Bourne’s Energy named Outstanding Business of the Year for 2023

January 12, 2024  |  By Waterbury Roundabout 

Bourne's Energy employees capture and secure propane tanks during the July 2023 flood. Courtesy photo.

VermontBiz and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce have announced that Bourne’s Energy is the winner of the annual prestigious and highly anticipated Outstanding Business of the Year Award for 2023.

The award will be presented at the opening session of the Vermont Economic Conference on Jan. 30 at the University of Vermont. 

Bourne’s Energy is an independent, local, family-owned-and-operated energy business for the past 75 years in Central and Northern Vermont. It delivers propane, bioheating oil, bio diesel and wood pellets and handles equipment installation and service. Bourne’s has an office in Waterbury and others in Lyndonville, Milton, Montpelier, Morrisville, Newport and Waitsfield.

The award was created 34 years ago by VermontBiz and the Vermont Chamber to recognize and honor the state’s best companies, explained Vermont Business Magazine Publisher John Boutin. 

The annual honor seeks to highlight a Vermont business that shows “an outstanding history of sustained growth in sales and/or employees, a commitment to their community, recognition of the environment as a natural and economic resource for Vermont, and the creation of a positive work environment for all employees while displaying an acute awareness of what makes Vermont unique,” Boutin said, adding that Bourne’s exceeds these criteria.

The award announcement describes Bourne’s Energy as a “leading-edge innovator when it comes to the environment and its future.” 

Bourne’s was chosen for its company culture that focuses on fair prices, excellent service and going out of the way for customers, the announcement explains. “Their products and services, the fuels they provide, the equipment they sell, the service plans they offer, are all with the goal of helping Vermonters consume less fuel, less carbon. It goes against the grain,” the award announcement notes. “They have a plan to be green and a plan to do the right thing for the customer. Because it’s what’s right for Vermont.”

Co-Owner Mike Bourne describes the company’s philosophy: “We feel it is our duty as a leader in the fuel industry to forge the path for Vermonters to reduce their carbon footprint with environmentally friendlier heating fuels and high-efficiency equipment that are affordable and easy to implement. I speak for the entire Bourne’s Energy work family in thanking the Vermont Chamber and Vermont Business Magazine for this award.” 

Owner Peter Bourne noted that the company’s longevity stems from its commitment to customers and community. “For 75 years Bourne’s Energy has been proudly serving the communities of Vermont. We firmly believe that much of our long-term success stems from our commitment to support those who support us - whether that’s sponsoring a community arts program, a scholarship, or lending our support during a flood. Our ‘use less, give more’ mentality is in the fabric of who we are as a family and as a company,” he said. 

Below is a list of past winners of the award that Vermont Chamber President Betsy Bishop describes as a “virtual who’s who of businesses in Vermont.” 

DEANE C. DAVIS OUTSTANDING VERMONT BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS

1990 Wallace Enterprises 

1991 C & S Wholesale Grocers 

1992 McKenzie Meats 

1993 Perry Restaurant Group 

1994 Green Mountain Coffee Roasters 

1995 Vermont Heating & Ventilating 

1996 Mackmolding Company 

1997 Smugglers’ Notch Resort 

1998 Vermont Country Store 

1999 Cabot Creamery 

2000 Waitsfield Champlain Valley Telecom 

2001 Wild Apple Graphics 

2002 NRG Systems 

2003 Hubbardton Forge 

2004 IDX 

2005 King Arthur Flour 

2006 RSG

2007 Symquest Group Inc.

2008 National Life Group

2009 Biotek Instruments Inc.

2010 Small Dog Electronics

2011 Foley Family of Companies

2012 GW Plastics, Inc.

2013 Dealer.Com

2014 Champlain Cable

2015 PC Construction

2016 Marathon Health

2017 Vermont Mutual Insurance Group

2018 Green Mountain Power

2019 Chroma Technology Corp.

2020 Lawson’s Finest Liquids

2021 Healthy Living Market and Café

2022 Hickok & Boardman Insurance Group

2023 Bourne’s Energy