37th  Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers

WHEREAS, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP) has shown continued interest in the development of energy policies with regard to expanding clean energy supply and trade while strengthening the economy and maximizing the overall environmental benefits for the region; and

WHEREAS, the NEG/ECP reiterates support for energy efficiency as a core option in meeting our energy needs; and

WHEREAS, the NEG/ECP Northeast International Committee on Energy (NICE) recognizes that natural gas markets are a critical energy source for electric generation and residential/commercial/industrial uses in the region; that natural gas supply sources within the NEG/ECP region are subject to dynamic global energy resource markets; that New England’s increasing reliance on natural gas-fired electric generation poses challenges to electric reliability and diversity of supply sources; and that the New England states are analyzing the costs and benefits of various means available to address natural gas supply and market issues; and

WHEREAS, the NEG/ECP continues to support opportunities for the expansion of clean energy consistent with providing customers with reliable electric service at the lowest societal cost over the long term consistent with environmental objectives; and

WHEREAS, any increased opportunities for clean energy trade in furtherance of environmental objectives must be accompanied by mechanisms to verify clean energy generation sources and their attributes.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the NEG/ECP affirms its commitment to increasing cost-effective clean energy trade opportunities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the NEG/ECP acknowledges that the New England states have undertaken analyses to assess the relative costs and benefits associated with various means to address natural gas market issues and incremental low-carbon energy import opportunities; and recognizes the ongoing leadership of the Eastern Canadian provinces in introducing new clean energy resources for both domestic and export markets; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the NICE will monitor the New England States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE) 2013 Natural Gas-Electric Study and Hydro Imports Study and subsequent actions by the New England states; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the NEG/ECP affirms its support for the NESCOE effort to advance a regionally coordinated competitive procurement process, including effective engagement of the Eastern Canadian provinces, as appropriate, given the parties’ potential roles as buyers and sellers in this process; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the NEG/ECP encourages the provinces to evaluate existing options and opportunities to adopt verification mechanisms of generation sources and environmental attributes that correspond with the existing New England Power Pool (NEPOOL) verification system; and encourages the NICE to facilitate information-sharing in this process; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the NICE will facilitate information-sharing about the status of emerging and advancing significant low Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emitting energy resources that have the potential to reduce GHG emissions, improve reliability, and support economic goals; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the NICE will work with the CONEG Energy Working Group to find opportunities for further regional collaborative work on sustainable biomass production practices and end use markets; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the NEG/ECP directs the NICE to work collaboratively with other NEG/ECP committees to accelerate the development and deployment of energy efficiency opportunities regionally.

Adopted at the 37th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, La Malbaie, Québec, September 9, 2013.