The New England Governors 
& The Eastern Canadian Premiers

27th Annual Conference of the New England Governors
and the Eastern Canadian Premiers
Québec, Quebec - August 25-27, 2002

RESOLUTION 27-4

RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE SYNCHRONIZATION OF ENERGY-RELATED
REGULATIONS IN THE NORTHEAST

WHEREAS, energy is fundamental to the future prosperity of the region if its jurisdictions are to be competitive in the global market as a region; and

WHEREAS, a successful NEG/ECP energy forum entitled “e21 - Energy for the 21st Century” was held in the spring of 2002; and

WHEREAS, the venue allowed for an open and provocative exchange with and between key energy sector leaders and delegates representing each of the eleven jurisdictions of the Conference region; and

WHEREAS, many jurisdictions are continuing to move toward new regulatory environments through a reassessment of regulatory policies and procedures in many areas of business such as sustainable development; energy efficiency; renewable and transportation energy; energy resources; and international priorities; and

WHEREAS, each jurisdiction generally focuses on common environmental energy issues and regional cooperation could be of great benefit to member jurisdictions; and

WHEREAS, different rules can cause expensive time delaying compliance issues that potentially negatively impact multi-jurisdiction projects; and

WHEREAS, a synchronization of rules could facilitate the application of regulations without the reduction of regulatory review or a revocation of individual jurisdictional authority; and

WHEREAS, the complexity of the current regulatory framework was raised consistently by speakers throughout the NEG/ECP Forum in Saint John, New Brunswick; and

WHEREAS, the Trade and Globalization Committee and the Northeast International Committee on Energy (NICE) concur with the importance of this issue.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers direct NICE to:

• form a working group, comprised of industry and government representatives, to address the synchronization of energy-related regulations designed to foster growth while protecting the environment; and

• present a report and recommendations based on deliberations and findings of this working group to the 2003 annual meeting of the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers.

Adopted at the 27th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, August 25-27, 2002.