97th annual Ice Show to dazzle at Midd Carnival pg. 3
ECRWSS PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENTON PUBLICATIONS PO Box 338 Elizabethtown NY 12932 Postal Patron
Families, kids, all skaters welcome.
Published by Denton Publications, Inc.
February 29, 2020
Serving Addison, Rutland & Chittenden Counties
Senator Bray sponsors ‘common property’ amendment Major amendment to Vermont Constitution
Thomas R. Thompson, a resident of Wisconsin, was named as interim president and chief operating officer by the Porter Board of Directors.
By Mary Daly & Guy Page
Photo courtesy of UVM Health Network
VERMONT DAILY CHRONICLE
Thompson is new, interim head of Porter
MONTPELIER | A bill introduced into the Vermont Senate this month would amend the Vermont Constitution to establish clean air and water and state conservation as a protected right.
Successfully managed six hospitals between 1989 and 2019
Fighting hunger
Hannaford Supermarket announced a $125,000 donation to Hunger Free Vermont to assist the non-profit organization’s efforts to help alleviate childhood hunger and ensure that local children have access to healthy food this summer. Pictured: Hannaford Supermarkets Community Relations Specialist Brian Fabre, Hunger Free Vermont Executive Director Anore Horton, and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Director Erin Maguire. Addison County State Sen. Chris Bray wants to make Vermont’s natural resources common property. Will his proposed constitutional amendment impact the private property rights of Vermonters? File photo Known as PR9, the proposed amendment would enshrine in the Vermont Constitution the “right to clean air and water and the preservation of the natural, scenic, and cultural values of the environment. The state of Vermont’s natural resources are the common property of all the people. The state shall conserve and maintain the natural resources of
Photo courtesy of Caitlin Cortelyou
Vermont for the benefit of all people.” PR9 is sponsored by Vermont Sen. Chris Bray (D-Addison) and co-sponsored by Senators Rebecca Balint, Philip Baruth, Brian Campion, Alison Clarkson, Ruth Hardy, Cheryl Hooker, Deborah Ingram, Virginia Lyons, Richard McCormack, Corey Parent, Christopher Pearson, Andrew Perchlik, Anthony Pollina and John Rodgers. It was introduced Feb. 14 and referred to the committee Bray chairs, Natural Resources and Energy.
As with all constitutional amendments, the interpretation and application of PR9 would ultimately be decided by the Legislature’s other two co-equal branches of government, the executive and the judicial. The executive could initiate action (new programs and regulations) based on the newly established right of preservation and conservation, and the courts would decide if asked whether the action passes constitutional muster. See BRAY » pg. 4
What’s happening to solar in Vermont? Solar in Vermont: The 2020 Vermont Solar Pathways study cited that if the state generated 20% of electricity from solar, it would add $8 billion in net utility benefits for Vermonters. Pictured: A European-manufactured solar PV array in Middlebury. Photo by Lou Varricchio
Conclusion By Lou Varricchio EDITOR
MONTPELIER | Last week, the Eagle looked at the decline of solar power projects in Vermont since 2016. Along with this decline comes an accompanying report about a steady decline in solar employment here, now its third year. The 2020 National Solar Jobs Census report, released last week by the U..S. Energy Departmentsupported Solar Foundation, found solar jobs within Vermont declined for a third year in a row. Ironically, while solar job
openings are up in 31 states, this report shows Vermont as being the only New England state which is losing its solar-industry related jobs to other states. “Vermont’s solar sector directly employed 1,186 people full time in 2019, a net loss of 581 jobs or a 33% decline since 2016,” according to the report. “Where Vermont ranked first in terms of solar jobs per capita in 2016, it has slipped two places and now ranks third in solar jobs per capita and 34th in solar jobs overall. In contrast, solar jobs in New York grew 10.4% from 2018-2019, the fourth highest growth rate in the nation.” Many in the industry are wondering: What’s happening
to solar power in Vermont? Approx i mate ly 87 % of Vermont solar businesses
are small operations, with 24 employees or less, according to the Vermont Department of Public Service. Thus, job losses in solar here can have a big impact on small communities; in fact, there’s been a loss in economic potential since 2016, according to the Solar Foundation report. The decline in solar appears to be due to a number of factors including changes in net-metering rules. “Net meter ing a llows Vermonters to generate their own electricity and share any excess renewable electricity to the grid... for their neighbors to use,” according to a Renewable Energy Vermont news release. “Communit y solar projects which enable those who cannot host solar onsite due to renting, historic roofs, or shading are no longer feasible under the new rules.” See SOLAR » pg. 2
By Lou Varricchio EDITOR
MIDDLEBURY | Earlier this month, UVM Health Network Porter Medical Center’s new interim president rolled up sleeves and got to work at Addison County’s regional hospital. Thomas R. Thompson, a resident of Wisconsin, was named as interim president and chief operating officer by the Porter Board of Directors recently. Thompson, who began his work on Feb. 3, replaced Dr. Fred Kniffin at the medical center. Leading up to Thompson’s appointment, Kniffin had agreed to stay at Porter as president while the board searched for an interim officer. Thompson is an experienced hospital administrator with a career spanning 37 years. Porter’s new leader has successfully managed six high-ranking hospitals between 1989 and 2019. Thompson earned undergraduate and graduate degrees at St. John’s University and St. Louis University. Most recently, Thompson served as president of Regina Hospital located in Hasting, Minnesota. There he helped develop a state-of-the-art cancer center and chronic pain clinic. He also helped pave the way for extensive telemedicine programming used at Regina. “As our organization prepares for a national search for our next president/COO, it was essential to have an experienced leader with demonstrated skills in operations, finance, strategy, and employee and community relations, and we are so pleased to have found all of these attributes in Mr. Thompson as our new interim leader,” said Porter Board Chairman Sivan Cotel. “With the help of an experienced search firm, we reviewed many candidates, and a special search committee comprised of Porter and UVM Health Network board members and providers conducted both telephone and in person interviews to find the very best candidate.” UVM Health Network Executive Vice President for Operations Al Gobeille was also pleased with Thompson’s selection, making him a good interim match for the Middlebury facility. “What we are looking for in our new interim leader for Porter is to build upon the great work that is already underway and to contribute expertise and support for our strong management team and the clinical staff who provide outstanding care to our patients and residents everyday,” Gobeille said. “We have some extremely important projects and initiatives planned for the coming year, and we wanted someone who could help guide our organization through these initiatives and also provide a steady hand as we conduct a thorough search for a new president for Porter to take us into the future.” ■
MAKE YOUR PROMOTIONAL MESSAGE STICK! DIE-CUT SHAPES AVAILABLE
New and improved full-color glossy front page labels. House Shape
Octagon Shape
Trash Can Shape
Car Shape
Apple Shape
Aside from our standard square & circle shapes, we now offer other shapes too! Other shapes are available. Ask your sales representative for further details.
First Come. First Serve. Reserve your issue dates today! Call 518-873-6368
172879