With voter turnout that city officials characterize as “heavy,” Montpelier voters passed a $2.75 million bond vote, giving the green light for further work on a biomass district heating plant that would serve state office buildings, five municipal buildings, and be available for hook-ups of commercial buildings and residences in the downtown area.

The plant is being financed jointly by city, state, and federal money.

Carl Etnier hosts the talk radio shows Equal Time Radio on WDEV, Waterbury and Relocalizing Vermont on WGDR, Plainfield and WGDH, Hardwick. He writes a column on Transition Towns in Vermont Commons and...