Current News

by John Herrick vtdigger.org Vermont’s natural gas utility has hired a contractor and plans to break ground June 1 on its pipeline extension down the western side of the state.

Vermont Gas Systems intends to build a 41-mile, $86.6 million natural gas pipeline extension through Addison County to connect service in Chittenden and Franklin counties to Middlebury. The company expects the project to be completed by next year.

Vermont Gas also has applied to state regulators for the second phase of the pipeline expansion, which would connect Middlebury to the International Paper mill in Ticonderoga, N.Y. The second phase of the expansion would move the utility closer to completing its final proposed extension to Rutland, the company said.

by Anne Galloway vtdigger.org Dozens of key pieces of legislation are still pending as the Legislature approaches May 10, the deadline set by House Speaker Shap Smith. The Vermont House and Senate have yet to concur on a number of important bills, and others haven’t yet passed in one body or the other. A few of the biggies at the end include school district consolidation, the miscellaneous tax bill, the budget, several union bills and teachers’ retiree health care. The two bodies have agreed to several key pieces of legislation — including the the omnibus transportation budget, the lift of a cap on local solar generation, a new primary election date set for the second Tuesday in August 2016 and a bill that requires food manufacturers to label genetically modified ingredients.

by Hilary Niles vtdigger.org Child care providers in Vermont are one step closer to winning the right to collectively bargain for increased state subsidies. Legislation to that effect squeaked through the House Monday afternoon after long debate — and a six-vote margin. S.316 would allow certain child care providers the option of voting on whether they want to organize a collective bargaining unit. If workers do form a union, they could negotiate higher subsidies for the care they provide to children from low-income families. Rep. Tom Stevens, D-Waterbury, presented the bill to the House chamber Monday.

The Obama Administration released the third U.S. National Climate Assessment—the most comprehensive scientific assessment ever generated of climate change and its impacts across every region of America and major sectors of the U.S. economy. The findings in this National Climate Assessment underscore the need for urgent action to combat the threats from climate change, protect American citizens and communities today, and build a sustainable future for our kids and grandkids.

In his State of the State speech in January, Governor Shumlin declared war on Vermont’s heroin and opioid drug addiction problem. Across the nation and throughout New England there has been a sharp increase in the use of prescribed opioid pain medications, as well as significant increases in the illegal abuse of those medications and heroin. The exact relationship between legitimate prescribing and illegal drug use is not fully understood, but there is no disagreement over the fact that misuse of prescription opioids can lead to addiction and abuse of illegal drugs. Likewise, there is no debate that good management of patients who need prescription opioid pain killers can be very challenging for the health care professionals who prescribe them.

by Laura Krantz vtdigger.org Car dealership mogul Ernie Boch Jr announced last Wednesday he will donate $50,000 to a substance abuse treatment facility in Rutland. Boch joined Governor Peter Shumlin at a news conference in Montpelier on Wednesday to announce his gift to Recovery House in Rutland. Recovery House Inc CEO Richard Keane’s jaw dropped when Boch spontaneously doubled his donation from an anticipated $25,000.

“The work that Serenity House is doing is fantastic,” said Boch, the multi-millionaire president and CEO of Subaru of New England who also owns seven New England dealerships that sell vehicles ranging from Toyotas to Ferraris.

The Cardiovascular Research Institute of Vermont (CVRI-VT) at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and Fletcher Allen Health Care has announced the naming of six inaugural Distinguished Investigators. The recipients were recognized at a celebration event held April 17, 2014 at the Marble Court at UVM’s Fleming Museum.

Founded in 2002 by the late Burton Sobel, M.D., University Distinguished Professor and former chair of medicine at UVM/Fletcher Allen, the CVRI-VT has been led by David Schneider, M.D., professor of medicine and director of cardiovascular services, since August 2013.

Bob and Christine Stiller and Fern Tavalin Receive 2014 Honorary Degrees

Champlain College President David F. Finney conferred 520 associate and bachelor degrees to the largest graduating class in the College’s history on May 3 under a tent on Edmunds Field adjacent to Skiff Hall. More than 4,000 people attended the ceremony.

The College’s 136th Undergraduate Commencement presented honorary degrees to a nationally known creative educator Fern Tavalin, and two Vermont philanthropists, Bob Stiller, founder of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, and his wife, Christine Stiller, president of the Stiller Family Foundation and Adventure Girls of VT.

Tavalin spoke about the history of the internet and creativity on behalf of the honorary degree recipients. She received a Doctor of Fine Arts honorary degree. Bob Stiller received a Doctor of Commerce honorary degree, and Christine Stiller will receive Doctor of Humane Letters honorary degree.

The Edison Awards™ recently honored BioTek's Cytation™ 3 Cell Imaging Multi-Mode Reader with a Silver Edison Award in the Lab Diagnostics, Science/Medical category at the 2014 Edison Awards Annual Gala, held in San Francisco, CA. The awards, named after U.S. inventor Thomas Alva Edison, symbolize outstanding product innovations with lasting impact and value for users.

"Cytation 3 is at the leading edge of today's complex research applications," noted Peter Weith, BioTek Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Service. "We've already seen the positive difference it's made for our customers around the world, and we're honored that these achievements are also independently recognized by the distinguished judging panel at the Edison Awards."

Thousands of Vermonters took to the roads on Saturday, May 3, to participate in the 44th annual Green Up Day. From cans to papers to box springs to cigarette butts, tons of litter is now off of the roadsides and in bright green garbage bags thanks to the statewide show of support.

“For more than 40 years, Vermonters have supported Green Up Day by pitching in and lending a hand because we take pride in our state and know that it doesn’t remain beautiful by accident,” said Lt. Governor Phil Scott, who picked up two truckloads of trash around Central Vermont on Saturday. “The dedicated volunteer town coordinators, some of whom have been doing this for decades, make sure there are boots on the ground in communities from the Northeast Kingdom to our southernmost counties. Vermont depends on our tourism industry to bring much-needed dollars into the state; I can say with pride that tourists will now see a greener, cleaner, more beautiful Vermont when they visit.”

Vermont Gas President and CEO Don Gilbert and Engineers Construction, Inc. (ECI) President Ken Pidgeon announced Monday the signing of a multi-million dollar agreement for construction on Phase 1 of the Addison-Rutland Natural Gas Project.

The agreement with the Vermont-based contractor focuses on horizontal directional drilling – an environmentally preferable technique for installing natural gas systems. It is also the first construction contract for the project. Construction is expected to begin in June.

When complete, the Addison-Rutland Natural Gas Project is expected to help about 16,000 additional homes and businesses cut heating costs by about half, while reducing emissions by about 25 percent when converting from oil.

Natural gas is currently 49% less expensive than oil and 63% less than propane.

The Department of Buildings and General Services will be auctioning a large assortment of State vehicles and equipment to the general public beginning at 10:00 AM on Saturday, May 10, 2014. The May 10 physical auction of State vehicles is expected to be very well attended based on inquiries received by the Vermont Surplus Property Division.

“This is an ABSOLUTE auction with no reserves. All vehicles will be sold to the highest bidder rain or shine,” said Terry Lamos the State’s Surplus Property Coordinator. “This auction is on many calendars across New England and Quebec. It has become a destination event for many who come year after year in hopes of obtaining a good deal on a vehicle or piece of equipment,” said Lamos. State officials are hopeful that a portion of the equipment and vehicles being offered finds their way back into service in Vermont communities.