Current News

According to a report released today by the Vermont Public Assets Institute, since the early 1990s, when the IRS started trackingmigration and income, people moving to Vermont haveconsistently reported higher average annual incomesthan the Vermont residents who were leaving.1The mostrecent data for 2010 shows that trend has continued.2
The numbers of people coming and going over the past18 years have seesawed. For 10 of those years morecame; for eight, more left. But since the peak of inmigrationin 2001, when a little more than 17,000 peoplerelocated to the state, the number of newcomers hasbeen declining. And since 2005, the number of Vermontresidents moving out each year has exceeded the numberof new arrivals.
Those coming to the state still have higher averageincomes. So, even in years when out-migration hasexceeded in-migration, the total personal income in thestate has increased.

Together with Vermont entrepreneurs, Lawrence Miller, Vermont Secretary of Commerce and Community Development, today announced the launch of Startup Vermont on the one-year anniversary of the Startup America Partnership, a national effort to help startup businesses grow and jumpstart job creation. To date, Startup America Partnership has launched eight state affiliates, and is offering startups $1.2 billion in resources. Vermont is one of another eight states launching new Startup America affiliates today.
‘Government doesn’t create jobs. Businesses create jobs,’ said Lawrence Miller, ‘We’re proud to support this initiative and to urge the active participation of business leaders and entrepreneurs to utilize the resources of the Startup America Partnership.’

Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) today reported fourth quarter 2011 as-reported earnings of$154.1 million, or87 centsper share, compared with$228.3 million, or$1.26per share, for fourth quarter 2010. On an operational basis, Entergy's fourth quarter 2011 earnings were$167.2 million, or94 centsper share, compared with$235.0 million, or$1.30per share, in fourth quarter 2010. For the year, Entergy's as-reported earnings were$1.3 billion, or$7.55per share, and operational earnings were$1.4 billion, or$7.62per share. These results compare with 2010 as-reported earnings of$1.3 billion, or$6.66per share, and operational earnings of$1.3 billion, or$7.10per share.

Consolidated Earnings ‘ Reconciliation of GAAP* to Non-GAAP Measures

Fourth Quarter and Year-to-Date 2011 vs. 2010

(Per share in U.S. $)

Fourth Quarter

Year-to-Date

RateBeer, one of the most important and popular websites dedicated to the craft beer movement have announced their ‘Best of Lists’ for 2012, and Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro was named number six of the ‘Best Brewers in the World’ out of a field of more than 12,000. TheAlchemistinWaterburywon a top honor for their flagship beer Heady Topper in the highly competitive Double India Pale Ale category.
RateBeer collects beer reviews from thousands of their members from all over the world and compiles those reviews on their website run out ofSonoma County,California. It is based on these reviews that the editors come up with their ‘Best of’ lists each year.

Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) today announced thatGary Taylor, group president of utility operations will be retiring from the companyMay 31, 2012. Taylor will continue to lead utility operations with a transition period to his successor, who will be named at a later date.
In addition,Robert (Bob) Sloan, executive vice president and general counsel announced his decision to retire as general counsel. Replacing Sloan isMarcus Brown, who was electedJan. 27by the company's board of directors to the position of senior vice president and general counsel. Brown reports toRod West, executive vice president, and chief administrative officer. Sloan has agreed to serve as special counsel during a period of transition.

The University of Vermont will become one of the first institutions nationwide to end the sale of bottled water on campus and mandate that one-third of drinks offered in vending machines be healthy options. The decision marks the advent of a long-awaited systematic sustainable beverage policy after years of lobbying by students and the greater campus community.
The announcement comes five months prior to the end of a ten-year contract with Coca-Cola of Northern New England that allowed the company to provide 100 percent of beverages in vending machines and 80 percent of bottled beverages served in retail, residential dining, and catering, totaling more than 1.1 million bottles per year.

