Current News

by John Herrick vtdigger.org
Senate lawmakers are concerned that a bill designed to give towns more say in the location of solar projects may prevent the state from moving towards its renewable energy goals.
At a Senate Democratic caucus Tuesday, lawmakers discussed a committee bill, S191, which would require state regulators to uphold town energy plans when deciding whether to approve energy projects.
Sungen solar farm in Sharon off I-89. Photo by Roger Crowley/for VTDigger
The bill comes after towns raised concerns over the rapid growth of the solar industry’s expansion into rural areas of the state.
Renewable energy advocates who oppose the bill say it could prevent the state from moving toward its energy goal to source 90 percent of its power from renewables by 2050, as described in the state’s comprehensive energy plan.

The Town of Rutland is encouraging residents to get personally involved in reducing stormwater pollution. Through a new brochure and online resource, Water Wise: The Stormwater Website for Rutland Town, Vermont, the town is raising awareness about the most common causes of stormwater runoff pollution and what steps individuals can take to reduce this kind of pollution in local streams, such as Moon Brook.
Stormwater runoff occurs when excess water from rain or snowmelt does not soak into the ground. As the runoff flows over land or paved streets and parking lots, it picks up debris, chemicals, sediment or other pollutants along the way.
The pollutants can end up downstream in Otter Creek and even Lake Champlain and adversely affect drinking water, fish and wildlife, and recreational activities such as fishing and swimming.

by Morgan True vtdigger.org
Jeffersonville Democrat John Bauer, 57, is seeking his party’s nomination to challenge Republican Phil Scott for lieutenant governor.
Bauer will run on economic and environmental issues, but his campaign will likely be defined by pushback against money in politics.

Related Company: Green Mountain Power CorpIn the first of its kind initiative in Vermont, Green Mountain Power is testing new smart grid technology called The Smart Home, which allows Vermonters to track real time power use using a new GMP iPhone app. The Smart Home is the latest innovation to come from the Company’s Energy Innovation Center in Rutland.
As part of the initial test of this technology, 25 people including GMP employees, educators and customers will take part in the test phase. GMP will use the test phase to assess and adjust product functionality and improve customer satisfaction.

Related Company: University of VermontA new farming education endeavor at the University of Vermont will give students the opportunity to learn about sustainable farm practices, contribute to the local food system and help support research needs of the university.
Catamount Educational Farm in South Burlington will offer an extensive hands-on farm experience for post-traditional, undergraduate and high school students. Produce grown at the farm will be sold to select outlets within the UVM community, including University Dining Services, and be available at the UVM farm stand and through a CSA.

Ninety-two companies worldwide have been recognized for creating the most positive overall social and environmental impact by the nonprofit B Lab, with the release of the third annual B Corp Best for the World list. The B Corp Best for the World list honors businesses that earned an overall score in the top 10 percent of all Certified B Corporations on the B Impact Assessment, a rigorous and comprehensive assessment of a company's impact on its workers, community, and the environment. Honorees were recognized among micro, small and mid-sized businesses.
Vermont-based SunCommon earned recognition as one of the world’s twenty-two small businesses “Best for Environmental Impact.” SunCommon is Vermont’s largest residential solar business. “Our very purpose is positive environmental impact, so it’s great to be recognized for trying to do our bit,” said SunCommon Co-President Duane Peterson responding to this announcement.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets is now accepting proposals for the 2014 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Vermont’s federal allocation for this funding cycle is estimated at $200,000. These grant funds are for the sole purpose of enhancing the competitiveness of Vermont-grown Specialty Crops, and will be distributed to through a competitive review process. The complete RFP and guidance document can be found online here: http://agriculture.vermont.gov/producer_partner_resources/funding_opport....

Related Company: Seven Daysby vtdigger.org The co-editor of Seven Days won’t make it to seven months. Pulitzer Prize winner Jeff Good, hired by the Burlington news and arts weekly in September, will leave the paper April 8, according to the publication.
Jeff Good. Photo by Geoff Hansen/Valley News
Good is returning to work for the media group that owns the Valley News, where Good served as editor before joining Seven Days. He will become executive editor of four newspapers in western Massachusetts: the Daily Hampshire Gazette, the Recorder, the Amherst Bulletin and the Valley Advocate, according to Seven Days columnist Paul Heintz.

Rising natural gas prices pushed wholesale electricity prices in New England up by 55 percent in 2013, according to preliminary figures from ISO New England Inc, the operator of the region’s bulk power system and wholesale electricity markets. Preliminary data show that the average price of wholesale electric energy rose to $56.06 per megawatt-hour (MWh) in 2013, up from 2012’s historic low price of $36.09/MWh.
The McNeil plant in Burlington is powered by wood chips and natural gas. Vermont Business Magazine photo.
Compared to average annual wholesale electricity prices since 2003, the year that competitive markets in their current form were introduced in New England, the 2013 annual average was the fifth highest, and 30 percent lower than the all-time high of $80.56/MWh during 2008.
Green Mountain Power, Vermont's largest electric utility, has stated that current electric rates will not be affected by this hike in natural gas prices.

by Morgan True vtdigger.org Vermont Health Connect appears to have signed up over 70,000 Vermonters in federally qualified health plans through its insurance exchange, and with those enrolled in Medicaid, the number swells to over 100,000, but state officials were hesitant to claim victory Tuesday, in reaching VHC's goal of enrolling 100,000.

by Hilary Niles vtdigger.org A preliminary analysis of a potential boost in Vermont’s minimum wage shows that without concurrent policy changes to public assistance programs, low-wage workers might lose more in benefits than they gain in earnings.
The finding was presented to the House Committee on General, Housing and Military Affairs on Tuesday afternoon. The committee holds jurisdiction over labor issues, and is pondering a graduated increase in the state’s minimum wage from $8.73 cents per hour to anywhere from $10.10 to $12.50 or higher.
Rep. Helen Head, D-South Burlington, chair of House General, said she is willing to take more testimony after a public hearing scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at the Statehouse. She hopes to move the bill out of her committee by the end of next week, if not sooner.

by Sarah Wojcik, Ski Vermont Shred long and prosper. That’s what skiers and riders will do in Vermont after winter storm Vulcan dumped up to two feet of snow on the Green Mountains last week. Vermont resorts not only enjoyed a weekend of stellar conditions, great lift tickets sales and a boost in season pass sales for the 2014-15 season, but can now plan to stay open for a long and prosperous spring ski season due to the deep snowpack.
“We had 30 inches of snow and are now hoping to stay open until Sunday, May 4th,” said John Bleh of Sugarbush Resort. “This recent storm has really made this possible and should make for some awesome spring skiing.”