(Marketwire) — 07/19/10 — The President and Chief Executive Officer of Green Mountain Power, Mary Powell, today addressed the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) about the benefits of large hydroelectric generation in a carbon constrained world. Ms. Powell told the commissioners that the Vermont Legislature this year was the first in the country to designate large hydro as a renewable resource. Prior to this, only hydroelectric generation up to 200 megawatts was considered renewable in Vermont.
Ms. Powell was invited to speak to regulators from around the country and attend a luncheon with key regulators hosted by David Coen, president of NARUC and a member of the Vermont Public Service Board, so they could learn more about how this designation fits with Green Mountain Power’s energy strategy to achieve a low carbon, cost effective and incredibly reliable future.
“It just makes logical sense to include hydro generation of all sizes as renewable,” said Ms. Powell. “And when you care as deeply as we do about keeping our power supply low in carbon, the benefits of large hydro generation are particularly compelling.”
Ms. Powell also said, “Green Mountain Power embraced a broader, more strategic approach in developing our power supply portfolio to deliver to our customers the most environmentally sound and cost effective electricity possible. This strategy included recognizing large hydro as a renewable energy resource.”
Ms. Powell was invited to speak to the summer NARUC meeting in Sacramento, California, by Clifton Below, Commissioner of the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission and Vice Chair of NARUC Energy Resources and Environment Committee.
About Green Mountain Power
Green Mountain Power (www.greenmountainpower.com) transmits, distributes and sells electricity in the State of Vermont. It serves more than 175,000 people and businesses.
About the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners
NARUC is an association representing the State public service commissioners who regulate essential utility services, such as electricity, gas, telecommunications, water, and transportation, throughout the country. As regulators, its members are charged with protecting the public and ensuring that rates charged by regulated utilities are fair, just, and reasonable.
