Current News

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission will today be holding two public sessions to discuss the criteria by which it awarded the Vermont Yankee power plant its highest rating green. In its Annual Assessment Letter dated March 4, 2009, the NRC said that overall, Vermont Yankee operated in a manner that preserved public health and safety and fully met all cornerstone objectives.
Brad Ferland, President of the Vermont Energy Partnership, which is comprised of over 90 business, labor, and community leaders, today issued the following statement regarding the NRC annual safety performance assessment report. The Partnership believes Vermont Yankee s continued operation is important for ensuring the state has a reliable and clean electricity supply so that the state s economy can recover and grow.

The Vermont House gave final approval April 15 to legislation that will significantly increase the number of wetlands nature s water filters that will be protected under Vermont law.
The bill, H.447, will require inaccurate state wetlands maps to be updated and also mandate better protections for wetlands.
This legislation shows what Vermonters with widely divergent interests can accomplish when they sit down, roll up their sleeves and focus on what s good for Vermont s natural resources over the long haul, said Kim Greenwood, staff scientist for the Vermont Natural Resources Council. All parties here have made compromises for the greater good of improving the regulation of our wetlands, Greenwood said.

US Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) today announced Ascension Technology Corporation (Milton, VT) has been awarded a $2,359,000 USAF contract for additional development of its phasorBIRDTM optical tracker. phasorBIRD instantly tracks a pilot's head movements (using emitters on a helmet or headset) for target acquisition and reception of mission-critical information.
Under the direction of the Air Force Research Laboratory, Ascension will focus R&D on both military and commercial applications of the tracking technology. The program will continue work, enabling phasorBIRD to meet rigorous flight safety, logistical support, and performance demands of new tactical aircraft. It will also jumpstart development of cost-effective phasorBIRD variants for use in commercial aircraft, flight simulators, virtual reality, and medical devices.

Burlington-based Blodgett Corporation, the world’s leading manufacturer of commercial ovens, continues to expand its US presence through a new partnership with KFC. Blodgett will provide energy efficient ovens to over 5,000 KFC restaurants across the country to make KFC’s new Kentucky Grilled Chicken (KGC) product. With annual sales already over $71 million, and employing 160 local workers, Blodgett’s new deal with KFC is expected create more local jobs, according to information provided by the company.

The Board of Directors of the Vermont Captive Insurance Association (VCIA) has appointed Diane Leach interim president of the Association. The appointment will become effective upon Molly Lambert's departure from the organization. Lambert has been recommended by Senator Patrick Leahy for appointment by President Obama as State Director for Rural Development for Vermont and New Hampshire.
In announcing Leach's interim appointment, Chair of the Board Michael Bemi, stated, "Diane's 20+ years with the VCIA, her outstanding service to the Association and her deep understanding of the captive insurance industry make her the perfect interim leader." Leach is a resident of Stowe, VT and has held the position of Director of Education and Program Planning for well over a decade. She was the first staff person of the VCIA when she joined the organization in 1988.

The economist contracted by the Legislature for consultation and analysis has sent a scathing report back to the Joint Fiscal Office in regards to a bill before the Senate Finance Committee called "Vermont Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (S.137)." Tom Kavet is an economist from Williamstown. As part of his introduction, he says, "Virtually none of the proposed programs that reduce revenues or increase spending represent any net economic stimulus benefit to the State." He questions essentially all of the measures as benefitting near-term economic stimulus. He suggests that maximizing federal stimulus funds is by far the best opportunity for the state to recover from the current recession.

Congressman Peter Welch announced a $792,000 federal grant Wednesday to fund the acquisition of mountaineering equipment for the Vermont National Guard. Welch made the announcement at the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho, alongside Brigadier General John Farnham. Vermont s 86th IBCT (MTN) is the U.S. Army s only conventional unit designated as a Mountain Infantry Brigade. Welch was successful in securing $792,000 for Mountain Specific Operational Equipment, which will enhance the 86th IBCT s ability to complete its mission in the rugged, mountainous environment of Afghanistan.
The Vermont Guard is expected to deploy to Afghanistan in the near future.
We must do all we can to support our Vermont Guard as they prepare to deploy to Afghanistan, Welch said. These funds are key to ensuring our Guard members have the equipment, training and support they need to achieve their mission.
Source: Welch's office

Moscow Mills Manufacturing and Foster-Miller, Inc of Waltham, MA, have announced a major new non-lethal system for stopping small boats such as those used by pirates, drug traffickers and terrorists. The companies are working in conjunction with the Pentagon's Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate program in Quantico, VA, and the US Coast Guard to move the project into even more widespread usage.
The system, dubbed "Boat Trap" uses ballistic nets dropped from aircraft to ensnare and stop small boats without using lethal force. The Boat Trap has been extensively tested in both US waters and in the Caribbean. It is currently being deployed on a limited basis by US government agencies.

Governor Jim Douglas announced today that the Department of Public Service (DPS) will award $2.57 million from the Clean Energy Development Fund (CEDF) for renewable energy projects throughout the state. The goal of the CEDF is to increase the development and deployment of combined heat and power (CHP) technologies and renewable energy generation.
I am pleased to announce $2.57 million in grant awards for the development of clean, renewable energy in Vermont, said Governor Jim
Douglas. As we continue to work hard with our federal partners and energy stakeholders across the state, we have a tremendous opportunity to create greater energy independence for Vermonters. These awards will help us continue to expand our efficiency and renewable energy efforts from funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Governor said.

Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) will present Mr. Ted Castle, owner and president of Rhino Foods, the 2009 Terry Ehrich Award for Socially Responsible Business Practices at its annual awards dinner scheduled for May 4th. Rhino Foods of Burlington started in the 1980s as a small frozen custard stand in the Champlain Mill in Winooski. Now with sales over $20 million and over 100 employees, Rhino makes cookie dough for most major brands in the ice cream industry along with its ice cream cookie sandwich the Chesster and co-packing for numerous national and international companies. Steadfast in exemplifying Rhino s Purpose, to impact the manner business is done, Ted created an innovative Employee Exchange Program as an alternative to layoffs nine years ago. He has also been an advocate and leader in the business community to support the hiring and retention of refugees.

The great state of Vermont tops the list of US state breweries per capita based on the Brewers Association s count of operating breweries and the 2008 population estimates found at www.census.gov. The fortunate citizens of Vermont have a brewery for every 32,698 people. There are 19 breweries and 621,270 citizens in Vermont. Additionally, every Vermont brewery is a craft brewery according the Brewers Association's craft brewer definition (see About Us), from small start-up microbrewery Lawson's Finest Liquids in Warren to the revered Vermont Pub & Brewery in Burlington to regional craft brewer Magic Hat Brewing Co. and Performing Arts Center also in Burlington. The top 5 states in breweries per capita are rounded out by Montana, Oregon, Maine and Colorado.
The Facts
Last updated on 2/23/2009

Microcheck has announced that it is working with scientists at Applied Biosystems, a division of Life Technologies Corporation, to further enhance Applied Biosystems validated libraries that provide the most complete information for microbial identification in pharmaceutical manufacturing. These libraries contain information about bacteria and fungi, enabling users of Applied Biosystems MicroSEQ® Microbial Identification System to perform accurate identifications. Microcheck is an independent contract cGMP microbiology laboratory, with expertise in fungal, yeast, actinomycete and bacterial identification, environmental monitoring, and microbiology testing.