Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The average gasoline price in Vermont today is $3.09 per gallon, unchanged from last week, down 6 cents/g from last month and down 37 cents/g from last year, according to AAA. The lowest price in the state this week was $2.75/g while the highest was $3.29/g, a difference of 54.0 cents per gallon. The lowest prices are in Bennington and Rutland counties and the highest are in Grand Isle, Lamoille and Windsor counties. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.06/g today. The national average is down 11 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 23 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Federal Credit Union presents an on-court donation of $2,125 to Vermont Works for Women, continuing its ongoing partnership with University of Vermont Women's Basketball and She Roars. As a women-led Credit Union and the Presenting Sponsor of University of Vermont Women's Basketball and the University of Vermont She Roars program, Vermont Federal Credit Union advances its mission of supporting Vermonters through its "When Women Win" initiative. Through this program, Vermont Federal Credit Union has pledged to donate $25 to Vermont Works for Women each time a University of Vermont women's athletic team secures a home game victory. At the end of the 2023 season, the program generated a total of $2,125, a testament to the dedication and hard work of the women's athletic teams.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest ski and snowboard resort in Eastern North America, is pleased to receive a positive snow control announcement from FIS (International Ski and Snowboard Federation), the governing body of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup. With this announcement, Killington Resort can assure international race teams and ski racing fans traveling to central Vermont for Thanksgiving weekend that both the giant slalom and slalom races will take place as scheduled on November 30 and December 1.

by Secretary Anson Tebbetts, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets This season, we gather with friends and family. Perhaps you’re getting together for a home cooked meal, a potluck, or a special holiday celebration at the office or workplace. Maybe it’s to visit your favorite restaurant. We are fortunate in Vermont to have extraordinary food and beverages in every corner of our state. This time of year, we enjoy feasts with fresh local veggies, meat, dairy, and specialty food and beverages made right here in Vermont. Your local farmer works many long hours to produce a harvest that all of us may enjoy. You might find this season’s bounty at the farm at the farmstand, farmers’ market, CSA, retail store or co-op, or maybe delivered to your home. 

Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday, U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09) introduced the bicameral American Renewable Energy Act (AREA), legislation to establish a 70% renewable energy resource standard by 2034 and up to 100% by 2044 to drastically reduce emissions, decrease pollution, and promote community resilience. In order to achieve this goal, AREA prioritizes the development and implementation of solar, wind, and geothermal energy, as well as marine energy, limited hydropower, and methane digesters for smaller farms and wastewater plants.

by Lt. Col. Meghan Smith, 158th Fighter Wing The Vermont Air National Guard began the third and final phase of a photovoltaic power project, an ambitious solar energy initiative aimed at bolstering energy resilience, reducing carbon emissions, and enhancing emergency readiness. The initial solar array was made possible through an $8.8 million grant facilitated by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, while the nearly $2.8 million expansion is funded by the Energy Resilience & Conservation Investment Program, a subsection of the Defense-Wide Military Construction Program specifically intended to fund projects designed to provide energy resilience to critical electrical loads, implement energy and water conservation measures and renewable energy technologies at military installations.

Vermont Business Magazine World Cup ski racing returns to Vermont’s Killington Resort with the 2024 Stifel Killington Cup taking place on Thanksgiving weekend, November 29 - December 1. This year's event will have no shortage of passion and excitement, especially since Mikaela Shiffrin is on track for her historic 100th win as the fastest female ski racer. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Stifel Killington Cup. 

Vermont Business Magazine After filing Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRD) in September to block the sale of certain offensive arms to Israel, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today rose to bring the JRDs up for a vote by the full Senate. The JRD is the only formal mechanism available to Congress to prevent an arms sale noticed by the Administration from advancing. 

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in collaboration with Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), will adjust hours of operation for 38 ports of entry (POEs) along the U.S. northern border, beginning at midnight, Jan. 6, 2025. Most of the border crossings in Vermont and the New York North Country that are being affected will see their hours reduced. The CBP said these changes will allow it to increase border security while facilitating legitimate cross-border trade and travel. CBP officers will be deployed to busier ports of entry, enabling the agency to use its resources most effectively for its critical national security and border security missions.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine On November 14, the Vermont Public Utility Commission approved the sale of the corporate parent of Vermont’s largest landline telecommunications provider, Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc (CNSL). This is one step in Consolidated being acquired by Searchlight Capital in an all‑cash transaction for approximately $3.1 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, Searchlight will acquire all of the Consolidated common stock not already owned by Searchlight for $4.70 per share in cash. As of today, CNSL shares are trading at $4.63. The 52-week range is $4.18 to $4.70. Consolidated's market cap is $548.5 million. Annual revenues in FY 2023 were $1.1 billion. Consolidated shareholders approved the acquisition last January. The transaction, which will result in Consolidated becoming a private company, is expected to close in late fourth quarter 2024 or early first quarter 2025, subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals.

Vermont Business Magazine As the nation contends with dwindling disaster relief funds, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Rep. Becca Balint (D-At Large) today called for the urgent passage of supplemental funding to help communities recover from natural disasters that have devastated Vermont and states across the country. In the letter – sent today to Senate and House leadership and appropriators – the Delegation also urged that the legislation be in line with President Biden’s recent emergency request for nearly $100 billion in disaster funding, including $40 billion to replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) has seen an uptick in health care scams. DFR reminds Vermont residents that the only legitimate, State-certified individual health insurance plans available in Vermont are Qualified Health Plans. Qualified Health Plans are only available from Vermont Health Connect (VHC), which is administered by the Department of Vermont Health Access, or directly from the health insurance companies Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) and MVP Health Care. The annual open enrollment period for selecting a Qualified Health Plan is November 1, 2024, to January 15, 2025. While health insurance fraud scams occur throughout the year, scammers increase their efforts during the annual open enrollment period.