International border seen as impediment to energy solutions
As part of a push for a regional energy transmission system, the premier of Nova Scotia on Monday urged Gov. Charlie Baker to "erase the border" between his province and Massachusetts.
Visiting Boston for the 40th annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, Nova Scotia's Stephen McNeil referred to developing a route for renewable energy transmission as "the most important thing we need to do as a collective."
"We need to make sure that we as a region stay focused on being able to share our energy, and while the Atlantic premiers are here as part of the federation of Canada, much of our relationship in terms of this issue is really in New England states," McNeil said. "We can share a tremendous amount of renewable energy providing we build the proper transmission system that will allow the private sector then to develop and build on the tremendous sources of renewable energy that we have in our respective regions."
Later in the day, during a question-and-answer session after a panel on clean energy innovations, McNeil turned toward Baker to issue a direct request of the governor whose executive office on Beacon Hill sits more than 650 miles from his own in Halifax.
"I just would say to you, Governor, we have to figure out -- and I would hope one of the things that would come out of this conference is -- let's erase the border between our respective provinces, states and country, and look at North in its totality to actually really capitalize on what we can do for North America," McNeil said.
Hosted by Baker at the Hynes Convention Center, the conference among the six New England governors and five Canadian premiers is focused on a regional energy strategy and opportunities for collaboration among the states and provinces.
McNeil said that if the eleven jurisdictions "continue to look at this in isolation," they will only "continue to spin our wheels." Instead, he suggested, the region should look at the total sum of its renewable energy assets and find a way to move that power throughout the area.
"We as a province are leading Canada in terms of our [greenhouse gas] reductions but if we don't move away from our isolation of our own provinces or state, we're going to continue to do what we're doing, which is bits and pieces," McNeil said. "We need to kind of come together as a region of North America."
Baker said he understood McNeil's point "conceptually" but called for a more gradual approach, noting that each of the chief executives also had to consider and work with their respective legislatures and municipal officials.
"I think the one point that I will make to you, Premier, is that that's a really tough thing to do as a single leap," Baker replied. "I think the only way you can get there if you're interested in thinking collaboratively is to do it sort of one step at a time."
As an example of one step toward collaboration on energy, Baker pointed to a joint request for proposals for renewable power issued earlier this year by Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Other New England states have since asked to get involved in the effort, Baker said Monday.
Recognizing that the transportation sector is among the largest greenhouse gas emitters, Stephen Pike, the interim CEO of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, said states and provinces should also be working together to make zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) a more practical option for more drivers.
"I for one would be hesitant to purchase a ZEV if in driving to my mother's house in the middle of Vermont I would not be able to fuel it anywhere," he said during the panel. "Or even closer to home, driving my 13-year-old up to a hockey tournament in Quebec City -- if I could only get up there that would be a bit of a problem, certainly on the home front."
Pike said there is "quite a bit" going on in Massachusetts around ZEVs, all with an eye on the state's responsibility to get some 293,413 additional zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) on the road by 2025 to fulfill its obligation to a multi-state pact that aims to help states like Massachusetts meet greenhouse gas reduction goals while also creating a sustainable consumer market for ZEVs.
"That, I think we all recognize, is going to be a challenge without regional cooperation," Pike said.
Between 2011 and the end of 2015, there were 6,587 ZEVs sold in Massachusetts, according to the Association of Global Automakers, which means Massachusetts drivers will have to buy about 45 times more ZEVs in the next nine years as they did in the previous five if the state is to uphold its end of the agreement.
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