Current News

Vermont Business Magazine After three months of intense focus, camaraderie and both virtual and in-person learning, The DeltaClimeVT Energy 2023 climate economy business accelerator announces ProsumerGrid as the winner. Seventeen entrepreneurs from eight start-ups focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by enabling the acceleration of electrification graduated from the DeltaClimeVT Energy 2023 climate economy business accelerator during an awards ceremony at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center June 14. At the event, each company presented their final pitch and shared their plans to scale their start-up companies. 

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former chair of the HELP Committee, today released the following statement announcing the HELP Committee will hold a hearing in the fall on what they called "the disastrous" Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Vermont Business Magazine The ACLU of Vermont sent an open letter to Vermont’s municipal leaders and agencies today, urging respect for constitutional rights at a time when the number of unhoused people and families in Vermont communities is increasing rapidly. The ACLU has filed numerous legal actions to vindicate the rights of low-income and unsheltered Vermonters in recent years. The ACLU’s letter notes that Governor Scott and the Vermont legislature chose to end the state’s emergency housing program without providing sufficient alternatives. That policy choice will compound the stress on localities and service providers—who are already strained beyond capacity—to meet existing needs. 

Vermont Business Magazine Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman released the following statement Tuesday afternoon after adjournment of the Legislature’s veto override session: “Vermont legislators put a noble amount of work this session to craft comprehensive pieces of legislation on many crucial issues, including childcare. I am glad to see that, despite the objections from the Governor, Vermont families, children, caretakers, early childhood educators, and employers will soon see the positive impacts of this work... In addition to childcare and the budget, the legislature overrode the Governor’s veto on three other bills. In Vermont’s history, there had only been 14 veto overrides."

Vermont Business Magazine Senators Peter Welch (D-VT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) today introduced the End Price Gouging for Medications Act, legislation to lower drug costs for all Americans and end pharmaceutical price gouging. A 2021 study reported that Americans pay 2.4 times what people in other countries pay for prescription drugs. This legislation would require drug companies to offer prescription drugs in the United States at an established international reference price. In so doing, the bill would lower US drug prices to be consistent with what patients around the world pay and increase access to essential medications.  

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the House overrode Governor Scott’s veto of the FY24 state budget (H.494) on a vote of 105 to 42 and the universal child care bill (H.217) on a vote of 116 to 31. The bills were then sent to the Senate for their consideration. For the budget, some Democrats and Progressives had suggested that they could sustain the veto because the budget did not contain enough funds for the homeless. The Senate voted to override the budget 25-5 and override the child care bill 23-7.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Employer Healthcare Commissioners announced today the addition of two alternate commission members to their bargaining unit. With West Rutland’s Mike Moser and Akua Smith of Enosburg Falls joining the team, the Employer Commission’s roster is now complete as they prepare for the next round of contract discussions on healthcare benefits for public school employees.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Senate voted today to recommit S.6 back to Senate Judiciary, meaning the state legislature was unsuccessful in overriding Governor Scott’s veto of the only significant police reform bill advanced in Vermont this year. The bill would prevent the use of deceptive and coercive police interrogation techniques on people under the age of 22. The ACLU said the Vermont Senate apparently lacked the votes to support an override.

The Vermont State Police is continuing to investigate the fatal shooting of a man by a Fair Haven police officer that occurred Monday evening on Washington Street. Detectives have spoken with witnesses and reviewed bystander video of the incident; the Fair Haven Police Department is not equipped with body-worn cameras or cruiser cameras. The man who was shot and killed is identified as Kenneth Barber Jr., 38, of Castleton.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO), is inviting neighbors in Georgia, St Albans, Swanton and Highgate, and anyone interested, to one or more community meetings about a proposed electric transmission project to improve grid reliability and unlock additional local renewable energy generation. Four community meetings to discuss the project will be held on June June 21, 22, 27, 28.

Vermont Business Magazine Training programs crucial to workforce development efforts and needs at UVM Health Network – Central Vermont Medical Center will soon be expanding following approval of a $735,000 federal grant. Vermont Senator Peter Welch helped secure the funding last year as a then-member of the U.S. House of Representatives through Congressionally Directed Spending. The funding will address a significant barrier to growth of existing workforce development programs at CVMC – the ability to provide dedicated space and resources.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), sent a letter today to Amazon Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy initiating a HELP Committee investigation into the abysmal safety record in Amazon’s warehouses and the company’s treatment of workers who are injured in those warehouses. Sanders also published a website where Amazon workers can submit stories about their experiences at the company to help inform the Committee’s investigation.