36th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers

RESOLUTION 36-1  

RESOLUTION CONCERNING ENERGY  

WHEREAS, for nearly forty years the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP) has led the development of regional approaches to energy development and trade, renewable power, energy efficiency and new technologies; and

WHEREAS, the NEG/ECP Northeast International Committee on Energy conducted an Energy Dialogue in May 2012 to examine the policy implications of the changing economics of renewable power; and

WHEREAS, the NEG/ECP continues to support new and innovative approaches to creating a clean, cost-effective and secure energy future in the region; and

WHEREAS, the Governors and Premiers continue their support for energy efficiency as the first option in meeting our energy needs; an

WHEREAS, natural gas markets continues to be a critical energy source for electric generation and residential/commercial/industrial uses, and new near-region gas resources and opportunities to expand pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG) will have profound implications for future energy markets; and

WHEREAS, biomass resources are abundant in New England and Eastern Canada and present an opportunity forindigenous renewable energy development if properly managed.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Northeast International Committee on Energy (NICE) and other appropriate entities begin work on creating a new regional process to identify longer-term opportunities in electricity markets, increase the flow of clean energy and associated infrastructure development to facilitate achievement of environmental objectives and ensure long-term security of supply through diversification and regional participation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the NEG/ECP continues its support for the regional coordinated procurement process underway through the New England States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE), and other innovative mechanisms to support longer-term planning to meet the energy, economic and climate goals of the region ; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the NICE create a natural gas working group consisting of policy-makers, industry officials and other appropriate entities to better coordinate natural gas resource, transmission and infrastructure planning; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the NEG/ECP directs the NICE and its Energy Efficiency Workgroup to develop a regional cooperative process to maximize the potential for and accelerate the development of energy efficiency opportunities regionally, and report back on its progress and recommendations to the 37 th NEG/ECP in 2013; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the northeastern states and the Eastern Canadian provinces work jointly to identify and develop guidance on critical biomass issues of regional significance and report these findings to the Governors and Premiers.

Adopted at the 36th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, Burlington, Vermont, July 30, 2012.