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Representative Peter Welch on Monday announced a $450,000 federal grant for Vermont Law School to conduct Smart Grid research and analysis aimed at updating the US power grid. The grant, which was secured by Welch, will help VLS Institute for Energy and the Environment become a national leader in Smart Grid implementation standards. It will further the Institute s efforts to address the reliability, cost and environmental impact of the nation s energy policy.
Vermont Law School has long led the nation in addressing challenging questions related to energy and the environment, Welch said. This grant will bolster VLS leadership in the field and empower students to tackle the next generation of energy challenges. Most importantly, it will lay the regulatory and legal groundwork for Vermont s coming deployment of Smart Grid technology.

Average retail gasoline prices in Vermont moved just 0.8 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.86/gallon today. This compares with the national average that has increased 4.6 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.85/g, according to gasoline price website VermontGasPrices.com.
Including the change in gas prices in Vermont during the past week, prices today are 86.1 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 7.7 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 11.8 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 83.4 cents per gallon higher than this day a year ago.
About VermontGasPrices.com
GasBuddy.com operates over 200 live gasoline price-tracking websites, including VermontGasPrices.com. GasBuddy.com was named one of Time magazine's 50 best websites and to PC World's 100 most useful websites of 2008.

Source: VermontGasPrices.com Vermont, VT, April 5, 2010-

U-Haul International, Inc has released the results of the annual U-Haul National Migration Trend Report, with Kentucky and Vermont as the top states in their categories, reflecting the nation's top growth states for families who moved during 2009. The report, titled "2009 Top 10 US Growth States," indicates that for states with more than 20,000 families moving, Kentucky had the highest percentage of growth, with 5.76 percent more families moving into the state than out. For states with 5,000 - 20,000 families moving, Vermont had the highest percentage, with a growth rate of 16.67 percent in 2009, moving Maine to second place after two years of ranking first.

A new company that would make stainless steel chimney liners has been authorized to earn nearly $68,000 worth of state job creation incentives if it opens its plant in Chittenden County. New England Supply Inc could create 17 new jobs over the next five years if it sets up shop in Williston, according to officials with the Vermont Economic Progress Council, which authorized the incentives at its recent meeting.
“This is further proof that Vermont can compete for manufacturing jobs, if we are willing to,” said Karen L. Marshall, Chairwoman of the Vermont Economic Progress Council. “New England Supply would provide good jobs for Vermonters, and significant growth potential.”
The company’s founder, Pierre Simard, spent 13 years as the president of a similar chimney supply manufacturing company in another state and said the incentives would be a factor in his decision about where to locate the new factory.

Vermont Yankee's parent company, Entergy Corporation of New Orleans (NYSE: ETR), announced this morning that it will no longer pursue a plan to spin off the Vernon nuclear power plant and five others in its fleet into a new company called Enexus. The plan took a serious blow on March 25 when New York state effectively denied Entergy's application to do so. Entergy said it will take a $0.40 to $0.45 writeoff to cover costs to date. The decision by the New York Public Service Commission was based on a high debt load for the new company of about $3 billion. New York officials were also concerned by the tritium leak at the Vermont plant and by the management action in Vermont associated with its relicensing. The Indian Point plants in Westchester County, NY, produce over 2 gigawatts of power, while the Vermont Yankee plant produces about 620 megawatts.
Local response was understated.

Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 162,000 in March, and the unemployment
rate held at 9.7 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
Temporary help services and health care continued to add jobs over the month.
Employment in federal government also rose, reflecting the hiring of temporary
workers for Census 2010. Employment continued to decline in financial activi-
ties and in information.
Household Survey Data
In March, the number of unemployed persons was little changed at 15.0 million,
and the unemployment rate remained at 9.7 percent. (See table A-1.)
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (10.0 per-
cent), adult women (8.0 percent), teenagers (26.1 percent), whites (8.8 per-
cent), blacks (16.5 percent), and Hispanics (12.6 percent) showed little or no
change in March. The jobless rate for Asians was 7.5 percent, not seasonally

In a statement issued yesterday, Vermont Yankee said that recent news reports have focused less on the tritium resolution and more on the other isotopes found in the soil at the plant. Despite the recent media coverage, Vermont Yankee said the presence of Cesium-137 and other radionuclides found in the soil at the plant is not new news. During the first week of March, the company shared soil sample results with the Vermont Department of Health indicating the existence of cesium in the soil.

Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce today issued a statement saying it was dropping its trade name infringement case against the St Johnsbury Chamber of Commerce. The NEK Chamber was begun and until 1990 was known as the St Johnsbury Chamber. It then changed its name to the NEK Chamber name it now has in an effort to broaden its reach in the three northeastern counties of Vermont. Subesquently another organization was granted the use of the name, St Johnsbury Chamber of Commerce. The NEK had sought to retain the name, but has now given up in that effort, citing the time, cost, and disservice to its intended mission. The statement follows:
"The Northeast Kingdom Chamber Board of Trustees Votes To Drop Trade name Issue,
Citing the Importance of Focusing On Its Membership & Mission

The Department of Environmental Conservation s Compliance and Enforcement Division today announced that it has formally settled environmental violations involving Via Cheese, LLC. The company is engaged in cheese production, with its principal place of business located in Swanton, Vermont. The settlement includes a $10,000 penalty.

The Department of Environmental Conservation s Compliance and Enforcement Division today announced that it has formally settled environmental violations involving Churchill Coatings Corporation. The company operates a coating facility in North Springfield. The settlement includes a $17,000 penalty.

Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union Superintendent Catherine McClure and State Auditor Tom Salmon, CPA, today announced a comprehensive efficiency review of the Southwest Vermont organization, one of the Vermont’s largest supervisory unions with approximately $50 million in annual expenditures. The SVSU includes the school districts of Bennington, North Bennington, Mount Anthony Union, Shaftsbury, Pownal, and Woodford.
The efficiency review, which will kick off next week, aims to provide an evaluation of the financial, organizational and operational effectiveness of the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union in its delivery of education, business and support services. Salmon said the project would be conducted by auditors from MGT, Inc., of America, an experienced, nationally-recognized audit firm specializing in reviewing educational management, with guidance from the State Auditor’s Office.

Northfield Savings Bank has extended its commitment to continue as Presenting Sponsor of the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival through 2013. In keeping with its commitment to community, Northfield Savings Bank is helping to ensure the Festival, a 27-year Vermont tradition, continues to enthrall Vermonters and visitors alike, and serves to energize the city and local businesses.
“Northfield Savings Bank is proud to be able to extend our support of Vermont’s largest multi-cultural event, and help continue the tradition of animating every corner of downtown Burlington during the ten-day Festival,” said Thomas N. Pelletier, President and CEO of Northfield Savings Bank. “The Jazz Festival offers unforgettable experiences for all ages.”