Quebec has an abundance of electric power. Vermont and New England have a growing need for it. But what are the political, environmental, economic and policy issues involved in getting power from north to south?

A conference at the University of Vermont March 23 and 24, "Power from the North," will put context around those questions, examine current realities and develop potential pathways for the future. 

“The energy relationship between Vermont and Quebec has had its ups and downs over the last 30-plus years, but it’s been durable, with the state today purchasing large amounts of power from the north,” said Richard Watts, director of the Center for Research on Vermont and one of the conference organizers.

“The conference," Watts said, "will take a close look at the past and present in order to determine what the future relationship might look like." 

“By bringing people together who are the major players in this energy relationship, the conference will have both educational and policy value,” said David Massell, director of UVM’s Canadian Studies Program. “We need to decide how to go forward, to, among other things, meet the Shumlin administration’s goal of having 90 percent renewable energy in all sectors by the year 2050.”

The conference will draw on leading policy makers, energy professionals and academics from both sides of the international border.

Day one: past, present, future

The first day will feature three sessions dealing with the past, present and future of Quebec’s electric energy relationship with Vermont and New England.

The morning panel, “How did we get here,” will examine the motivations and forces that brought Quebec and Vermont/New England to their current relationship around electric energy and consider the social and environmental costs incurred to date.

Panelists will include:

  • Richard Janda, a law professor at McGill University;
  • Louise McCarren, former chair of Vermont's Public Service Board; and
  • Ghislain Picard, chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador.

The early afternoon session, "Where are we today?," will examine the current state of the electric energy relationship, including current contracts, policy initiatives, and social/environmental concerns.

Panel members include:

  • Anne George, vice president for External Affairs and Corporate Communications at Independent System Operator (ISO) New England;
  • Jean-Thomas Bernard, a professor at the Université d'Ottawa/Université Laval;
  • John Kassel, president emeritus of the Conservation Law Foundation, and
  • Stephen Molodetz, vice president of Hydro-Quebec U.S.
  • Jennie Stephens, Blittersdorf Professor of Sustainability Science and Policy at UVM, will moderate.

Later in the afternoon the "Where are we going?" session will examine future visions and initiatives, noting emerging technologies, de-carbonizing the region's electric grid, and Vermont's vision of 90 percent reliance on renewables by 2050.

Panelists include:

  • Pierre Arcand, minister of Energy and Natural Resources in the province of Quebec;
  • David Cash, former commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Public Utilities; and
  • Mary Powell, president and CEO of Green Mountain Power.
  • Michael Dworkin, professor of law and director of the Institute for Energy and the Environment at the Vermont Law School, will moderate. 

Day two: B2B plus tech showcase

The second day of the conference, organized by the Vermont State Department of Economic Development in partnership with the Quebec government, will address the theme, "Innovation in Energy Exchange." It will provide both a business-to-business forum and an opportunity for businesses from both sides of the border to showcase the innovative technologies, systems and products they are working on.

Student paper competition

The conference is also hosting a student paper/poster competition highlighting student research related to Canada-United States energy issues. A number of papers from colleges and universities on both sides of the border were submitted. Eight students were chosen to present posters and their research. One student from Quebec and one from Vermont were chosen to win the Power from the North Top Student Paper award, and will each receive $500.

More than 250 people have registered for the conference. For more information, see go.uvm.edu/powerfromthenorth

The conference is coordinated by UVM’s Canadian Studies Program and the Center for Research on Vermont, in partnership with the Government of Quebec and the State of Vermont. 

PUBLISHED

03-18-2015
Jeffrey R. Wakefield