Some advocates would like to see Vermont towns go back to the renewable energy future by relying more heavily on hydroelectricity. They say a bill to simplify the permit process that's pending on Governor Peter Shumlin's desk would make that more likely, but skeptics say hydro is still too inefficient and expensive.

The town's Energy Committee is distributing a study exploring the feasibility of a low-impact hydro project.

Hydroelectric advocates are touting a bill that was approved by the Legislature and is now heading to the governor's desk. The measure would expedite permitting for small-scale hydro-electric projects.

These were some of the voices in the news this week.

Gov. Peter Shumlin will travel to Labrador this weekend to speak with Canadian officials about bringing large amounts of electricity generated by their hydro dams to the New England region.

Vermont could be host to a major new transmission line to carry power from Canada to southern New England. Officials from the region and eastern Canadian provinces say they want a study to identify the best route for the line.

Proposals to make hydro-electric power at the West River dams in Townshend and Jamaica have been approved by the state. But now time is running out for incentive programs that supporters say the project needs to succeed. So developers and others want the federal hydro-licensing agency to pick up its pace.

Proposals to make hydro-electric power at the West River dams in Townshend and Jamaica have been approved by the state. But now time is running out for incentive programs that supporters say the project needs to succeed. So developers and others want the federal hydro-licensing agency to pick up its pace.

The state's largest electric utility is buying one of Vermont's smallest. Central Vermont Public Service has agreed to buy the assets of the Vermont Marble Power Division of Omya.  

The Rockingham Selectboard wants to re-open negotiations with the owner of the Bellows Falls dam and hydroelectric station over payments the company will make to the town beyond their taxes.

Governor Peter Shumlin would like Vermont to buy more power from Hydro-Quebec to replace the electricity that will be lost if the Vermont Yankee plant shuts down next year. That's why purchasing power from Hydro-Quebec was one of the top items on Shumlin's agenda during a two-day trip to Canada.

Many of Vermont's villages and towns were built around water power, and many of the small dams that produced that power still exist. But few of the old dams have been revived. Critics have blamed the state Agency of Natural Resources for the holdup. Officials say that's beginning to change.

Hydro-Quebec is completing construction of a five billion dollar river diversion project. The work is part of the provincial utility's effort to position itself as supplier of clean, renewable energy to the U.S. market. But native Cree in the region question the "green label.

VPR's Bob Kinzel talks with reporter John Dillon about hydro-electric projects that have been built by Hydro-Quebec and the construction of new dams.

Lawmakers are in the midst of a debate over whether power produced by Hydro-Quebec should be considered "renewable." We'll hear from both sides of the debate. Also, an update from the Statehouse as the Legislature works toward adjournment.

A Senate committee is grappling with how to define clean and green electricity. The question is important for Vermont's two largest utilities. They say they may be able to get a more favorable deal for customers if power from large hydroelectric dams in Quebec is considered renewable energy.

The publicly owned utility in Vermont's largest city may reverse its longstanding ban on buying electricity from Hydro-Quebec. The decision may hinge on the definition of "renewable energy."

The CEO of Green Mountain Power and a regulatory expert explain the role Hydro-Quebec has played in Vermont's energy portfolio, and what the new 26-year deal for hydropower means for the state's energy future. And Lebanon, NH, considers changes to its zoning ordinances.

Vermont's two largest electric utilities will buy electricity from Hydro-Quebec for 26 years. The historic agreement caps more than a year of negotiations.

Property tax disputes with TransCanada Hydro Northeast are creating uncertainty in some towns where the Canadian company's dams and property are located. Officials hope a state funded reappraisal of its holdings in Vermont will help clear the air.