Current News

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM ANNOUNCED
Municipalities to Compete for Remediation Assessment Funding
MONTPELIER Vermont municipalities seeking to study the feasibility of
restoring property located in a town or village center may apply for
grants up to $10,000 under a new grant program announced by the
Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
Activities may include environmental assessments, building
conditions analysis, corrective action planning, cost
estimating, engineering or other professional evaluation of
land, buildings or property infrastructure components required
to ascertain the suitability of the property for renovation,
construction, or utilization for a specific purpose. Grant
recipients are required to provide a 25% match.
Our downtowns and village centers offer tremendous reuse

VBR Releases Third Quarter, 2004 CEO Economic Outlook Survey Results
So. Burlington, VT- Results from the Vermont Business Roundtable's (VBR)
third quarter, 2004 CEO Economic Outlook Survey, show that, compared to
the previous quarter results, more of our member CEOs are planning
increases over the next six months in two important measures: capital
spending and employment. While projections for company sales are
optimistic, compared to the previous quarter results, a higher percentage
of business leaders feel that sales are more likely to remain stable for
the next six months.
Douglas J. Wacek, President & CEO of the Union Mutual of Vermont Companies
in Montpelier and Ernie Pomerleau, President & CEO of Pomerleau Real
Estate in Burlington are members of the VBR. When asked to comment on his
CEO Economic Outlook Survey responses, Wacek stated that "continued growth

Central Vermont reports second quarter earnings

RUTLAND - Central Vermont Public Service (NYSE: CV) has reported consolidated second quarter earnings of
$3.5 million, or 27 cents per basic and diluted share of common stock. This compares to second quarter
2003 earnings of $5.1 million, or 40 cents per basic and diluted share of common stock.

For the first six months of 2004, CV reported earnings of $13.9 million, or $1.10 per basic and $1.09 per diluted
share of common stock, a $3.8 million increase from a year ago. Earnings for the first six months of 2003 totaled
$10.1 million, or 80 cents per basic and 79 cents per diluted share of common stock.

CVPS Cow Power" links farms, renewables and customers
Central Vermont Public Service customers who want to support renewable energy and Vermont dairy farms have a new energy choice -- CVPS Cow Power". The Vermont Public Service Board has approved CVPS Cow Power", which is intended to help promote development and reliance on renewable energy in Vermont by creating a market for energy generated by burning methane from cow manure.
By enrolling in CVPS Cow Power", customers will help support Vermont dairy farms that develop generators that run on methane from cow manure, renewable generation in the region, or incentives to farmers to get into the business.

"COW" FOLLOWS PHISH TO COVENTRY,
VERMONT CONCERT DATES
Verizon Wireless Network Prepared to Accommodate Concert Crowds
BURLINGTON, VT ­ When Phish fans gather to welcome the Vermont-based rock
band back home at the final shows of the band¹s Summer 2004 Tour, Verizon
Wireless will be on hand with a "COW," a portable cell site called "Cell
On Wheels," which is used to increase network capacity for special events
where significant cell phone usage is anticipated. The Phish concerts are
scheduled for August 14 and 15 at the Newport State Airport in Coventry.

Premier Charest and Governor Douglas review
Progress on Agreements and shared concerns
Burlington, August 3, 2004-Québec Premier Jean Charest and Vermont
Governor Jim Douglas met Tuesday at ECHO at the Leahy Center for Lake
Champlain in Burlington, Vermont, to review progress made under the
Cooperation Agreement Between the Government of Québec and the
Government of the State of Vermont and discuss shared concerns including
security, environmental issues surrounding lakes Champlain and
Memphremagog, and the extension of Highway 35 in Québec.
Progress has been made in many areas under the Québec-Vermont agreement
signed in December 2003, including
* Establishment of a joint Québec-Vermont committee to draw up
and monitor the 2004-2005 action plan
* Renewal of agreements on lakes Champlain and Memphremagog, as

COLCHESTER, Vt., Aug 3, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Green Mountain Power Corporation (NYSE: GMP) has announced consolidated earnings of $0.34 per share of common stock, diluted, for the second quarter of 2004, compared with $0.22 per share, diluted, for the same period in 2003. Earnings for the first six months of 2004 are $1.06 per share, diluted, compared with $1.01 per share, diluted, for the same period in 2003.
"We are pleased with operating results during the first half of 2004, which show strong revenue growth from sales to all customer classes," said Christopher L. Dutton, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We continue to expect earnings for the year to range between $2.05 and $2.15 per share."

REGIONAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT RECOMMENDED
Proposal would change funding of public transportation in Vermont
SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT -- A task force of the Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization (CCMPO) has recommended a new Regional Public Transportation District for Chittenden County as part of a proposal that would change the way public transportation in Vermont is funded and governed.
The initial recommendations of the Regional Public Transportation Initiative Task Force call for legislation that would authorize a Regional Public Transportation District to plan, implement, and manage public transportation in Chittenden County. An interim board of this District would develop detailed governance and funding proposals and report back to the legislature for final approval before a public vote on the issue. The recommendations also provide a mechanism for creating up to five other Districts throughout the State.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
Reports Fiscal 2004 Third Quarter Results; Net Sales Growth of 19.0%
and Net Income Growth of 40.4%

WATERBURY, Vt.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 3, 2004--Green Mountain
Coffee Roasters, Inc., (NASDAQ: GMCR) has announced fiscal third
quarter net sales for the twelve-week period ended July 3, 2004 of
$31,347,000, up 19.0%. Total coffee pounds shipped increased 17.2% to
4,075,000 pounds. The difference in growth rates between sales and coffee
pounds shipped is primarily due to the increase in sales of coffee and tea
K-Cups(R) as a percentage of sales, which sell at a higher price per pound
than other Green Mountain Coffee products.

Net income for the fiscal third quarter increased 40.4% to
$1,906,000, or $0.26 per diluted share, compared to $1,358,000, or
$0.19 per diluted share for the fiscal third quarter of 2003.

Governor Announces $2 Million Available for Bicycle and Pedestrian
Projects
Montpelier, Vt. - Governor Jim Douglas has announced the availability of
$2 million in funds for bicycle and pedestrian projects.
Governor Douglas said the $2 million is designated for design, acquisition
of right-of-way, and construction of bike and pedestrian projects around
Vermont. To qualify, projects must have a completed feasibility study or
an equivalent review.
"Encouraging new bicycle and pedestrian projects is part of our ongoing
commitment to creating a truly multi-modal transportation system,"
Governor Douglas said.
Last year the Governor's budget included funding for bicycle and
pedestrian projects that was awarded to 45 municipalities including: West
Rutland, Newfane, Cavendish, Morristown, St. Johnsbury, Burlington,
Colchester, Richford, Newport, Hartford, Woodstock, Dover, Bakersfield,

Governor Jim Douglas, Human Services Secretary Charles Smith, and consumer and peer advocates recently kicked-off one of the most significant reorganization of government services in more than two decades.
A year ago, the Agency of Human Services embarked on an intensive effort to transform the way it delivers services. After months of meetings, focus groups and surveys, a plan for reorganization was presented to the legislature and approved in the waning days of the session.
Beginning July 1st, the Agency began a major transition toward a service delivery system that is simpler, easier to access and centered on the strengths of individuals and families. The transformation is expected to take at least three years.

CCTA Announces Fiscal Year 2004 Ridership Increase of 8.5%

Streamlining of Routes and New Ridership Initiatives Attributed to Ridership Increase
Burlington, Vermont: The Chittenden County Transportation Authority (CCTA) has announced that Fiscal Year 2004 bus boardings are up 8.5% from the previous year, recording almost 1.8 million rides for the year. This is the highest ridership increase that CCTA has seen in more than two decades, continuing the upward trend that started two years ago. Some key ridership highlights from FY04:
" University Mall/Airport is up 10.6%;

" PARC Shuttle is up 24.2%;

" Williston is up 28.9%;