Current News

by John Herrick vtdigger.org The nation’s second-largest wind power operator wants to be the first to develop a utility-scale wind project on national forest land in the Green Mountain State. Spanish wind giant Iberdrola Renewables defended the project in federal court in Brattleboro Wednesday. Wind opponents have challenged the company’s special use permit to build a 30 megawatt project in the Green Mountain National Forest. The company in April 2009 received a certificate of public good to build 15 turbines on a ridge that divides Searsburg and Readsboro.

PSEG Solar Source of New Jersey has announced that it will acquire the ERWR Whitcomb Farm Solar project in Essex from juwi solar (JSI). The facility, which will now be known as the PSEG Essex Solar Energy Center, has a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Vermont Electric Power Producers (VEEP), Inc, as part of the Vermont Sustainably Priced Energy Enterprise Development (SPEED) program. During JSI's ownership of the project, it advanced the development work previously performed by Encore Redevelopment, Walden Renewables and Whitcomb-Smith Solar.

The PSEG Essex Solar Energy Center is located roughly 4 miles northeast of Burlington and has a nameplate capacity of 3.6MWdc. The acquisition will increase PSEG's Solar Source portfolio to 110 MWdc.

This is PSEG Solar Source's ninth solar project in eight states, including Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey, Ohio and Texas.

Okemo Mountain Resort’s Operation Snowburst is returning for a second season of snowmaking improvements to include the addition of 100 new, energy-efficient tower guns. Operation Snowburst Part 2 brings Okemo’s mountain-wide total of HKD tower guns to 1,125. Okemo also utilizes several hundred snowmaking guns of varying types, but it is the HKD SV series of guns that will be making a big impression on skiers and riders visiting Ludlow's Okemo, and specifically the Solitude area, this winter.

HKD’s variable flow snow guns raise the bar for low-energy snowmaking technology. The multi-chambered, modular tower gun utilizes a double valve configuration with advanced variable flow nozzle design. The rugged frost-free valve allows the operator to achieve four levels of water flow, making the tower gun capable of a smooth transition from low-flow, high-temperature performance to high-flow, low-temperature production without the need for changing nozzles.

by Katie Jickling vtdigger.org Vermont’s new psychiatric hospital is on track to be at full capacity by mid-August. The House Mental Health Oversight Committee heard testimony Tuesday from the Department of Mental Health and officials from several Vermont hospitals about staffing and patient capacity at the new Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital in Berlin. Three weeks after the doors opened at the Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital in Berlin, the facility has eight available beds and all are in use, according to Jeff Rothenberg, CEO of the new facility. The hospital should be fully staffed and have all 25 beds available for use by August 15, Rothenberg said.

After Tropical Storm Irene damaged the Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury in 2011, the state opened the Green Mountain Psychiatric Care Center, an eight-bed temporary facility in Morrisville as it waited for a new facility to come online.

Patricia M Sears has been appointed State President of AARP Vermont, a volunteer position working closely with both staff and volunteers throughout the state to help AARP achieve its mission in Vermont. Her responsibilities include serving as primary volunteer spokesperson, chairing the AARP Vermont Executive Council, building networks and community partnerships and recruiting volunteers. Sears takes over the position held by Jim Leddy since 2008. Leddy has accepted the position of Regional Volunteer Director with AARP working with state offices throughout the Northeast.

Former Vermont Law School Dean Jeff Shields and wife Genie Shields have made a gift to the school of their Tunbridge home, President and Dean Marc Mihaly announced today. The funds from any future sale of the home will be considered an unrestricted gift to VLS, as per the Shields’ wish.

Merchants Bancshares, Inc (NASDAQ: MBVT), based in South Burlington, the parent company of Merchants Bank, has announced net income of $3.41 million and $6.82 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.54 and $1.07 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively. This compares to net income of $4.03 million and $7.63 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.64 and $1.21 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively. The return on average assets was 0.82 percent for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively, compared to 0.96 percent and 0.91 percent for the same periods in 2013. The return on average equity was 11.15 percent and 11.23 percent for the three and six months endedJune 30, 2014, respectively, compared to 13.61 percent and 12.96 percent for the same periods in 2013.

Moody’s Investors Service yesterday published a Ratings Report, in which Moody’s improved Burlington Electric Department’s credit rating outlook to Baa2 positive from Baa2 stable. This boost comes only seven months after Moody’s improved BED’s outlook from negative to stable. The Moody’s report includes the following summary explaining the outlook improvement: “The outlook change to positive from stable reflects our belief that the department will continue to reduce its exposure to the power supply market through long term contracts and diversify the power supply portfolio through the acquisition of the Winooski hydro facility. The outlook change also reflects our expectation of stable or improving debt service coverage ratios and other financial metrics.”

The Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) has approved $17.8 million in commercial, agricultural, small business and energy development financing to support projects totaling almost $35 million throughout the state. Financing included projects for the renovation of Rice Memorial High School in South Burlington; machinery for Cabot Hosiery Mill of Northfield; snowmaking upgrade for Smugglers Notch Resort in Jeffersonville; renovation cost of the Edson Hill Manor in Stowe; expand distribution for CDL USA in St Albans; and energy financing for SolarSense in Bristol.

“Exciting investments in manufacturing, renewable energy, agricultural and a number of other economic development initiatives will go forward with VEDA’s help,” said Jo Bradley, VEDA Chief Executive Officer. “Jobs will be created for Vermonters, and VEDA is pleased to play a part in that employment growth.”

Among the nearly $12.6 million in direct loans and bond financings approved by VEDA:

by Hilary Niles vtdigger.org Burlington officials made their case to the state Tuesday for selling Burlington Telecom in the course of two transactions that would get the city out of the telecom business and settle a pending $33 million lawsuit for about $10.5 million. Mayor Miro Weinberger announced in February that a deal had been struck between the city and Citibank, which sued Burlington for nonpayment of the capital lease that financed Burlington Telecom. Citigroup agreed to settle for about one-third the amount.

The city proposes raising most of the needed funds by selling Burlington Telecom to an interim owner, who in turn would sell the utility in a few years to a third party.

Vermont Electric Cooperative, based in Johnson, is encouraging its members to conserve energy on Wednesday, July 23 between the hours of 2 pm and 6 pm when demand for electricity is expected to spike as a result of weather conditions that are producing high temperatures in northern Vermont and throughout New England.

Here are a few tips to help limit energy use during this time:

• Turn off all unnecessary lights

• Delay use of major appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, and clothes dryers

• Raise your thermostat or air conditioner by 3 degrees

Funding is now available for organizations and projects in Orleans, Essex, and Caledonia Counties through the Northeast Kingdom Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation. The fund awards mini-grants ($500 - $1,000) and sustaining grants ($1,001 - $5,000) in support of projects that benefit the people and communities of the Northeast Kingdom. Nonprofits, schools, and smaller grassroots organizations are encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted through September 5, 2014.

The Northeast Kingdom Fund was established in 2011 by the Community Foundation and local partners as a permanent philanthropic resource to support the people and communities of Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans Counties. Visit www.vermontcf.org/nekfund to learn more.