The Vermont Energy Partnership is working to make sure that Vermont remains a great place to live and to work. We are comprised of a diverse group of business, labor, and community leaders.

Our mission is in our name: we advocate collaboratively for sensible solutions that ensure Vermont has reliable, affordable, and clean energy, drawn from diverse sources and competitively priced, now and in the future. These solutions include all methods of clean electric generation. We support market based and cost efficient energy programs; demand management conservation measures; as well as highly reliable transmission and distribution infrastructure.

By taking steps today, and planning for the many challenges on the horizon, we can ensure that businesses expand in Vermont, and that other companies choose to locate here because they have the ability to compete in global markets. This will result in a vital economy that will help foster the development of good-paying jobs for our citizens and our children so they can choose to stay in Vermont as well. Planning for affordable, reliable energy will also protect senior citizens and others who are on fixed incomes, helping to ensure that they will be able to pay their heating and lighting bills.

If we fail to take action now, however, the consequences could be drastic. In the event that Vermont becomes even more dependent on out-of-state electricity, high cost and unreliable power will have a significant negative impact on the economy and well being of Vermonters and Vermont businesses.

The Vermont Energy Partnership supports a broad, constructive dialogue across many sectors and the many communities within the state to establish a better process that will make prudent use of our existing power generating assets, and appropriately add to them going into the future. A short term and long term plan and roadmap must be developed to ensure that high reliability is maintained, environmental concerns are addressed, energy rates are competitive with national average electric rates, and a comprehensive electric supply portfolio is established for the long-term vitality of Vermonters and the state’s economy.

The Vermont Energy Partnership supports supplementing Vermont’s current base-load power with cost competitive renewable and traditional electric generation sources, so the state can support a balanced energy portfolio. The Vermont Energy Partnership also supports the continued operation of existing sources of electricity, notably the Hydro Quebec dams in Canada, and the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station in Vernon. Combined, these two sources now provide two-thirds of Vermont’s electricity.

We also support the addition of other clean, reliable, and cost competitive sources of energy to Vermont’s energy portfolio, including wind, hydro, methane, and others. It has been nearly 20 years since Vermont has had a major addition to its power supply. As energy demand is projected to rise in the state at a level of at least one percent annually, it is imperative to conserve smartly and find additional reliable, affordable, and cost competitive clean energy sources, while preserving the clean and proven sources that we have.

The Vermont Energy Partnership is working to ensure a bright energy future for Vermonters.