BURLINGTON, Vt. -
Top Canadian and U.S. officials discussed the future of energy, the environment and transportation at a two day conference in Burlington. It was the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers 36th annual event.
Bringing tar sands oil through Vermont is one of the main concerns protesters have, but Governor Shumlin made it clear today that that will never happen.
"That goes in the category of things I think will never happen," Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin said.
Governor Shumlin confidently told the crowd Monday that tar sands oil will never flow through Vermont. In fact, the Governor says the group of leaders is in harmony with much of their agenda.
"We should work more quickly to move to renewable's that don't emit carbon and compromise our kids and our grand kids future," Governor Shumlin said.
That's the plan, generate as many local and affordable, renewable resources as possible.
"We're going to be a lot further along in 50 years, we're going to be a lot cleaner in 50 years than we are today," Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy said.
The Governors and Premiers say progress is already being made. The future of New England and Canada will have faster trains by next year and a Montreal connection soon after. They're also promising recharging stations for electric cars. Quebec has set an ambitious goal that by 2020, 25% of all the cars on the road will be electric.
"We can probably accomplish that in a pretty timely manner and send a pretty powerful signal that this is where the future is," Quebec Premier Jean Charest said.
But leaders say the future depends on how quickly we can end our addiction to foreign oil.
"The cost of retrofitting some of the older coal burning plants may actually be a better technology delivered at less expense," Governor Malloy said.
A lot of the conversation was also focused on creating green energy jobs. The conference next year will be in Quebec.
