Current News
by tim
Green Mountain Power has announced plans to install three public charging stations for electric cars in 2011. The charging stations will use state of the art technology, powered by the sun and will be ready for public use by spring 2011.
"Electric vehicles are part of Vermont's energy future," says Mary Powell, President and CEO of Green Mountain Power. "Transportation currently represents a significant percent of Vermont's carbon emissions and electric vehicles need to be part of a cost-effective strategy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. These new charging stations will help highlight the environmental benefits of fueling more vehicles with electricity." As part of the project, the company plans to install solar panels to produce renewable energy equal to the amount used by each charging station.
by tim
The Vermont Public Service Board on December 23 accepted FairPoint Communications' revised bankruptcy plan. The board last June rejected the plan in large part because it was not satisfied with the company's financial structure and because of the company's request to delay deployment of some of its broadband obligations under the original agreement. FairPoint refiled its application. The PSB then accepted it without conditions. On December 27, FairPoint petitioned the US Bankruptcy Court to release it from its Chapter 11 protection to allow the restructuring to move forward. In essence, FairPoint will sell the company to its creditors, which will reduce its debt from $2.7 billion to $1 billion.
Vermont was the last of the three states to give final approval to FairPoint. Maine and New Hampshire regulators approved the plan last summer. The Vermont PSB wrote on December 23:
"In this Order, we grant the regulatory approvals that FairPoint seeks, without conditions.
by tim
Northeast Dairy Farmers reached a settlement agreement with Dean Foods Company in their class action antitrust lawsuit against Dean, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) and Dairy Marketing Services (DMS). The agreement will include $30 million in monetary damages and injunctive relief that calls for Dean to purchase a portion of its raw milk from multiple Northeast sources.
"This is a major win for dairy farmers in the Northeast who have been squeezed by monopolization and price-fixing," said Benjamin Brown, an attorney at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, PLLC, which represents the plaintiff dairy farmers. "We are pleased that Dean Foods is working with plaintiffs to put this practice behind them."
The lawsuit -- Alice H. Allen, et al. vs. Dairy Farmers of America -- is far from resolved, however, added Kit A. Pierson of Cohen Milstein.
by tim
Governor Elect Peter Shumlin yesterday announced the appointment of state Representative Michael Obuchowski to serve as Commissioner of the Department of Buildings and General Services.
The department employs more than 350 people and oversees construction, renovation, maintenance and other services -- including security -- related to state buildings and grounds. The department also manages the state's vehicle fleet and coordinates worker compensation claims.
"I can't imagine a better fit for this job," said Gov.Elect Shumlin. "Michael's extensive legislative background and direct experience with state buildings and grounds will enable him to hit the ground running in this position."
Obuchowski has represented Windham 4 District in the Vermont House of Representatives since 1973, and chaired the Committees on Appropriations, Energy, Ways and Means, Commerce, Education and more during his tenure. He served as House Speaker for six years.
by tim
First Wind, an independent U.S.-based wind energy company, today announced that it has obtained $76 million in financing for the company’s 40 megawatt (MW) Sheffield Wind project. With financing in place, First Wind will continue on schedule with construction of the largest wind energy project to date in Vermont. Construction began in September, 2010. The developer says the Northeast Kingdom project will create construction jobs, local tax revenues, work for small local businesses, and clean energy for about 15,000 Vermont homes.
by tim
Governor-elect Peter Shumlin today announced that Christine M. Oliver will serve as Commissioner of Mental Health.
"Christine has broad experience with mental health issues and services, and with health care issues broadly," said Shumlin. "Her professional background makes her a strong addition to our human services team."
Oliver has served as Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Health Care Administration, through the Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration, since her appointment in 2006. In that post, she was the managerial head of the state division responsible for regulating health insurance (including rates and forms), quality of health care services, and related consumer education and protection. The division also has statutory responsibility for reviewing hospital budgets and issuing "certificates of need" for hospital expenditures.
by tim
Williston accounting firm Davis & Hodgdon Associates CPAs (www.dh-cpa.com) has worked up a synopsis of the deal President Obama cut with congressional Republicans on taxes and jobless benefits. The deal signed into law on December 17, 2010 extends President Bush's tax cuts and makes changes to other key provisions. Among the major highlights:
by tim
As individuals and communities all over Vermont welcome members of the Vermont National Guard home from deployment, the employees of Washington Electric Cooperative have expressed their thanks and support by donating dozens of Christmas gifts to needy, local Guard families with children. The $1,400 worth of gifts ‘ from a small bicycle with training wheels, to kitchen play sets and other toys, to children’s clothing and gifts for teen-agers and adults ‘ were purchased with $700 raised among the Co-op’s employees and a matching contribution by Washington Electric’s ‘Community Fund.’
by tim
WCAX-TV, Vermont Public Television and Vermont Public Radio will all present live coverage of Peter Shumlin’s inauguration as governor of Vermont and his address to the joint assembly at the Statehouse in Montpelier. Coverage will begin at 1:30 pm on Thursday, January 6th on WCAX-TV’s primary channel. Kristin Kelly and Darren Perron will anchor from their studios on Joy Drive in South Burlington with Kristin Carlson reporting live from the Statehouse in Montpelier. The inauguration will also be streamed live to the website, www.wcax.com.
‘WCAX News has a long tradition of covering the critical issues facing Vermonters from the State House. Broadcasting the inaugural from the State House will give the public a first look into how Peter Shumlin and other leaders will govern Vermont,’ stated Anson Tebbetts, WCAX-TV News Director.
by tim
The Vermont Attorney General’s Office has entered into a Judgment with DIRECTV that will result in consumer refunds and a payment of $185,000.00 to the State of Vermont. Because DIRECTV made attractive offers that did not indicate that consumers would have to extend their contracts and be subjected to cancellation fees or additional costs, it will now have to offer refunds to Vermonter consumers. ‘Businesses that fail to fully disclose all the terms of their offers will have to pay consumers as well as the State,’ said Attorney General William H. Sorrell. ‘DIRECTV’s customers will now get money back, full disclosure of all programming and pricing, and better service.’
by tim
Governor-elect Shumlin today announced that Commissioner Andrew Pallito will remain in his post as Commissioner of Corrections.
"There is no question addressing the challenge of corrections, which is the second largest area of growth in our state's budget, is ambitious," said Shumlin. "Vermonters can no longer afford to spend more on corrections than on higher education. In order to realize the cost efficiencies we anticipate through justice reinvestment, it is extremely important that we have someone with Andy's experience. Andy has both the vision and the experience necessary to ensure that we will reduce recidivism and achieve cost savings in our corrections system."
by tim
After a year of monitoring, The Putney School’s net-zero Field House has
used 48,374 kWh of electricity while the sun-tracking photovoltaic cells
that enervate it have produced 51,371 kWh. That’s nearly 3,000 more
kilowatt hours produced than the building used.
Designed by Maclay Architects in Waitsfield and built by DEW
Construction Corp from Williston, the Field House was opened for use in November of
2010. The first negative power bill, created because the photovoltaics
continue to produce electricity regardless of the building’s needs, came
in April. At the end of the year, all of the usage and production numbers
came together to make a zero (plus a little extra). Thus, a net-zero
building.
The even better news, according to Business Manager Randy Smith, is that
the differential in cost between what the building drew from the grid and