New England Governors Present United Regional Visions on Renewable Power and Conservation

New England Governors Present United Regional Visions on Renewable Power and
Conservation

BOSTON, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Meeting in Saint John, New
Brunswick on September 15th, the New England Governors' Conference, Inc.
(NEGC) adopted bold regional visions for supporting development of renewable
energy resources in and around New England and for preserving its natural
environment. The meeting took place during the 33rd Annual Conference of New
England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP).

The NEGC adopted the New EnglandGovernors' Renewable Energy Blueprint, which
addresses mechanisms to help advance the development of New England's vast
renewable resource potential. The Blueprint provides the Governors options for
accessing New England's regional resources as well as opportunities for
additional supplies of cost-effective, low-carbon renewable energy from
Eastern Canada. This includes the potential for the states to synchronize
their power procurement and long-term power contract activities and to
coordinate reviews of proposed interstate transmission facilities needed to
reach renewable resources that are distant from population centers.

The Blueprint also emphasizes the importance of a partnership between the
federal government and the New England states to help promote the shared goals
of the New England Governors and federal government. Both have strong
interests in increasing the availability of renewable power, reducing carbon
emissions and reducing reliance on foreign fossil fuel.

Gov. John Baldacci, Chair of the NEGC, noted, "New England has what it takes
to help bring cost-effective, low-carbon resources to the market. We have
abundant natural resources, technical analysis to inform decisions, and
specific ways we can work cooperatively to assist development of resources
that emerge in competitive processes as the best way forward for our
customers."

The Governors also received and adopted the report of their Blue Ribbon
Commission on Land Conservation (CLC), chaired by Richard Barringer of Maine.
The Commission's report indicates that New England today faces profound
challenges to its land and natural resource base; climate change and its
impacts, fragmentation of the landscape from sprawling development, and the
demand for coastal property threaten the viability of the plants, animals, and
the resource-based industries that depend on these lands. The Commission calls
for a high-priority, New England-wide land conservation effort with measurable
benefits for the region's farms and forests, climate change mitigation,
alternative energies, bio-diversity, outdoor recreation and education, and
sustainable economic development.

"This is the most ambitious land conservation effort that has ever been put
forward for all New England," said Gov. John Baldacci. "For more than a
century New England has been a national leader in maintaining and renewing the
human benefits of land conservation. These carefully coordinated initiatives
are timely and necessary if we are to pass these benefits along to future
generations of New England citizens."

Copies of the New EnglandGovernors' Renewable Energy Blueprint and the report
of the NEGC's Blue Ribbon Commission on Land Conservation are available at the
NEGC's website (www.negc.org).

SOURCE New England Governors' Conference

John Shea of NEGC, +1-617-423-6900, charon2@mn.com