VCE Weekly Update

An Open Letter to Governor Howard Dean

August 1, 2000

Governor Howard Dean
109 State Street
Montpelier, Vermont 05609

Dear Governor Dean,

For sixteen months, the citizens of Rutland and Bennington Counties have been impacted by a proposed natural gas power plant and pipeline project.

Poorly planned and executed from the outset, this billion dollar proposal was too large and in too much of a hurry for the state of Vermont. Yet the State supported this proposal in advance of filing a formal application and urged property owners to cooperate with the gas company to allow them access to property so they could conduct surveys.

Town after town has voted to oppose this project, and finally in March of this year you acknowledged that the people did not want it and you could no longer support the project.

However, New York State Electric & Gas [NYSEG]/Energy East has stated publicly that it is their intention to use this route, perhaps in 12 to 18 months. The current map on their web site still shows the route through Vermont as "proposed" and we are fully aware of the power of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to by-pass state and local control and allow this proposed pipeline route to move forward at a future date.

We respectfully request that the State of Vermont, through writing and telephone calls, make it clear to Energy East's president, Wes Van Schack, and vice president, George Bonner, that the State of Vermont does not and will not support the destructive route through private property that they have proposed

The people of southwestern Vermont are still being damaged by this pipeline and power plant proposal. We need closure. Please take action.

Sincerely,

Annette Smith
Executive Director

Cc: Commissioner of Public Service, Richard Sedano
Secretary of Agency of Natural Resources, Scott Johnstone

Extract from the current Energy East Utilities Operations Map "At-A-Glance", showing Energy East's proposed service area for Southwestern Vermont.

On May 19, 2000, Energy East affirmed that "Energy East plans to continue to capture new market opportunities and further expand its customer base by increasing penetration levels and developing new natural gas franchises throughout New England and upstate New York."