Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin to Lead New England Governors' Conference, Inc. in 2012 during the Conference's Historic 75th Year

BOSTON, Dec. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Peter Shumlin assumes the chairmanship of the New England Governors' Conference, Inc. (NEGC) on January 1, 2012 and will serve in that role through the end of 2012.  As chair of the NEGC, Governor Shumlin will provide leadership to regional initiatives of the Governors, foster and strengthen the engagement between New England and the Eastern Canadian provinces, and forward other New England priorities and the unique working relationship between the six states (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT). Governor Shumlin succeeds outgoing chair Deval Patrick of Massachusetts.

The New England Governors' Conference, Inc. was formed in 1937 to promote economic development and policy coordination in the six New England states.  It engages on a number of critical regional policy issues in such areas as energy and the environment, promoting clean, indigenous and cost-effective renewable power development, and is an internationally-recognized policy institution on climate change, mercury and other issues.

The NEGC serves to strengthen the unique historical relationship between the six New England states that has existed since colonial days.  Through the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP) the NEGC also acts as the New England Secretariat for that organization, which focuses on promoting closer economic ties between the two regions.

Formed in 1972, the NEG/ECP will be conducting its 36th annual conference of Governors and Premiers in Vermont in Summer 2012.  That conference will be hosted and co-chaired (with Premier Jean Charest of Quebec) by Governor Shumlin.

SOURCE New England Governors' Conference