HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Five of New England’s governors are scheduled to meet in Hartford to advance their efforts looking for regional solutions to costly energy and natural gas pipeline bottlenecks.
Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy will host the meeting Thursday with Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, Maine Gov. Paul LePage, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo and Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin.
New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan, who plans to attend a memorial service for a former state lawmaker, will not be in Hartford.
The governors said in December 2013 they wanted regional solutions to natural gas pipeline bottlenecks, costly energy and other problems.
Last summer, then-Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts called for a delay as he and others expressed concerns about plans to bring in hydropower from Canada and investing in new natural gas pipelines.
“Together, the New England governors have a real opportunity to work collaboratively to identify realistic solutions that will strengthen the region’s energy network and lower costs for our families and businesses,” said Baker. “I look forward to engaging in an open and honest discussion about ways to achieve a balanced approach to strengthen grid reliability and clean energy, while providing cost relief to New England taxpayers.”
Prior to the Governor’s working session, a “Northeast Regional Energy Forum” for energy stakeholders will take place at the Connecticut Convention Center from 8:15 to 10 a.m.
At the forum, a panel will address regional infrastructure issues and will feature special guests Richard Levitan, president & principal of Levitan & Associates, Inc., and Gordon van Welie, president and chief executive officer, ISO New England Inc. A second panel will feature state energy officials who will discuss state initiatives and regional collaboration that is already underway.
The “Northeast Energy Forum” will be live streamed on the Connecticut Network’s (CT-N) website at www.CT-N.com. The public will also be able to follow the forum discussion on Twitter @4neenergy and to also Tweet questions for panelists. At their roundtable, the governors will discuss a variety of resources to address the energy challenges facing the region – including cost-effective investment in new natural gas infrastructure, the continued integration of clean energy resources, aggressive investment in energy efficiency and distributed generation. The governors will be focused on regional solutions and individual state efforts that can help the region reduce energy costs, reduce carbon pollution, and ensure the economic competitiveness of the New England region.
In their December 2013 energy joint statement, the New England governors said, “We believe that by working together we can expand economic development, promote job growth, improve the competitiveness of our industries, enhance system reliability, and protect and increase the quality of life for our citizens. Expanding our existing efforts will ensure that we are on a course toward a transformed energy, environment, and economic future for our region that offers a model for the nation.”
