Current News

by John Herrick vtdigger.org The Environmental Protection Agency wants to see a stronger commitment from the state to clean up Lake Champlain. In a letter to state environmental and agriculture officials last week, the EPA pressed for more details on a plan to reduce phosphorus loading into Lake Champlain. The feds asked the state to provide specific policy commitments, timelines and details, including outcome measures and the delegation of authority.

State Treasurer Beth Pearce will present a proposal to the Vermont State Employees’ Retirement System Board of Trustees that would add a fossil-free mutual fund investment option for employees contributing to the State’s deferred compensation plan. The proposal will be presented at their February 13 meeting.’
‘Employees have the opportunity to invest their supplemental retirement savings in socially responsible investment funds through the deferred compensation plan,’ said Pearce. ‘I am proposing that we add to those options a fossil-free mutual fund alternative. This will provide interested employees with a new investment option and, at that same time, allow Trustees to meet their fiduciary obligation to maximize returns on investments.’’

by John Herrick vtdigger.org Regional planners should be armed with energy plans before developers propose new power projects in their communities, says Chris Recchia, commissioner of the Department of Public Service.
Senate lawmakers want to give landowners and residents a voice in the state’s process to approve energy projects, a process that has received heightened attention in the wake of recent industrial-scale wind development.
Department of Public Service Commissioner Chris Recchia testifies at the Statehouse in September. File photo by Andrew Stein/VTDigger
The Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee heard testimony Tuesday on a bill, S.201, to give landowners and regional planners a clear chance to present their case before the quasi-judicial Public Service Board.

Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) Wednesday indicated that it expects fourth quarter 2013 as-reported earnings of approximately $0.81 per share and operational earnings of approximately $0.99 per share. Results for fourth quarter 2012 were $1.66 per share on an as-reported basis and $1.72 per share on an operational basis. Entergy also affirmed previously issued operational earnings guidance for 2014.
As-reported results are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and are comprised of operational earnings (described below) and special items. Special items were recorded for:
‘¢ an impairment and other expenses associated with the planned closure of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station and the related settlement agreement reached with the state of Vermont in fourth quarter 2013,
‘¢ expenses for the implementation of the human capital management strategic imperative in fourth quarter 2013, and

EPA Region 1 will hold a public hearing Feb. 26, 2014 in our downtown Boston office to get public input on proposed standards for the amount of air pollution that can be emitted by new woodstoves and other residential wood heaters. The first phase of the proposed emission standards would likely apply to units manufactured and sold beginning in 2015.
Smoke from residential wood heaters can increase air pollution from soot (also known as fine particle pollution) and toxic pollutants to levels that pose serious health concerns. Particle pollution is linked to a range of serious health effects, including heart attacks, strokes and asthma attacks. In some areas of New England, residential wood smoke significantly reduces air quality in winter months.

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Vermont Public Television’s Outdoor Journal, celebrating Vermont wildlife, outdoor recreation and natural habitats, will premiere on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. Winner of numerous regional and national awards, Outdoor Journal raises awareness of Vermont’s natural landscape and the state’s wondrous array of recreational opportunities.

The annual American Farmland Trust survey of state farm and ranch land protection programs shows a 19 percent increase in funding from 2011 to 2012, but funding levels are still 39 percent below where they were in 2008, according to’ Andrew McElwaine, President and CEO of AFT. Colorado,’ Pennsylvania,’ Maryland,’ New Jersey’ and’ Vermont’ lead the 27 states with active farmland protection programs in the number of acres protected.
"State budget cuts have hit agricultural land protection programs hard in the last five years, but our latest survey shows a very significant 19 percent increase in funding from 2011 to 2012," said McElwaine.’ "This increase shows that a number of states have put a priority on protecting farmland, while state spending on environmental protection programs generally continues in a downward trend.’

KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY) today announced fourth quarter net income from continuing operations attributable to Key common shareholders of $229 million, or $.26 per common share, compared to $229 million, or $.25 per common share for the third quarter of 2013, and $190 million, or $.20 per common share for the fourth quarter of 2012.’ ‘ During the fourth quarter of 2013, Key incurred $24 million, or $.02 per common share of costs related to both its previously announced efficiency initiative and a pension settlement charge.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2013, net income from continuing operations attributable to Key common shareholders was $847 million, or $.93 per common share, compared to $813 million, or $.86 per common share for the same period one year ago.’ During 2013, Key incurred $117 million, or $.08 per common share of costs related to both its efficiency initiative and pension settlement charge.

It’s hard to believe, but Valentine’s Day will be here before we know it and The Vermont Teddy Bear Company is getting ready for another busy season. They need HUNDREDS of people to help them get all those Valentine’s Day orders out the door, so now’s the time to stop by the Factory on Route 7 in Shelburne to speak with a hiring manager.
WHAT: The Vermont Teddy Bear is HIRING NOW for the Valentine’s Day season. There are HUNDREDS
of temporary jobs available for call center agents, gift fulfillment and data entry specialists, art and
embroidery operators, and shipping and warehouse workers. Experience is helpful but not necessary.
Training is provided. Generous employee discounts. And the Factory is right on the bus route.
WHO: Professionals looking for a fun side job for a few weeks, college students, retirees with some free
time. Anyone in need of some extra cash!

FairPoint Communications, Inc (Nasdaq: FRP), a leading provider of advanced communications in northern New England, has expanded broadband to more than 120 homes and businesses in Sharon.’
FairPoint’s new fiber-based, high-capacity network offers customers a better, faster way to communicate.’
‘Our next-generation network allows us to expand broadband service into areas with no high-speed Internet access and provide enhanced services across the state,’ said Beth Fastiggi, FairPoint state president for Vermont. ‘Broadband availability opens the doors to the world for the residents and businesses in Vermont and is fundamental to the state’s future economic growth.’’

Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce have announced the top 27 Best Places to Work in Vermont 2014. The awards program was created in 2006 and is presented in partnership with the Society for Human Resource Management, Vermont State Council (SHRM), the Vermont Department of Labor and the Vermont Department of Economic Development and Best Companies Group.’
SEE’ LIST’ OF’ WINNERS’ BELOW
This statewide survey and awards program was designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Vermont, benefiting the state's economy, its workforce and businesses. ‘
To be considered for participation, companies had to fulfill the following eligibility requirements:
- Have at least 15 employees working in Vermont;
- Be a for-profit or not-for-profit business or government entity;
- Be a publicly or privately held business;
- Have a facility in the state of Vermont; and

The University of Vermont has received a record number of applications for the fall of 2014 -- 23,936 -- up 9 percent over last year, with a surge from states outside of New England. Vermont applications rose 3 percent, despite a steep ongoing decline in the number of high school graduates in the state, driven by demographic trends. Applications rose 4.6 percent from students in New England, which is also in the midst of a decline in high school graduates.