Current News

Seventh Generation will work to eliminate fuel from refineries that use Canadaâ s controversial tar sands throughout its North American logistics network, the company has announced. The perennially top-ranked green products company joins a market trend against tar sands that now includes 16 publicly confirmed actions by major US companies.
â This widening trend of leading American brands against Canadaâ s tar sands is good news for everyone who wants cleaner air and water, healthier communities and forestsâ and clean energy,’said Aaron Sanger of ForestEthics. â It is bad news for those who want to expand the US market for tar sands.â
Part of Seventh Generationâ s new commitment is to work with its primary transportation providers to identify fuels from tar sands refineries and pursue a strategy of continuous improvement toward elimination of these controversial fuels.

by Anne Galloway vtdigger.orgThe merger of Green Mountain Power and Central Vermont Public Service will result in the elimination of about 116 positions through attrition and retirements over the next five years,according to a document submitted to the Public Service Board from the utilities.
The workforce of the merged company will be reduced by an additional 23 positions when the smart meter program is implemented.
Gaz Metro, a Montreal-based corporation, which owns Green Mountain Power, has offered to buy CVPS, the stateâ s largest electric utility. The combined company will serve eight out of 10 Vermonters. The merger deal is now under review by the Public Service Board and is expected to be approved in May.

by Alan Panebaker vtdigger.orgThe Vermont Department of Public Service is not convinced that the company that owns the Vermont Yankee nuclear power station will live up to its obligations.
The plant, which is owned by Entergy Corp., is currently operating on an expired state permit while the Vermont Public Service Board considers approving a new license for it.
Meanwhile both the state and Entergy have appealed a federal court decision finding a law requiring legislative approval before the plant could get a new license was unconstitutional.
The Department of Public Service, which represents ratepayers before the board, has taken the position that the plant can continue to operate under state law while the docket is ongoing, but that it must continue to keep obligations like making payments to the Clean Energy Development Fund.
On April 3, attorneys for Entergy filed a one-page letter with the board stating that it agreed with the department.

The US Department of the Treasury released a report showing that Vermont Community Loan Fund, Inc of Montpelier, Vermont, has increased its small business lending by $3.3 million since receiving capital through Small Business Lending Fund (SBLF).
The SBLF, which was established as part of the Small Business Jobs Act that President Obama signed into law, encourages community banks to increase their lending to small businesses to help them grow and create new jobs. Treasury invested more than $4 billion in 332 institutions, located in over 3,000 communities in 48 states, through the SBLF. Nationwide, institutions participating in the SBLF significantly increased small business lending in the last quarter of 2011 by $1.3 billion over the prior quarterâ for a total of $4.8 billion over their baseline.

Officials atVermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, the largest year-round disabled sports non-profit organization in Vermont, recently announced that it has partnered withLong Trail Brewingfor its second annual Century Ride.
After what came together in less than six weeks in 2011 for its inaugural ride, thanks to the inspiration of Lookout Tavern owner Phil Black, the second annualLong Trail Century Rideto benefit Vermont Adaptive will be held on Saturday, June 23. Up to 500 riders are expected to participate in the fundraising event. An après-ride party, featuring the music of the Pete Kilpatrick Band, will be held after the ride at the brewery.

The century ride, plus 50- and 20-mile routes, will start and end at the Long Trail Brewery in Bridgewater Corners. The routes will travel through Killington and surrounding communities including Irene-survived Pittsfield, Stockbridge, Bethel, Woodstock, and Ludlow.

Three out of four Vermonters say they are interested in using â an online health insurance exchange’to compare and purchase health insurance, according to a Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) survey. After learning more about the â online health insurance exchange,’that number grows to 86 percent who say they would be interested in using the website if they are uninsured in 2014.
This â online health insurance exchange,’also known as the Vermont Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange), will launch a new website in the Fall of 2013 where individuals, families and small businesses in Vermont can search for health insurance, compare plans side-by-side and enroll. The website will feature plans from private carriers as well as public programs, like Medicaid and Dr. Dynasaur. The Exchange will also create a Navigator program ‘giving Vermonters access to assistance online, in-person and over the phone.

US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Governor Peter Shumlin and the Vermont Department of Public Service today hosted a Vermont Clean Energy Investment Summit.The goal of the conference was to determine how the state could become a model for the nation in moving more aggressively toward energy efficiency and developing sustainable sources of clean energy.
â Moving forward aggressive in energy efficiency and sustainable energy is a win, win, win situation,’Sanders said. â We protect our environment by cutting greenhouse gas emissions. We save homeowners money on their heating bills through strong weatherization and energy efficiency efforts and, in the middle of a recession, we create jobs in Vermont, not in Saudi Arabia and not in Iran.â

by Anne Galloway April 9, 2012 vtdigger.org As lawmakers hotly debated last week whether they should have a say in the CVPS and Green Mountain Power merger, the quasi-judicial body that ultimately will decide whether to approve the marriage between the stateâ s two largest utilities held hearings on the deal.

The cost of housing in Vermont continued to decline in 2011, according to The Vermont Economy Newsletterâ s annual housing affordability analysis.
â The share of median family income needed to finance the payments on a median priced home in Vermont fell to 13.1% in 2011,’said Art Woolf, author of the study. â That means housing is more affordable today than it has been in the 25 years we have been tracking housing affordability. Other evidence suggests that housing has not been this affordable since at least the early 1970s,’he continued.

General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a business unit of General Dynamics, has been awarded a$7.8 millioncontract modification from the Naval Air Systems Command for production of more than 20 F/A-18 E/F 20mm gun systems for the Super Hornet fighter aircraft.

The F/A-18 E/F gun system is composed of a lightweight, six-barrel 20mm M61A2 Gatling gun equipped with a closed-loop rotary linkless feed system. The system has a maximum firing rate of up to 6,000 shots per minute and serves as the aircraft's last line of defense in close-in aerial engagements.

"General Dynamics has successfully produced the weapon system for the F/A-18 for more than 25 years," saidSteve Elgin, vice president and general manager of armament systems for General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products. "The M61A2 F/A-18 gun system continues to be relevant, affordable and extremely effective."

Magic Mountain has joined forces with The Vermont Challenge to become the official final rest stop sponsor of the tour on Sunday, August 19.
Jim Sullivan stated "Magic is very excited to serve as the final rest stop for The Vermont Challenge. We'll work together with the Vermont Challenge team to offer all our riders a very special experience while refueling at Magic before the final leg of the tour! We couldn't think of a better way to introduce the bicyclists completing The Vermont Challenge to Magic than hosting them at our resort".
Magic offers some of the best classic New England ski trails and glades anywhere in Vermont and welcomes bicyclists to come out a give Magic a try next winter. John Sohikian, founder and president of The Vermont Challenge is excited to have Magic on board. "While I'm a diehard Stratton skier, Magic has always been that special place to experience classic New England skiing with narrow winding trails."

Basin Harbor Club welcomed two additions to their professional staff this winter. Rodney Rehwinkel joins the resort as Executive Chef, and PGA Professional Paul Meunier will head up the golf program. Both men bring over 30 years of experience in their respective fields to Basin Harbor Club.

Rodney Rehwinkelâ s extensive experience in the culinary world includes two years as Executive Chef at the renowned International Club in Bolton, MA where he catered to discriminating customers as well as New Englandâ s professional sports teams including the New England Patriots, Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins. Rehwinkel is also the Chef-Owner of Clear Culinary Consulting, Inc. in South Burlington where he consulted with mid-size regional restaurant companies on menu analysis, concept development, cost controls, and recipe work-ups.