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Please also check our Calendar for training, workshops and other events.

News Briefs

PACE

In collaboration with Burlington Electric Department, Efficiency Vermont, the Vermont Natural Resources Council, and Vermont Public Interest Research Group, VLCT wrote this April 14 letter to legislators in support of the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program.

Vermont Broadband

Applications are being invited and interim regulations issued to implement the new Broadband Loan Program, which incorporates changes required by the 2008 Farm Bill to reduce the cost and paperwork associated with applying for a broadband loan. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that approximately $700 million may be available from prior appropriations. However, funding cannot be confirmed until the 2011 federal budget is passed. Application guidelines and interim regulations are here. A workshop for potential applicants is planned for April 20-21 in a location yet to be determined. To regisiter to attend, contact Rhonda L. Shippee, Community Programs Director/Broadband Coordinator, at 802-828-6033.

2010 State of the Municipalities

VLCT's 2010 State of the Municipalities Report is titled Weathering the Storm.

Transportation Projects Slated for Cancellation

Section 2 of the Transportation Bill, excerpted here, updated on March 14, lists Vermont transportation projects slated for cancellation.

VTB and the Town Report

Municipalities no longer have to send a copy of the town report to the Vermont Transportation Board. The 2010 Legislature removed the board as a mandatory report recipient. The board no longer has jurisdiction over any town, village, or city actions. For more information, contact Glenn Gershaneck, Executive Secretary, Vermont Transportation Board, at Glenn.Gershaneck@state.vt.us.

Vt. Telecommunications Plan

The Final Draft of the Vermont Telecommunications Plan, posted here, is now available for comment. It also will be available at regional planning commissions, regional libraries and on request from the Department of Public Service. For more information, contact Deborah Shannon, Telecommunications Policy Analyst.

Vt. River Corridor Planning Guide

The Vermont River Management Program of the Agency of Natural Resources has released a second edition of the Vermont River Corridor Planning Guide. The new edition contains previously undrafted sections pertaining to the gathering and use of other watershed information, methods documention, watershed strategies, and monitoring.

Competive Local Government Grants

Many H1N1 links are on the VLCT Flu Page.

Energy Efficiency Guide

The Vermont Chapter of the Sierra Club assembled a Guide to Improving Energy Efficiency in Vermont Buildings that can help evaluate and implement energy efficiency retrofits in municipal buildings.

Environmental Assistance Office

The Environmental Assistance Office provides guidance to permit applicants, offers environmental compliance assistance to Vermont businesses and municipalities, and provides assistance to municipal household hazardous waste programs. Here is a link to its newsletters and regulatory briefs.