Current News

vtdigger.org March 19, 2012The Shumlin administration says under state statute Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant can continue to operate after its license expires on March 21.
The Vermont Department of Public Service, in a legal filing on Friday, says a Vermont law would allow the plant to operate past that date while the re-licensing process continues.
The state also asserted in its submission to the Vermont Public Service Board that the owner of the plant, Entergy Corp., must meet its obligation to fund the Clean Energy Development Fund. It is unclear whether the Louisiana-based company would still be required to pay millions of dollars in an assortment of other taxes to the state.
Governor Peter Shumlin, meanwhile,told Vermont Public Radio on Fridayhe hopes the board, which has jurisdiction over the matter, will block a 20-year license extension for the 40-year-old plant.

The 9thannual American Cancer Society Relay For Life® NordicStyle raised $72,000 over the weekend of March 10, to support the Society’s mission of saving lives from cancer.The overnight event left 250 participants exhausted, but happy, after cross country skiing or snowshoeing through the night.

‘Through their hard work in preparing for the event, and by spending hours out in the cold for the cause, our dedicated participants certainly did their part to help the American Cancer Society create a world with less cancer and more birthdays," saidBrian Fredette, event chairfor the 2012 Relay For Life NordicStyle.

The top individual fundraiser was Jane Weaver of Stowe, who collected nearly $4,000 in donations. The top fundraising team was Snowbelles, led by Victoria Gonin of Waitsfield, which raised more than $9,500.

Gifford Medical Center held its 106thAnnual Corporators Meeting on Saturday evening at the Randolph hospital, electing three new members to the Board of Trustees, sharing the successes of 2011 and welcoming Steve Kimbell, Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration commissioner, as the guest speaker.

Newly elected to the board wereLeo Connolly, Fred Newhall and Peter Nowlan following the retirements of long-time board members Barbara Harvey and Bruce MacDonald and the heavily-felt death of Dick Mallary. ‘We miss him terribly,’ board member Bob Wright said.

MacDonald and Harvey offered a few parting words of thanks and encouragement.

The US Small Business Administration is reminding small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes that April 16 is the filing deadline for federal economic injury disaster loans available in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties in Vermont. The SBA declared a disaster because of the excessive rain, flooding, high winds, lightning and cooler than normal temperatures that occurred from March 1 through June 1, 2011.
"These counties are eligible because they are contiguous to one or more primary counties in New York . The Small Business Administration recognizes that disaster do not usually stop at county or state lines. For that reason, counties adjacent to primary counties named in the declaration are included, "said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA's Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.

Efficiency Vermont andVermont Gas Systems are among nine New England organizations that have received 2012 awards from the Energy Star Program.
Each year, EPA and the US Department of Energy (DOE) honor organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through energy efficiency. Organizations are recognized in one of three major award categories: Partner of the Year, Award for Sustained Excellence, and Award for Excellence. These organizations are being recognized for their long-term commitment to greater energy efficiency.
‘EPA congratulates this year's Energy Star award winners,’ said Curt Spalding, regional administrator for EPA’s New England office. ‘Their commitment to energy efficiency makes these organizations valuable partners in the effort to save precious resources and reduce harmful air emissions.’
Partner of the Year Awardees

Governor Peter Shumlin today named Bonnie Johnson-Aten, principal at Edmunds Middle School in Burlington since 2006, to the State Board of Education, joining the 10 member board on March 20. Johnson-Aten, who lives in Montpelier, replaces Fayneese Miller of South Burlington, whose term on the board expired in February.
‘Bonnie has years of on-the-ground experience in Vermont’s public school system, working with students from rural communities like Calais and East Montpelier, and currently in the Burlington district,’ Gov. Peter Shumlin said. ‘I’m pleased she has agreed to serve. Bonnie will bring a common-sense perspective to the board on the educational issues facing our schools.’
‘I am very excited about having Bonnie Johnson-Aten join the State Board of Education,’ said Education Commissioner Armando Vilaseca. ‘Her extensive experience in education and perspective as a practitioner will serve us well.’

Vermont, eleven other states, New York City, and the District of Columbia filed a motion to intervene in federal court today in support of a Clean Air Act rule that will protect Vermonters by reducing toxic air pollution from coal and oil-fired power plants.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency recently adopted the rule, known as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, to curb power plant emissions of mercury and other toxic air pollutants, such as arsenic, cyanide, nickel and selenium, that are known to cause cancer, respiratory illness, and other serious health effects.

On the effective date of March 15, 2012, Fitch Ratings upgrades the long- and short- term rating assigned to the $200,000,000 ($170,000,000 currently outstanding) Vermont Student Assistance Corporation Education Loan Tax-Exempt Variable Rate Demand Revenue Bonds Senior Series 2008C-1 and 2008C-2 to 'A+sf/F1+sf' from 'Asf/F1sf'; Outlook Stable
The rating action is in connection with the substitution of the irrevocable direct-pay letter of credit (LOC) previously provided by Lloyds (rated 'A/F1'; Stable Outlook by Fitch) with a substitute LOC to be issued by State Street Bank and Trust Company (State Street, rated 'A+/F1+'; Stable Outlook ).

by Alan Panebaker March 16, 2012 vtdigger.orgEntergy is going back to federal court asking for assurance that the state will not shutter the plant March 21, when its current license expires.
Despite a victory in federal court finding two Vermont laws unconstitutional, attorneys for Entergy expressed concerns that the board would not allow Vermont Yankee to continue operating.
The Public Service Board held a status conference March 9, and briefs are due Friday.
Entergy already asked Judge J. Garvan Murtha for assurance that the plant could continue operating during the proceeding. The Public Service Board at the conference would not guarantee that the plant would keep operating.
With the clock ticking, Entergy’s motion in federal court asks Judge Murtha to preserve the status quo.

by Anne Galloway | March 15, 2012 vtdigger.orgState workers will move back to Waterbury and the replacement facility for the Vermont State Hospital will be 25 beds.
Governor Peter Shumlin announced the double-whammy decisions today at a hastily called press conference with a phalanx of Democratic leaders and members of key committees standing behind him. In remarks, Lt. Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, lauded the plan.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet and winner of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, will explore this thought-provoking subject when he visits Middlebury College to deliver two lectures ― one to the campus community and another to the public ― on October 12-13.
Middlebury faculty, staff, students and ID holders may attend his talk, ‘Educating the Heart,’ at 1:45 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 12. His lecture at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13, ‘Finding Common Ground: Ethics for a Whole World,’ will be open to the public. Tickets for both events, which will take place in Nelson Arena, will be available through the Middlebury College Box Office.

After a year’s worth of quiet preparations, the Celebrate Vermont Festival is going public. The four-day festival kicks off with a Noah’s Ark Parade of pets and farm animals through the streets of Stowe Village on Thursday August 23h. The following day, Friday at 10 AM, the gates of the Stowe Events field open to all for the three-day session of Celebrate Vermont Festival, August 24-26, at the Stowe Events Field.
Vermonters and visiting guests from the Northeast and Quebec will sample and celebrate the traditional and emerging harvests of our working landscape ‘ a panoply of food, art, craft and culture that comes from our kitchens, farms, forests and the Vermonters who work in them. For 200 years the working landscape has been the major economic driver in our agriculture, forest products and recreational industries.