Current News

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced an estimated $12,603,596 in financial relief to Vermont. This help will be provided to states by reducing the amount Vermont will have to pay the federal government to offset the cost of Medicare coverage for prescription drugs for state residents eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.
Thursday s announcement is part of a nationwide action that will provide some budget relief to states in these difficult economic times.

Chittenden Superior Court issued an order on Friday that prevents Burlington from spending any city funds on a $386,000 interest payment that was due Wednesday towards Burlington Telecom's $33.5 million dollar debt, according to a story in the , according to a story in the Burlington Free Press, unless they are granted permission by the state Public Service Board. On Tuesday, the PSB denied the city that permission.
The order was a response to a request by the attorneys of Eugene Shaver and Fred Osier, who have filed a suit to require the city to repay $17 million that it spent on BT. By using city money to fund BT, city officials violated Condition 60 of the company's state license. The order prevents any spending that violates Condition 60, and says that the city must document and prove to the court that any money from the city account used to fund BT can be repaid with revenue from BT.

Today, during the Vermont Aerospace & Aviation Association (VAAA) Open House, Vermont Governor Jim Douglas signed a proclamation declaring February as General Aviation Appreciation Month, highlighting the significance the industry has on Vermont s statewide economy. Douglas also presented a $30,000 grant to South Burlington to fund preliminary work on a new Burlington Aviation Technical Training Center at the Burlington International Airport.
The VAAA is a division of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce which manages this association in partnership with Lt. Governor and VAAA Chair Brian Dubie, who also serves as National Chair of the Aerospace States Association. The event was attended by general aviation (GA) leaders from around the country including Alliance for Aviation Across America (AAAA) Executive Director Selena Shilad.

Governor Jim Douglas today announced his full support for both the Future’s Plan concept and the specific recommendations of the Department of Mental Health. The Governor also announced a funding plan that will allow these new facilities to open starting in 2012 and fully close the Vermont State Hospital by 2014. The Governor proposes to appropriate any future extension of enhanced Medicaid matching funds (also known as FMAP) to fulfilling the plans outlined in the Future Group report.
“Even in difficult financial times,” said Governor Douglas, “good ideas can move forward and be funded in a fiscally responsible manner. It is fortuitous that the estimated amount of one-time enhanced ARRA funding matches up squarely with the need for one-time funding to build the Futures Plan.”

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) today announced the launch of an innovative biomass energy project at Vermont Technical College. A wood pellet boiler will serve both as a practical heating source for a building on the college campus and as an invaluable hands-on learning tool for students interested in the growing field of renewable energy jobs.
Sanders, chairman of the Senate Green Jobs and the New Economy Subcommittee, secured $184,995 in federal funding for the project through the U.S. Department of Energy. Vermont Technical College will provide an additional $55,865.
Sanders said the project is part of an effort he and others around the state are making “to transform Vermont’s energy system so that we can become more energy independent, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and create good-paying local jobs. As we move forward toward improved energy efficiency through wind, solar, and geothermal energy, we also must understand the importance of biomass.”

LEDdynamics hired a new employee this week – and they hope to hire more. Despite the economic downturn, this Randolph business, a national leader in energy efficient LED lighting technology, is growing. In part, they credit their success to marketing efforts funded with Recovery Act dollars.
Through a $65,000 USDA Rural Development Rural Business Enterprise Grant backed with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, the Randolph Area Community Development Corporation (RACDC) was able to finance marketing services and technical assistance for two Randolph companies - LEDdynamics and the Randolph Farm Stand.

Ben & Jerry s announces its commitment to go fully Fair Trade across its entire global flavor portfolio. From Americone Dream to Chocolate Fudge Brownie, all of the flavors in all of the countries where Ben & Jerry s is sold will be converted to Fair Trade Certified ingredients by the end of 2013.
Ben & Jerry s was the first ice cream company in the world to use Fair Trade Certified ¢ ingredients starting in 2005, and today it s racing ahead as the first ice cream company to make such a significant commitment to Fair Trade across its global portfolio.
Company co-founder Jerry Greenfield said, Fair Trade is about making sure people get their fair share of the pie. The whole concept of Fair Trade goes to the heart of our values and sense of right and wrong. Nobody wants to buy something that was made by exploiting somebody else.

A new lighting technology that saves energy and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions may be coming soon to a street near you. Green Mountain Power has submitted a plan to the Vermont Public Service Board to offer LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights to replace worn-out mercury vapor lights in streetlights throughout its service area. The Colchester utility is the first electric utility in New England -- and one of only a handful in the country -- to offer an LED-specific rate to customers for outdoor lighting.
"Offering this new lighting technology to our customers furthers Green Mountain Power's commitment to being an environmentally responsible company," said Mary Powell, Green Mountain Power president and chief executive officer. "By promoting energy efficient technology we help customers to reduce the amount of energy they use and we also protect Vermont night sky." The type of LED lights being used are full cut off, meaning no light will shine above the fixture.

By Chris Graff.
Half of Vermonters want to see the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant shut down in two years, according to a poll released today. Only 27 percent support the continued operation of the Vernon reactor while 24 percent say they are not sure. (SEE POLL RESULTS BELOW).
The poll also found that 66 percent of those surveyed said they would be willing to pay more for electricity if Vermont Yankee is shut down.
The survey of 400 Vermonters was conducted over the past weekend for a trio of news organizations, Vermont Business Magazine, WCAX-TV and WDEV Radio Vermont.
The results are in line with a similar poll two years ago when 29 percent supported relicensing of Vermont Yankee and 52 percent were opposed.
Considering the damaging events of the past month it s surprising the numbers are unchanged from two years ago.

Northern Power Systems, Inc, a next-generation wind turbine company and leading manufacturer of community wind turbines, today announced it named Parthiv Amin President of Community Wind. Amin will apply his extensive experience in the wind industry to continue to build on Northern’s leadership in the community wind marketplace.
Amin was formerly President of Winergy Drive Systems in the US, a business unit of Siemens Corp., the world’s largest wind turbine drive train (gearbox and generator) manufacturer. Prior to that role, he was Vice President of Global Marketing and Services at Emerson Electric Company, where he led global business development and played a key role in new product development and acquisition. Amin earned his post graduate studies in accounting and his MBA from Loyola College and completed undergraduate studies in mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced today that Burlington has received a major, and highly sought after Recovery Act ( Stimulus Bill ) grant. The $3.15 million award will be used for the Waterfront North project, which involves rebuilding the end of Lake Street, realigning and upgrading portions of the bike path, and constructing the parking necessary for the redevelopment of the Moran plant. The so-called TIGER grant was announced by DOT Secretary Ray LaHood.

by Chris Graff
Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie would defeat four of the five Democratic gubernatorial candidates if the election were held today, according to a poll released today. Only Secretary of State Deb Markowitz would beat Dubie - and Markowitz s edge, 43 percent to 41 percent, with 16 percent undecided is within the margin of error of the poll, conducted over the past weekend for a trio of news organizations, WCAX-TV, Vermont Business Magazine and WDEV Radio Vermont. (SEE POLL DATA BELOW)
The poll, which is decidedly early in the political season, reflects the fact that both Dubie and Markowitz hold statewide office and thus enjoy higher name recognition than the others.