Current News

by John Herrick vtdigger.org Landowners affected by Vermont Gas’ pipeline extension through Addison County occupied the natural gas utility’s South Burlington headquarters Wednesday. One Monkton resident was arrested for trespassing. The landowners are calling on the utility, a subsidiary of Gaz Metro, to publicly admit that land agents trespassed on private property. The landowners are also demanding that the company drop prosecution of protesters and negotiate fair right of way agreements. Jane Palmer, Maren Vasatka and Claire Broughton, residents of Monkton, and Mary Martin of Cornwall own residences in the path of the proposed pipeline extension. The company has begun staging for the construction of the first phase of pipeline. South Burlington Detective Ron Bliss said Palmer was arrested for trespassing. He said the other residents left after receiving a trespass notice Wednesday afternoon.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont continues to lead the United States in maple production by a wide margin, producing 42 percent nation's maple syrup, according to data released by the US Department of Agriculture in June. Nationally, maple syrup production in 2014 totaled 3.17 million gallons, down 10 percent from 2013. Vermont was down 10.8 percent. In 2014, cold temperatures decreased season length. The number of taps in the US is estimated at 11.4 million, down slightly from the 2013 total. Yield per tap is estimated to be 0.279 gallons, down 10 percent from the previous season’s yield. All states with the exception of Pennsylvania showed a decrease in production from the previous year. Cold temperatures contributed to a shorter season of sap flow than last year. However, production, helped by new technology like vacuum taps and reverse osmosis to reduce boiling, has increased production greatly over the years.

by John Herrick vtdigger.org A new invasive species is on its way to Lake Champlain, scientists say, and this non-native, shrimp-like organism could be here to stay. The fast-spreading spiny water flea, which can disrupt the lake’s food chain and biodiversity, has been found in the Glen Falls Feeder Canal, according to a research institute. Tim Mihuc, director of the Lake Champlain Research Institute, says the organism is “on its way into the lake, if it’s not already there.” The spiny water flea, or Bythotrephes longimanus, which measures less than 1 inch in length, eat the food that other fish eat in their early stages of development. By feeding on the lake’s plankton, this invasive can impoverish the food chain for young walleye, perch and many other species of fish. The organism can reproduce asexually, and their numbers can increase 10-fold in about two weeks.

As part of a regional low sulfur strategy developed by northeast and mid-Atlantic states, Vermont will limit the sulfur content in No. 2 fuel oil sold in the state to 0.05 percent by weight. The new regulation began July 1, 2014. Reducing sulfur in fuel oils will have significant health, environmental, and economic benefits, and each state in the region has committed to adopt and implement the new limits to comply with the Clean Air Act and reduce regional haze. In the eastern United States, the dominant contributor to haze is sulfate formed from sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions.

The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has prepared for Environmental Protection Agency approval the 2014 listing of impaired waters in Vermont. This list, also known as the 303(d) Impaired Waters List, is issued every two years in compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act. “Impaired” streams and lakes are those that do not meet Vermont’s stringent water quality standards, and are legally designated as polluted. Impaired waters are scheduled for the development of a clean-up or remediation plan sufficient to restore water quality.

by Morgan True vtdigger.org In preparation for a biennium that is likely to spell the fate of Vermont’s planned public universal health care program, the Legislature is looking to hire an array of top-flight consultants. Lawmakers appropriated $800,000 for its Joint Fiscal Office to spend on health reform consulting services over the next two years. The newly formed joint legislative Health Reform Oversight Committee met this week to advise JFO on hiring a consultant to do detailed financial modeling on the state’s current health care system.

“Before entertaining any transition to a new health care system we need to have a full understanding of who pays today,” said Rep. Mike Fisher, D-Lincoln, chair of the House Health Care Committee.

The US Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it is seeking grant proposals to award up to $1.5 million in grant funding to for-profit and non-profit service providers including, but not limited to, universities, trade and professional associations, firms, and other organizations for special projects to promote the development, success, and long-term survival of small disadvantaged businesses that participate in the agency’s 8(a) Business Development Program.

The SBA expects to award 6-10 grants in the range of $150,000-$250,000, and that up to two awards may be made to small businesses. Applications will be accepted through July 20, 2014, and awards will be issued by September 30, 2014.

The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) has approved the Passumpsic and Upper Connecticut River Tactical Basin Plan. The Plan was developed with the purpose of improving water quality and aquatic habitats, and presents the recommendations of State and Federal resource agencies, watershed partner organizations, planning commissions, municipalities, and individual citizens.

Irene Nagle, of the Northeast Vermont Development Association (NVDA), explained that, “the tactical plan will guide NVDA’s work with communities to address flood resiliency. The plan compiles information from a broad array of studies on streams, bridges and culverts, and stormwater mapping, and provides a foundation for effective town planning and zoning. By setting priorities and identifying funding sources for project implementation, the plan provides a clear direction for communities seeking to move towards a flood-resilient future.”

In the Green Mountain State, Vermonters’ love for the outdoors and passion for local brews have come together in a State-brewery collaboration. Vermont State Parks and Whetstone Station in Brattleboro, Vt. have brewed up a partnership that features two state park named beers, Fort Dummer Summer and Molly Stark Dark, brewed with water sourced directly from those two State Parks. The partnership also includes free entry to state parks, local charitable giving and everyone’s favorite – koozies for your next camping trip.

Beginning July 16, Whetstone will give away up to 100 vouchers for free park entry into Fort Dummer and Molly Stark State Parks, to patrons who order these limited edition brews. Fort Dummer and Molly Stark Parks will also distribute vouchers for a complimentary koozie at Whetstone Pub & Brewery.

About the State Park brews:

Fort Dummer Summer, Release date: July 16, 2014

Tours are well under way at Green Mountain Power’s Kingdom Community Wind site in Lowell. So far this summer GMP has brought nearly 400 people to the top of Lowell Mountain to get an up-close view of the 21 turbine project. During the free tour, visitors have the opportunity to learn about the project, touch a blade, and experience how the turbines operate and harness the power of wind.

PHOTO: 2013 tour, vtdigger.org photo.

“Green Mountain Power is thrilled to once again offer these free tours to the public,” said GMP Spokeswoman Dorothy Schnure. “Connecting Vermonters directly to how energy is produced is so important. The tours are a wonderful way to engage with people and show them first hand this exciting wind project.”

John Wiley & Sons, Inc, a global book publisher and education company whose roster of authors includes more than 450 Nobel laureates, has announced that it will take over the publishing and book sales of Winthrop H. Smith Jr.’s book Catching Lightning in a Bottle: How Merrill Lynch Revolutionized the Financial World. Smith originally released the book in December of 2013, just before the 100th anniversary of Merrill Lynch. The January 2014 anniversary of the company was a bittersweet affair: in 2013 , Bank of America took over Merrill Lynch, a company that was at one point the world’s largest brokerage firm, but whose subsequent fall from greatness Smith attributes to the actions of former CEO Stanley O’Neill.

After a months-long investigation into allegations of poor financial practices and misappropriation of funds, the Attorney General’s Office has reached a settlement agreement with a central Vermont nonprofit organization. The Office had received complaints that Food Works’ Two Rivers Center for Sustainability, located in Montpelier, had used funds donated for specific programs for general expenses and other purposes, contrary to the intent of the funder, and had overstated its fundraising success when seeking further donations.