Current News

Yesterday, on a voice vote, the Vermont Senate passed legislation that studies alternatives to chloramine in drinking water. The bill, a revised version of H. 80, outlines an engineering study of disinfection methods that the Champlain Water District (CWD) and other water districts in the state could use instead of processes that rely on chloramine as a secondary disinfectant. House concurrence is expected later this week. The study would be supported by funding from the EPA, secured through efforts by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. An EPA contractor would perform the study.
The legislation passed after months of work in the State House by People Concerned About Chloramine (PCAC), and Vermonters for a Clean Environment (VCE). Its passage comes during national Drinking Water Week, and highlights the serious issues facing water systems around the country.

Southern Vermont College has announced the award of a prestigious grant from the Davis Educational Foundation in the amount of $200,000. The grant will provide funding for curriculum innovation.
Southern Vermont College will conduct a three-year transition to a curriculum featuring four courses per semester, in place of its current five-course model, ultimately enabling students to probe subjects in greater depth. This structural change will allow for important pedagogical re-visioning as well. The college will distinguish its approach by significantly enhancing experiential learning across all fields of study, an approach aligned to engaged, collaborative, laboratory learning.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) today announced that 30 schools will receive a total of $170,000 in Planning and Program Development grants through the Agency s Safe Routes to School program. Competition for funding was solid, as VTrans received 13 applications representing 35 schools for a total request of $225,000.
The grants will be used by schools to help them form travel plans that will identify the barriers (both cultural and physical) that prevent students from walking and bicycling to school.
Sixty schools across the state have participated in the program since 2006. This most recent round of funding focuses on adding new schools to the program, as well as supports schools that have an ongoing program but need additional funds to help change the culture in their community.

On the morning of Wednesday, May 13, an estimated 20,000 T riders in Boston will be rewarded for their environmentally-friendly decision to use public transportation with the help of two Vermont companies. Volunteers from TransFair USA, the non-profit that certifies Fair Trade Certified ¢ products in the United States, will distribute free coupons to be redeemed for hot or iced Fair Trade Certified ¢ Green Mountain Coffee® at Bruegger s Bakery-Cafés, plus a coupon worth $2.50 off a package of Green Mountain Coffee at local grocery stores.
Commuters can find the volunteers from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. at seven T stations including: South Station, Kenmore, Porter Square, Longwood, Downtown Crossing, Government Center and Back Bay.

On May 5, 2009, the board of directors of Central Vermont Public Service (NYSE: CV) declared a quarterly dividend of 23 cents per share on the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, $6 par value, payable Aug. 14, 2009 to stockholders of record at the close of business Aug. 4, 2009. The board of directors also declared dividends on the outstanding preferred stock, $100 par value, of $1.04 per share on the 4.15% dividend series; $1.17 per share on the 4.65% dividend series; $1.19 per share on the 4.75% dividend series; $1.34375 per share on the 5.375% dividend series; and $2.075 per share on the 8.30% dividend series, payable July 1, 2009 to stockholders of record at the close of business June 19, 2009.
CVPS is Vermont's largest electric utility, serving approximately 159,000 customers statewide. The company's non-regulated subsidiary, Catamount Resources Corporation, sells and rents electric water heaters through a subsidiary, SmartEnergy Water Heating Services.

Northern Power Systems, Inc. (www.northernpower.com), a next-generation wind energy company and leading manufacturer of community wind turbines in Barre, today unveiled a Wind for Schools package that will help more schools produce their own wind power and engage their students and communities in realizing the benefits of renewable energy. Announced at WINDPOWER 2009, the package outfits educational institutions with a Northwind 100 wind turbine, standards-based K-12 curriculum that is customized and linked to real-time turbine data and web-based access for students and community members.

NBT Bank, NA, of Norwich, NY, is planning to open a commercial lending office on Bank Street in Burlington. The office will be located in the former Vermont National Bank building, which more recently was used by Chittenden Bank. The bank's parent company, NBT Bancorp, announced it was moving into Vermont yesterday during its annual shareholders' meeting. The Binghamton (NY) Press & Sun-Bulletin quoted CEO Martin Dietrich as saying the office would open in either the second or third quarter of this year and could expand further into Vermont eventually. NBT Bancorp Inc is a $5.3 billion holding company operating under two nameplates, one in New York (NBT Bank) and another in Pennsylvania (Pennstar Bank), as well as providing other financial services. As of late Wednesday, shares of NBT were up 77 cents or 3.28 percent.

Week Ending May 2, 2009. There were 1,104 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance last week, a decrease of 397 from the week before. Altogether 18,005 new and continuing claims were filed, 425 less than a week ago and 8,237 more than a year earlier. The Department also processed 2,265 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08), 143 more than a week ago. In addition, there were 1,342 Second Tier claims for benefits processed under the EUC08 program which is an increase of 43 from the week before. The Unemployment Weekly Report can be found at: http://www.vtlmi.info/. Previously released Unemployment Weekly Reports and other UI reports can be found at: http://www.vtlmi.info/lmipub.htm#uc

The Senate has passed H 446, An Act Relating to Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. H 446 creates standard offer rates to encourage the rapid development of renewable energy technologies. Rates are based on today s costs and as the technology progresses, rates will be decreased. The Vermont Public Service Board will review and reset the rates every two years. A controversial piece of the bill is that the Legislature is de facto setting electric rates, which has been the responsibility of the Public Service Board through the rate review process the PSB goes through with each utility.
The bill sets the rates as:

For a plant using methane derived from a landfill or an agricultural operation, $0.12 per kWh.
For a plant using wind power that has a plant capacity of 15kW or less, $0.20 per kWh.
For a plant using solar power, $0.30 per kWh.

FairPoint Communications, Inc. (NYSE: FRP) has announced its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The landline telephone company reported a loss of $8.8 million on $311.6 million in revenues, compared to a pro forma loss of $9.5 million for the same period in 2008 on $349,418 in revenues. The first quarter loss is less than losses stretching back to the last profitable period in quarter two of 2008 of $23,114. The company lost $76,072 in quarter four of 2008, and lost $25,109 in quarter three of 2008. Revenues from the fourth quarter of 2008 to the first quarter of 2009 fell $7.6 million, and have fallen every quarter over the last 12 months.

Legislators, including Rep. Mike Marcotte, Vice Chair of the House Commerce Committee, Department of Labor Commissioner Patricia Moulton Powden, business owners, and leaders of the state s business organizations held a press conference today regarding fiscal challenges facing the Unemployment Insurance (UI) trust fund. They are urging legislative leaders to take action to address the growing shortfall in the trust fund through a balanced approach of gradual increases in the taxable wage base and adjustments in Vermont s unemployment benefits.

Vermont wine makers will now have an expanded ability to sample and sell their own and other manufacturers' products at their vineyards. Governor Douglas yesterday at Shelburne Vineyards signed into law S27, an act relating to tastings and sale of wines, fortified wines and spirits. With the enactment of S27, wineries, vineyards and distilleries in Vermont will be able to host special events, including weddings, where they can sample and sell their products. The bill also allows producers of wines, fortified wines and spirits to sample and sell their products at farmers markets, as well as sample and sell other products on their premises.
The governor was joined by members of Vermont s Grape & Wine Council, as well as Secretary Roger Allbee of the Agency of Agriculture and Commissioner Mike Hogan of the Department of Liquor Control.