Current News

Governor Peter Shumlin on Monday signed the FY 2015 Transportation Bill, which contains the largest investment in transportation infrastructure in state history. The bill approves $685.7 million in infrastructure improvements and maintenance, and supports the Agency of Transportation’s (VTrans) vision of a safe, efficient, multimodal transportation system that promotes Vermont’s quality of life and economic growth. Key components of this budget emphasize economic development, safety, preservation and maintenance of the existing transportation system, energy efficient transportation choices, and the continued rebuilding of infrastructure damaged by Tropical Storm Irene and other recent natural disasters.

Northstar Travel Media, the leading business-to-business information company serving the travel and meetings industries, has acquired a majority interest in Inntopia, the Stowe-baed provider of e-commerce reservation technology and services to destination marketing organizations, ski resorts, tour operators, lodging suppliers and activity, event and transportation suppliers. Other partners include Inntopia’s founder and CEO, Trevor Crist, Aspen Skiing Company and Intrawest Resorts Holdings Inc. Itrawest owns Stratton Mountain Resort in Vermont and Mont Tremblant in Quebec, among others.

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) on Monday praised the historic announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and President Obama of a plan to cut carbon emissions from the power sector by 30 percent by 2030. Leahy was joined in his support of the stricter standards by his Vermont colleagues in Congress, Senator Sanders and Congressman Welch, by Governor Shumlin, and Green Mountain Power CEO Mary Powell. The move is the latest step under President Obama’s Climate Action Plan and will reduce carbon pollution from power plants, which are the nation’s largest source of carbon pollution. Leahy has long championed clean air and water policies and has been the Senate’s leader in pressing for curbs on power plant mercury pollution that has threatened the nation’s waterways and fisheries, and particularly the health of young children. The president signled out Vermont's efforts in carbon control.

At the annual meeting of the National Bank of Middlebury on May 6, G Kenneth Perine, President and CEO announced a leadership transition for the bank. As of December 31, 2014, Perine will step down as president and chief executive officer after 23 years at the helm. Caroline Carpenter, a seventeen-year veteran of the bank and current executive vice president, will assume the presidency and position of chief executive officer as of January 1, 2015. Carpenter is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Vermont, majoring in mathematics, and a 2000 graduate of New England School of Banking at Williams College, where she earned distinction as a Jordan Scholar.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power announced Friday that it has reached an agreement with the Vermont Department of Public Service and other stakeholders to decrease electric rates by 2.46 percent. The rate decrease will take effect on October 1, 2014, and is the result of the work between several key stakeholders, including the Vermont Department of Public Service, IBM and Associated Industries of Vermont, in an effort to provide lower electric rates for the families and businesses of Vermont. The rate filing is subject to Public Service Board approval.

by Hilary Niles vtdigger.org Operations at the Moretown Landfill, including cleanup, are stuck in a holding pattern while the state reviews a new proposal for groundwater remediation. Moretown Landfill Inc. wants to cap its recently closed cell in a way that will allow for expanded operations. But first, MLI and its parent company, Florida-based Advanced Disposal, will have to address groundwater concerns at the central Vermont site. A revised proposal to that effect was filed this month, but review could take weeks or even months. The landfill, in close proximity to the Winooski River off US 2, stopped accepting new trash in July 2013 when it lost state certification. Activity now is limited to odor control and water monitoring. Cell 3 is capped with an intermediate cover to keep smells in and rain out, while the landfill’s parent company responds to civil litigation and state environmental requests.

by Hilary Niles vtdigger.org FairPoint Communications and its unionized employees in northern New England have returned to the bargaining table. Their current five-year contract agreement expires August 2. The company is seeking cuts to all manner of benefits, according to union representative Mike Spillane, of IBEW Local 2326. The chapter represents about 350 workers in Vermont. Another 100 customer service representatives in Vermont are represented by Communication Workers of America. The negotiations collectively cover about 1,800 employees in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

FairPoint Vermont President Beth Fastiggi said in an April interview that the company is looking for cost savings.

IBEW 2327 members in Maine demonstrate in 2009 against FairPoint outside Seadogs Stadium in Portland. Photo by Bernard Pollack/Creative Commons

Norwich University Trustee Harvey DeMovick ’68 and his wife, Jeanne, pledged $1 million in unrestricted funds to the university at the spring trustees’ dinner on Friday, April 25. DeMovick completed his term as a trustee this spring. In his outgoing remarks, he spoke about what it has meant to serve on the board.

“Norwich has as one of its core values ‘service to nation and others before self.’ Jeanne and I truly appreciate that we have been able to give back to NU for the past 10 years,” DeMovick said. “The work being done at Norwich to develop future leaders is extremely important in the world we live in today, and we are proud to have had the opportunity to help in that mission,” he added.

Cities, towns, healthcare facilities, federal, state, and local responders, non-profit emergency partners, and many others will exercise emergency plans and procedures in a statewide catastrophic exercise. The activities from June 2-7 will simulate multiple disasters and events affecting all corners of Vermont. Nearly 1,600 participants will be faced with scenarios that will require them to perform life-saving duties, or tasks that assist in the aftermath of a catastrophic incident. Healthcare facilities will be presented with a surge of patients; a number of towns will set up emergency shelters to accommodate those who have been displaced from their homes due to the simulated disaster; utilities will be faced with special challenges; and more.

CEO Steve Voigt, the long-serving CEO of King Arthur Flour in Norwich, has announced his resignation.King Arthur announced the leadership transition this week via the following letter from the company’s employee-owners:

"King Arthur Flour’s success over three centuries comes from sticking to the things that matter – our core values – while embracing an ongoing commitment to change. Today is one of those key moments of change.

Northern Power Systems Corp. (TSX: NPS), a next generation renewable energy technology company based in Barre, has announced financial results for the three month period ended March 31, 2014, for its predecessor company Wind Power Holdings, Inc. Northern Power raised $22.3 million and listed its common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) in April 2014 through a transaction with a Canadian capital pool company. These funds effectively enable the company to drive its ongoing growth strategy with investments across its three business lines: Product Sales and Services, Technology Licensing, and Technology Development.

First Quarter 2014 Highlights:

by Morgan True vtdigger.org This is the last week, and Friday is the last day, for Vermonters formerly covered by the state-subsidized health insurance plans VHAP and Catamount to enroll in coverage for 2014 through Vermont Health Connect. Open enrollment ended March 31, but because the VHAP and Catamount health plans ended at the same time, people covered through either program were afforded a 60-day special enrollment period.

“It’s very important that people who were on VHAP and Catamount don’t miss the deadline for enrolling in new coverage because, unless they’re eligible for Medicaid, they won’t be able to get covered until the next open enrollment period,” said Donna Sutton Fay, with the Vermont Campaign for Health Care Security Education Fund.