Green Mountain Power's CEO Strongly Endorses the Call for a Deeper, Expanded Relationship Between Vermont and Québec

Mary Powell, president and chief executive officer of Green Mountain Power, issued the following statement from the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers 32nd Annual Conference:

"We are thrilled that Governor Douglas and Premier Charest have embraced the concept of a broader and deeper geo-political relationship between Vermont and Québec.

"This is entirely consistent with Green Mountain Power's stated strategy for our customers' energy future.

"Our energy strategy is focused on ramping down our nuclear dependence and ramping up the use of renewable energy through the development of in-state renewable energy projects as well as renewable energy purchased from others. At the same time, as part of its energy diversity plan for the future, Green Mountain Power intends to increase its energy and power purchases from Hydro Québec. This will allow the system power back up that is essential for intermittent renewable energy resources to be used in Vermont.

"We strongly support a broader and deeper geo-political relationship with Québec, whereby its near zero emission and highly reliable system power will become the backbone of our goal to achieve a clean, green and economic energy future for our customers and for Vermont.

"We look forward to the meeting on October 6th in the Northeast Kingdom at which Governor Douglas and Québec Premier Charest will discuss strengthening cross-border economic activity that will contribute to the long-term economic and environmental security of Vermont and Québec.

"Green Mountain Power looks forward to working with these two leaders on this very important question of how to secure our collective low carbon energy future."

About Green Mountain Power

Green Mountain Power (www.greenmountainpower.biz) is an electric utility owned by Northern New England Energy Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Gaz Métro, a leading Québec energy company with a long history of investment in Vermont. Green Mountain Power transmits, distributes and sells electricity and utility construction services in the State of Vermont in a service territory with approximately one quarter of Vermont's population. It serves approximately 94,000 customers.