A team of four Vermont Tech students has been chosen as finalists for the inaugural Cornell Cup, USA, a college-level systems engineering competition, created to empower students to become inventors of the newest innovative applications of embedded technology.
The Vermont Tech team, which calls itself the ‘Knights of the Workbench’ ‘ in a nod to the college’s athletic mascot ‘ is made up of: Team Leader and Electromechanical Engineering Technology major Ben Holleran, a sophomore from Chester, Vermont. Computer Engineering majors sophomore Charles Hathaway of Pawlett, Vermont; sophomore Mike Collins of Portsmouth, Rhode Island; and senior Forest Immel of Castleton, Vermont round out the team. Instead of competing on the playing field, however, these Knights will be vying with 24 teams from 19 colleges across the country, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Georgia Tech, University of California, Berkley, and Penn State, name a few.

Ten restaurants have been designated as Green Restaurants in the Green Mountain State in the Vermont Business Environmental Partnership (VBEP).
Current Green Restaurants in the Green Mountain State include: Michael’s on the Hill, Waterbury; The Wayside Bakery & Restaurant, Berlin; Ye Olde Tavern, Manchester; Mio Bistro, Dorset; Cloudland Farm, North Pomfret; Restaurant Verterra & Lucy's Tavern at The Inn at Weathersfield, Perkinsville; Rira’s Irish Pub, Burlington; The Stone Hearth Inn and Tavern, Chester; Works Bakery and Café, Brattleboro and Manchester; and The Tamarack Grill at Burke Mountain, East Burke.

by Anne Galloway vtdigger.org When the Vermont State Hospital was abruptly closed on August 28 after Tropical Storm Irene floodwaters inundated Waterbury, workers quickly evacuated the facility and state officials found emergency placements at local hospitals and small private mental health institutions for the 50-plus patients who were suddenly displaced.
Since the storm hit, the scrambling hasn’t stopped. For the last five months, Shumlin administration officials, lawmakers and providers have been weighing options for replacing the hospital. In the short term ‘ until lawmakers and the Shumlin administration can cement an interim plan ‘ Vermonters who need intensive psychiatric care are being treated at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, Rutland Regional Medical Center, Brattleboro Retreat and several small residential mental health care facilities.

The Vermont Wood Products Marketing Councilhas released a new ten year strategic plan entitled, ‘A 2020 Vision for the Vermont Wood Products Sector,’ prepared by industry expert and International Consultant, Tom Dossenbach, from Dossenbach Associates, Inc. of North Carolina. A similar strategic plan was adopted in 2001 and stimulated many successful projects during the last ten years. As our world changes, it was time to revisit the old plan and develop a new strategic outlook for the coming ten years.
The Vermont Wood Products Marketing Council consists of representatives from the Guild of Vermont Furniture Makers, Vermont Wood Manufacturers Association, Vermont WoodNet, Vermont Woodlands Association, Vermont Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development, Vermont Department of Forest, Parks & Recreation, and three outside directors.

The Government Operations Committee of the Vermont House of Representatives has been working on the reapportionment bill in a non-partisan manner since last fall. Late last week committee Democrats voted through a bill that would reduce GOP numbers in the House as currently constituted.
House Republicans voted "no" on the reapportionment bill in committee Friday afternoon, and House GOP Leader Don Turner issued the following statement:
"Our goal for reapportionment was to ensure that all Vermonters received fair representation in the House for the next decade.
"We approached this process knowing that it could become partisan at any given time. Unfortunately, this is exactly what occurred when House Assistant Majority Leader Willem Jewett proposed a plan yesterday that divided the Town of Castleton in half and will put three long time Republican legislators in the same two seat district.

Central Vermont Public Service, which recently brought its 10th CVPS Cow Powerâ ¢ project online, today announced an energy production surplus from its award-winning farm-generation program and put out a call for new customers large and small.
‘With the completion of several new CVPS Cow Powerâ ¢ projects, energy production has surpassed the level of customer demand for the first time,’ said Renewable Energy Program Manager Dave Dunn. ‘With several more projects in the pipeline for 2012 and beyond, we are looking for new supporters to help ensure that farm-based renewable energy development can continue cost-effectively for dairy farm owners in Vermont.’