitment to her constituents. I know that Peg will continue to champion legislation that will help grow our economy and support our struggling families.”

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.) announced Monday the nominations of 29 Vermont high school students for appointments to the U.S. Service Academies. Vermonters nominated by the delegation include applicants to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Congressional nominations are required for applications to the prestigious academy programs. Those students offered appointments will receive full scholarships and can graduate as commissioned officers in the military.

At a series of public information meetings held on Saturday, officials from the states of New York and Vermont presented six concept plans for a replacement to the Champlain Bridge. The bridge was permanently closed on October 16 for structural defects. The closing caused much disruption in transportation on the western side of Vermont, especially for commuters. The states have been scrambling to find short-term and long-term solutions. On November 9, 2009 the governors of New York and Vermont declared that it was not feasible to rehabilitate the Lake Champlain Bridge and the bridge would be demolished. A replacement bridge would be constructed in the same location. More information about the Governors of New York and Vermont statements. The Public can offer its opinion on which design the states should pick for a new bridge by midnight tonight.

Vermont's priorities fared well Sunday, during a rare weekend session, as Congress gave final approval to a package of six annual appropriations bills. The budget package will fund much of the federal government through the remainder of the fiscal year. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured more than $25 million for Vermont projects that will create jobs, prevent crime, and continue efforts to improve the condition of Lake Champlain.
Vermont priorities in the package by include:
Lake Champlain Protection -- $6,500,000 through the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission for habitat and water quality improvements.