Current News
by tim
by Anne Galloway vtdigger.org on March 10, 2011 What do Dominica and a Middlesex highway garage have in common? Not much, unless you happen to be tracking the whereabouts of Governor Peter Shumlin.
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The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), in cooperation with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), are working together to identify and establish intercity passenger rail service to parts of southwestern Vermont and adjacent areas in New York that are currently underserved, and have scheduled the first public meeting to discuss the study for Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 7:00pm-9:00pm at the Bennington Fire Station, 130 River Street, Bennington, VT, 05201.
The project study area, which is generally located between Albany/Rensselaer, NY and Rutland, VT, includes Bennington and Rutland Counties in Vermont, and Rensselaer, Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties in New York.
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The Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council is inviting Vermonters with developmental disabilities, their families and other interested community members to talk about what is working for them and what could help.
The input will be shared with policymakers and help VTDDC write its State Plan that will guide how it spends its federal funds for the next 5 years.
Come have dinner and join a forum near you:
March 17 ~ Swanton April 4 ~ Newport
March 21 ~ Rutland April 5 ~ Brattleboro
March 24 ~ Burlington April 7 ~ White River Junction
March 29 ~ Bennington
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by Anne Galloway on March 11, 2011 vtdigger.org Whether you’re talking about your household checking account or the state General Fund, the math can be boiled down to a simple subtraction problem: revenues ‘ expenses = X.
In good years X equals surpluses; for the last four years, that X has been a negative number in the many millions at the beginning of the state budgeting process. This year the figure in red represents 12 percent of the state’s budget, or about $176 million. In this legislative session, there is no Uncle Sam at the ready to bail out states with fistfuls of ready cash. In fact, the old man may have empty pockets next year and leave us with a new deficit problem caused by significant reductions in programs like the Low-Income Heating Assistance Program (that federal cut would amount to $14 million if it goes through).
by tim
Verizon Wireless recently has activated a new cell site in Jericho that expands wireless voice and 3G data coverage in Jericho and Underhill and along Route 15, as well as the surrounding areas.
The company invested in Chittenden County to continue to stay ahead of increasing demand for reliable voice and mobile Internet access. Verizon Wireless has invested more than $2.8 billion into its New England network since 2000, including more than $242 million in 2010 alone, to increase coverage and capacity on behalf of customers. Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest and most reliable 3G network.
by tim
Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling, and resource management company, announced the closing of its previously announced redemption of all of its outstanding 9.75% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 (CUSIP Number 147448AB0) (the "Notes") pursuant to their terms (the "Redemption"). In the Redemption the Company redeemed an aggregate of $28,170,000 in principal amount of Notes at a price of $1,000 per $1,000 in principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest through March 9, 2011.
About Casella Waste Systems, Inc.
Casella Waste Systems is an integrated solid waste and resource management company headquartered in Rutland, Vermont. For further information, investors should contact Ned Coletta, vice president of finance and investor relations at (802) 772-2239; or visit Casella's website at http://www.casella.com.
RUTLAND, VT--(Marketwire - March 10, 2011) - Casella Waste Systems, Inc.
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The Vermont Department of Public Service announced Thursday the appointment of Sarah Hofmann as Deputy Commissioner and James Porter as the Director of Telecommunications. The Department serves as the ratepayer advocate for utility matters in energy, telecommunications and water, and also is the lead for the state’s energy policy.
‘I am very pleased to have Sarah and Jim as part of the department’s leadership team,’ said Elizabeth Miller, Commissioner of the Department. ‘This is an exciting time as we continue to work diligently on the state’s energy plan, and to complete the state’s broadband build out,’ Miller said.
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As expected, the Nuclear Regulatry Commission this afternoon approved the application of Entergy Vermont Yankee to relicense the plant another 20 years, as it denied the last remaining objection by the New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution. The official approval is expected to be handed down within the next few days.
The Vernon nuclear plant's license was to expire in March 2012. The plant must still get approval from the Vermont Legislature and the Public Service Board. It seems the legislative approval would be unlikely, given that it overwhelmingly voted against the extension one year ago. However, Entergy, based in New Orleans, has indicated it may try and circumvent the legislative approval and go to federal court. The NRC has approved every license extension that has been requested to date.
Meanwhile, reaction to the NRC's action was swift. The IBEW Local 300, the electricians' union and longtime supporter of the relicensing, issued this statement:
by tim
Vermont showed surprisingly positive results in January in both construction employment and construction contracts. Thirty-six states lost construction jobs between January 2010 and 2011, even as more states added construction jobs than lost them between December and January, the Associated General Contractors of America reported in an analysis of state employment data released today by the Labor Department. Association officials cautioned that despite the increase in monthly employment, the construction industry is still facing severe economic headwinds.
‘It is encouraging to see more states adding jobs instead of losing them between December and January,’ said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. ‘Yet despite those monthly gains, we’re still a long way from seeing the kind of construction employment figures states experienced in 2006 and 2007.’
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US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) today introduced The Emergency Deficit Reduction Act that would establish a surtax on millionaires and eliminate tax breaks for big oil and gas companies.
Sanders, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, said any proposal to fund the government for the rest of this fiscal year must pair additional revenue from those who can afford it the most with spending cuts.
‘The American people get it. They understand you can't move toward deficit reduction just by cutting programs that working families, the middle class, low-income people desperately need in order to survive in the midst of this terrible recession. They understand that serious, responsible deficit reduction requires shared sacrifice,’ Sanders said in a Senate floor speech.
Under Sanders’ legislation, a 5.4 percent tax on income of more than $1 million a year would yield up to $50 billion annually for the U.S. Treasury.
by tim
The Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Southern Vermont has announced the winners of their 12th Annual Excellence in Housing Awards. These awards recognize the outstanding artistry and craftsmanship of members. They were presented at a banquet held at Franklin Conference Center in Rutland on February 23, 2011.
Awards presented:
Single Family Home ‘ under 2,000 square feet sponsored by Vermont Housing Finance Agency--Stafford Technical Center of Rutland;
Single Family Home ‘ 2,001 to 3,000 square feet sponsored by Gilmore Home Center--Aspen Construction Services of Bondville;
Single Family Home - over 3,000 square feet sponsored by LaValley Building Supply--The McKernon Group of Brandon;
Residential Addition-Renovation--Roaring Brook Constructors of Killington;
Best Kitchen--Roaring Brook Constructors of Killington;
Best Feature--Aspen Construction Services of Bondville;
by tim
Green Mountain Power is reporting today that its Searsburg wind power facility had its most productive year on record in 2010, thanks to weather conditions and strong operating performance.
"In its 13 years of continuous operation, the Searsburg facility has demonstrated that wind power works in Vermont," said Mary Powell, president and CEO of Green Mountain Power.
Above average wind speed contributed to record annual energy production of 14.7 million kilowatt hours in 2010, enough to supply more than 2,000 Vermont homes, well above the 11.8 million kwh 13-year average. In addition, there was less icing than usual in January, February and March 2010, which allowed more electricity to be produced in the coldest months when electricity market prices tend to be high.