Volume 23 | February 14, 2020

CONEG Governors Convene 2020 Winter Meeting
Outgoing CONEG Chair, Governor Phil Scott (VT) convened the CONEG governors winter breakfast meeting on Sunday, February 9 in Washington, DC. The purpose of the meeting was to assemble a roundtable discussion on regional issues and elect a new chair.

Governor Ned Lamont (CT) was elected to chair CONEG for 2020-2021 .

In this leadership role, Lamont will also serve as Co-chair of the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP).
Governor Lamont Delivers State of the State
Governor Ned Lamont delivered his second state of the state on February 5, 2020. In his speech, Lamont touted the progress the state has made on fiscal responsibility, long-term sustainability, and economic growth. “A year ago, I promised we would work together to ensure Connecticut’s future would no longer be defined by fiscal crisis.

We made a down payment on that promise by passing an on-time, honestly balanced budget that showed we could live within our means and hold the line on taxes,” said Governor Lamont.

We are pleased to announce that the next NEG/ECP Conference will be held in Montville, Connecticut on September 20-22, 2020.

Please check back for more information and visit our website where we'll update all conference details as they become available.
Trump Administration Releases FY2021 Budget
The Trump Administration released its Fiscal Year 2021 - $4.8 trillion budget on February 10. The budget proposes steep reductions in domestic spending programs and increases defense spending, rehashing previously rejected spending cuts while leaving Social Security and Medicare benefits untouched. However, the budget does call for $2 trillion in savings from mandatory programs over a decade including $130 billion in savings from
News from the States
 Connecticut
In Connecticut, Energy Needs Vs. Climate Goals (WSHU Public Radio)

Governor Lamont Announces Launch of Mobile Ticketing App for Hartford Line and Shore Line East

 Maine
Supplemental Budget Proposal Tackles Bipartisan Priorities : Rebuilding State Government, Developing the Workforce & Saving for a Rainy Day

Massachusetts
Price of wind power continues to fall with Mayflower contract (State House News Service)

MBTA launches infrastructure acceleration plan for 2020 (Mass Transit)

New Hampshire
Governor Sununu' s State of the State Address

Antrim wind project complete (Keene Sentinel)
 New York
Governor Cuomo Launches Campaign to Pass $3 Billion 'Restore Mother Nature' Bond Act in FY 2021 Budget

Governor Cuomo plots course to accelerate renewable energy development (Politico)

Rhode Island
DEM Announces Grants to Help RI Communities Confront the Effects of Climate Change

Rhode Island expands clean energy portfolio with 50 MW solar project

Vermont
Governor Scott announces planning grants to municipalities to jump-start local innovation and vitality

Meeting Vermont’s transportation energy goals will benefit our health (VermontBiz)
Regional and Federal Updates
A study says snow cover in New England is expected to decline by half, further stressing ski resorts that  increasingly rely on energy intensive snowmaking equipment   (Boston University News Service)

While the Trump administration withdrew from the Paris Accords, nearly half the states, including most in the Northeast , are acting to uphold the pact (Business Insider)

Feds launch probe of Mass. renewables plan (Energy Wire)

Two-Way Trade in Green Electrons: Deep Decarbonization of the Northeastern U.S. and the Role of Canadian Hydropower (MIT Center for Energy and Environmental Research)

The Climate Leadership Council issues a bipartisan climate road map that aims to slash CO 2 emissions 50 percent by 2035