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Home prices fell across New England last month, especially in Vermont, where homes on average sold for 15.4 percent less than they did in 2011. However, total homes sold increased in every state except for Connecticut, according to The RE/MAX of New England February Monthly Housing Report.
The RE/MAX report indicates that the increase in home sales further reduces the inventory of homes on the market. Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine and New Hampshire all experienced a significant increase in sales, while Vermont and Connecticut remained relatively flat. Year-over-year, every state in New England saw average home prices fall, however.
‘Increased sales across New England indicates a strengthening market,’ said Jay Hummer, Executive Vice President, RE/MAX of New England. ‘With the Obama Administration reporting that we’re seeing the lowest national inventory of homes for sale since 2006, we should see pricing start to adjust accordingly.’

Central Vermont Public Service received the electric industry’s highest honor for storm recovery today for its historic response following Tropical Storm Irene.
CVPS was presented the Edison Electric Institute’s 2011 Emergency Recovery Award for its response to the August storm, which washed away roads, bridges, homes and more than 450 utility poles in CV’s territory. Despite overwhelming challenges, including 73,000 customer outages and the isolation of 13 towns and thousands of customers, CVPS restored all electrical service in just five days.
‘Irene presented some of the most difficult challenges in our history, but our employees reacted with poise and professionalism,’ President and CEO Larry Reilly said. ‘They put customers’ needs above all others and worked with extraordinary determination to restore service quickly and safely, and demonstrated once again their remarkable dedication.’

In the year that Tropical Storm Irene brought to the forefront of public attention the need to address issues related to our lakes and tributaries, three funds focused on preserving Lake Champlain and Vermont’s waterways collectively awarded 19 grants totaling $98,967.
The Lake Champlain and Tributaries Restoration Fund awarded five grants totaling $57,471; the South Lake Champlain Fund awarded 10 grants totaling $26,496; and the Deerfield River Enhancement Fund awarded four grants totaling $15,000.
The Lake Champlain and Tributaries Restoration Fund was established by Central Vermont Public Service (CVPS) in 2009 as part of a comprehensive settlement agreement with the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) for the Lamoille River, Carver Falls, and Silver Lake Hydroelectric Projects. CVPS contributed $500,000 to the fund.

Vermont and New Hampshire (9.0 percent) ranked behind only Virginia (8.3 percent) with the lowest percentage of bad mortgages east of the Mississippi. Vermont ranked 14th overall, one spot ahead of New Hampshire. Virginia was 10th. North Dakota was best (4.2 percent) and Florida worst (22.4 percent), according to Lender Processing Services, Inc (NYSE: LPS).
LPS is a leading provider of integrated technology, data and analytics to the mortgage and real estate industries. It reports the following "first look" at

by Alan Panebaker vtdigger.orgOn the day of Vermont Yankee’s original license expiration, pressure is mounting.
A ruling Monday by federal judge J Garvan Murtha says the state cannot enforce a law prohibiting the plant from storing spent nuclear fuel at the Vernon site that was produced after the plant’s license expires today. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted a license extension to Vermont Yankee owner Entergy last year, which the state of Vermont is disputing.
The 40-year saga of the nuclear power plant in Vernon is reaching an apex of sorts as opponents of the plant mount a protest Thursday for when they say the plant is operating without a license.
Deb Katz, executive director of the Citizens Awareness Network, which has pushed for the plant’s closure since the 1990s, said an affiliation of groups called the SAGE Alliance plans to march to Entergy’s headquarters in Brattleboro Thursday and face arrest.

Regional and state financial institutions are providing a critical $20 million boost to the state’s nonprofit affordable housing developers. Housing Vermont announced that a consortium of eight financial institutions is making $20 million in private equity available to developers of affordable apartments through the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit program.
‘Once again Vermont brings a high level of leadership and commitment to providing quality rental housing to all of our residents,’ said Housing Vermont President Nancy Owens. ‘The $20 million in capital committed by the investors in our Green Mountain Housing Equity Fund will help finance at least eight rental housing developments with roughly 200 apartments throughout the state.’

The State Board of Education elected officers at its March 20, 2012 meeting, the Department of Education announced today. Stephan Morse of Newfane was elected Board chair, and Kathy Larsen of Wilmington will continue serving as vice-chair.
‘My approach as Board chair is to be all inclusive, and hopefully reach consensus on key issues,’ said Morse. ‘I plan to meet frequently with education leaders. There will be differences along the way, but the goal is to find agreement where we can. We owe it to our students to speak with one voice.’

Comcast today announced the launch of Xfinity®Home in Vermont. Xfinity Home offers traditional home security components, like police and fire alarm protection backed by 24/7 professional monitoring, as well as the ability to remotely adjust digital thermostats, turn lights on or off and watch secure live streaming video from wireless cameras while away from home. The service also comes with the Xfinity Home app, which is available for free on Apple’s iTunes App Store®.

‘Xfinity Home brings digital home monitoring to a new level and we are pleased to introduce it to our Vermont customers,’ said Mary McLaughlin, Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Western New England Region, which includes Vermont. ‘This state-of-the-art product leverages the power and flexibility of our fiber optic broadband network to bring a whole new level of innovation, choice and value to our customers, empowering them to stay better connected to their home virtually anytime, anywhere.’

by Anne Galloway vtdigger.org The House Appropriations Committee approved a $1.3 billion fiscal year 2013 General Fund budget Monday evening on a 7-4 vote along party lines.
Democrats lauded the Big Bill as a fiscally responsible plan; Republican members rejected the expenditure proposal because they said it accelerates state spending.

Weekly unemployment claims in Vermont decreased last week, while March results continued at higher levels than February. Last week there were 959 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance in Vermont last week. This is a decrease of 143 from the week before and are 53 fewer than last year's total.

The Vermont Department of Labor announced this morning that the pay dispute between the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union (SVSU) and the Vermont-NEA/teachers of SVSU and 5 districts (Shaftsbury, Bennington, North Bennington, Pownal and MAU) was settled late Friday night, March 16th after the parties spent more than seven hours working to find a mutually-acceptable resolution.
At the invitation of the Vermont Department of Labor, the parties were in Montpelier to discuss a complaint that had been filed with the Department’s wage and hour division, which had received a ‘stay’ of the order from the department in order to examine additional facts. After about an hour of discussing the complaint, Labor Commissioner Annie Noonan asked the parties if they had any interest in attempting to resolve the dispute through informal mediation.

Chittenden County State's Attorney TJ Donovan announced today that he will seek the Democratic nomination for Attorney General of Vermont. Attorney General William Sorrell, also a Democrat, has not announced whether he would seek re-election. Speaker of the House Shap Smith has also been mentioned as a possible candidate. Republican state Senator Vince Illuzzi has said he is considering a run for attorney general, but has not officially announced his intentions.
"I believe it's time for a change." Donovan stated. "Vermont today faces new challenges. With these challenges comes the need for new leadership. I believe it's time for new ideas, new energy and greater engagement from the office of the Attorney General."
"We have the most progressive and innovative state legislature in the country. As Attorney General I will engage with the legislature and advocate for Vermonters' right to clean and reliable energy, affordable healthcare, and safer communities.’