News

Submitted on by tim

The Department for Children and Families has announced progress in its efforts to improve benefits processing, and its recent signing of a six month agreement with Vermont Legal Aid which outlines the plan for ongoing improvement. ‘The delays in benefits processing have been unacceptable. Through the hard work of staff, significant gains have already been made.

Submitted on by tim

Vermont Electric Cooperative, Inc. (VEC) announced today that the Vermont Public Service Board (VPSB) has approved VEC’s revised request for a 2.13 percent rate increase to go into effect January 1, 2011. In November, the Co-op filed a request for a 2.71 percent rate increase, but agreed with the Department of Public Service (DPS) to a rate settlement of a reduced amount.

Submitted on by tim

Citing a shortage of donations and a critical need, Central Vermont Public Service today donated $20,000 in heating aid to community action agencies across Vermont, and appealed to customers who can to donate to the CVPS Shareheat campaign.

Submitted on by tim

Green Mountain Power has announced plans to install three public charging stations for electric cars in 2011. The charging stations will use state of the art technology, powered by the sun and will be ready for public use by spring 2011.

Submitted on by tim

The Vermont Public Service Board on December 23 accepted FairPoint Communications' revised bankruptcy plan. The board last June rejected the plan in large part because it was not satisfied with the company's financial structure and because of the company's request to delay deployment of some of its broadband obligations under the original agreement. FairPoint refiled its application.

Submitted on by tim

Northeast Dairy Farmers reached a settlement agreement with Dean Foods Company in their class action antitrust lawsuit against Dean, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) and Dairy Marketing Services (DMS). The agreement will include $30 million in monetary damages and injunctive relief that calls for Dean to purchase a portion of its raw milk from multiple Northeast sources.

Submitted on by tim

Governor Elect Peter Shumlin yesterday announced the appointment of state Representative Michael Obuchowski to serve as Commissioner of the Department of Buildings and General Services.

Submitted on by tim

First Wind, an independent U.S.-based wind energy company, today announced that it has obtained $76 million in financing for the company’s 40 megawatt (MW) Sheffield Wind project. With financing in place, First Wind will continue on schedule with construction of the largest wind energy project to date in Vermont. Construction began in September, 2010.

Submitted on by tim

Governor-elect Peter Shumlin today announced that Christine M. Oliver will serve as Commissioner of Mental Health.
"Christine has broad experience with mental health issues and services, and with health care issues broadly," said Shumlin. "Her professional background makes her a strong addition to our human services team."

Submitted on by tim

Williston accounting firm Davis & Hodgdon Associates CPAs (www.dh-cpa.com) has worked up a synopsis of the deal President Obama cut with congressional Republicans on taxes and jobless benefits. The deal signed into law on December 17, 2010 extends President Bush's tax cuts and makes changes to other key provisions. Among the major highlights:

Submitted on by tim

As individuals and communities all over Vermont welcome members of the Vermont National Guard home from deployment, the employees of Washington Electric Cooperative have expressed their thanks and support by donating dozens of Christmas gifts to needy, local Guard families with children.

Submitted on by tim

WCAX-TV, Vermont Public Television and Vermont Public Radio will all present live coverage of Peter Shumlin’s inauguration as governor of Vermont and his address to the joint assembly at the Statehouse in Montpelier. Coverage will begin at 1:30 pm on Thursday, January 6th on WCAX-TV’s primary channel.