Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today filed an amicus brief asking a federal court to stay, or temporarily pause, a federal PCB lawsuit brought by a group of schools against Monsanto, after the State had already filed a suit in state court against Monsanto for PCB contamination in Vermont schools. The brief notes that the basis and relief requested in the later-filed federal suit, Addison Central School District et al. v. Monsanto et al., overlaps with the State’s first-filed suit currently proceeding in state court. The State’s suit seeks to recoup the millions of dollars the State is spending on its school testing and remediation program and alleges claims for PCB contamination in the natural environment, including Lake Champlain. Temporarily pausing the federal suit will conserve resources and is likely to save taxpayer dollars.

Vermont Business Magazine Maclay Architects and Vermont Integrated Architecture, PC (VIA) have announced that Maclay Architects will become “VIA - Maclay Studio” as of January 1, 2024. The staff at Maclay Architects will become VIA employees at that time. Nationally-recognized as a pioneer of sustainable architecture, Bill Maclay has been practicing in the Mad River Valley for over 50 years. With trailblazing projects throughout Vermont and the Northeast (e.g. Aiken Building at UVM, Coastal Maine Environmental Learning Center, Putney School Fieldhouse) Maclay helped set the standard for ecological design and continued to innovate throughout his career.

Vermont Business Magazine Come to the Natural Fiber Lab at Smokey House Center for a discussion of the processes involved in turning locally grown plant fibers into finished cloth with Smokey House Center’s Natural Fibers Researcher, Andrea Myklebust. This Explore Smokey House Series titled, “Local Cloth” will be held Friday, November 10 from 5pm - 7pm. Participants will learn about the tools and materials used in transforming bast fibers (flax and hemp) from raw straw to spinnable fiber, spun yarn, and woven cloth. Andrea will discuss her work at the Smokey House Natural Fiber Lab, our ongoing fiber hemp research projects with UVM, and current work being undertaken regionally to revive local bast fiber textile production. 

Vermont Business Magazine During a Senate Rules and Administration Committee hearing this week, Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) raised concerns about persisting threats to the nation’s election administration and stressed the importance of holding those who interfere with elections accountable. Sen. Welch also emphasized the need to support and safeguard the welfare of civil servants assisting with election administration. 

Vermont Business Magazine Last week, GlobalFoundries opened its doors in Essex Junction to local high school students for a day of learning and tours in honor of Manufacturing Day (the first Friday of every October). Hosted by GF's GlobalAmbassadors, Juniors and Seniors from Center for Technology Essex and Winooski High School visited the site to learn about GF, tour the fab and facilities, learn different career pathways at GF, chat with engineers over lunch, and try a hands-on robotics demo with SPOT the robot.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Department of Economic Development announced today the state of Vermont is committing $4,058,184 from the Vermont Brownfields Revitalization Fund that promotes the productive reuse of contaminated sites to cleanup properties in Hardwick, Barre, Newport, Burlington, Fairlee, Rutland City, and Winooski. “Cleaning up unused brownfields and turning them into economic opportunities has been a priority for my team,” said Governor Scott. “Transforming these brownfields into job creators and much needed housing is exactly the kind of work Vermont needs advance.”

by Leah Golding, Community News Service Construction on the walk-bike bridge known as the East-West Crossing in South Burlington is expected to start at the end of 2024, city leaders say, with a target opening two years later. The $14.5 million project, which would see a bridge for cyclists and pedestrians stretch over Interstate 89, has been in development for years now and aims to address one of the riskiest tracts of road in the state. Design work is about 60% finished, according to Ilona Blanchard, the city’s community development director, and a study is underway to determine connection points between the bridge and existing walk and bike lanes and sidewalks.  

Vermont Business Magazine City Councilor Joan Shannon (D-South District) announced her candidacy for the position of Mayor of Burlington today, amid a gathering of supporters, family, and community leaders on the steps of City Hall. The announcement event took place on Thursday, November 2nd, and marks a significant step in Shannon’s political career as she seeks to secure the Democratic nomination at the upcoming Burlington Democratic Caucus on December 10th.

Vermont Business Magazine Casella Waste Systems, Inc (NASDAQ: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling and resource management services company, today reported its financial results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2023. Highlights for the Three Month and Year-to-Date Periods Ended September 30, 2023 include: Revenues were $352.7 million for the quarter, up $57.5 million, or up 19.5%, from the same period in 2022; Overall solid waste pricing for the quarter was up 6.9% from the same period in 2022, primarily a result of 7.6% higher collection pricing and 5.9% higher disposal pricing; Net income was $18.2 million for the quarter, down $(4.5) million, or down (19.8)%, from the same period in 2022. Net income was negatively impacted by several items in the quarter, including a $2.4 million increase in expense from acquisition activities from the same period in 2022; Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, was $89.6 million for the quarter, up $14.6 million, or up 19.4%, from the same period in 2022.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are down 3 cents per gallon this week to $3.60/g. Prices are down 20 cents/g from a month ago and down 29 cents/g from a year ago. The lowest price in the state yesterday is $3.09/g in Brattleboro while the highest is $3.99/g in Wolcott. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 9 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.41/g today. 

Vermont Business Magazine Renewable Energy Vermont (REV), the trade association representing Vermont’s renewable energy industry, applauds the U.S. Department of Energy’s announcement that National Grid’s Twin States Clean Energy Link was selected as one of three projects nationwide to receive investment through the U.S. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Transmission Facilitation Program (TCP). The TCP is a $2.5 billion revolving fund to for building new, large-scale transmission lines supporting interregional transmission projects that will strengthen grid resilience and reliability and enable the addition of more renewable energy resources to the grid.  

Vermont Business Magazine The Nature Conservancy has completed a low-cost river restoration project along one mile of Hubbardton River tributaries at its Hubbardton River Clayplain Natural Area in West Haven, Vermont. The restoration project demonstrates new techniques for improving wildlife habitat, reducing downstream pollution, and improving flood resiliency at low cost. Approximately 75 percent of Vermont’s rivers, adjacent floodplains, and wetlands are in poor physical condition due to centuries of dredging, straightening, and armoring Vermont’s waterways to make way for buildings, roads, and agriculture. The degraded condition of these rivers has contributed to nutrient pollution in lakes and ponds, loss of river and wetland habitat, and increased flood impacts to our homes, businesses, and roadways.