Visit by New England Governors Focuses on Potential of Lower Churchill

A visit by New England governors Lincoln D. Chafee of Rhode Island and Peter Shumlin of Vermont to Churchill Falls this past weekend was a great opportunity to showcase Newfoundland and Labrador as an energy super warehouse said the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today. The visit was organized as a follow-up to discussions at the annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers last month, where significant interest was expressed in the development of the Lower Churchill.

“To say that governors were impressed with the body of expertise and potential for hydroelectric development that rests in Newfoundland and Labrador would be an understatement,” said Premier Dunderdale. “We had discussions on this province’s 40 years of experience in hydro generation and the benefits that will come with the development of the Lower Churchill, starting with Muskrat Falls. There is a huge interest in securing clean, green renewable energy sources and we have that to offer.”

Governors viewed the Churchill River and the Churchill Falls Generating Station, which is one of the largest underground hydroelectric plants in the world. Also participating were Ed Martin, President and CEO of Nalcor Energy, and John Eustis, Senior Director, Corporate Procurement & Logistics for Toray Plastics (America), Inc., Rhode Island’s top electricity consumer.

“Creating revenue from our development of the Lower Churchill with the sale of excess power, and doing so in a way that maximizes benefits to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, is an exciting prospect. But it only complements the reason why we are developing Muskrat Falls – to meet our own electricity needs in the most cost-effective manner and to stabilize rates over the long term. Job creation, attraction of industry, and the creation of significant income for business, not to mention the environmental benefits, make this development the right one for our province and one that the rest of the country and North America has its eye on.”

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Photo: The Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, in Churchill Falls with (from left to right) Lincoln D. Chafee, Governor of Rhode Island, Peter Shumlin, Governor of Vermont, Ed Martin, President and CEO of Nalcor Energy, and John Eustis, Senior Director Toray Plastics.

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2011 08 22            2:10 p.m.