Governor Jon S. Corzine

COALITION OF NORTHEASTERN GOVERNORS TAPS GOVERNOR CORZINE AS CHAIR, GOVERNOR DOUGLAS AS VICE CHAIR

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Coalition of Northeastern Governors (CONEG) has elected New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine and Vermont Governor Jim Douglas to lead the non-partisan organization as Chair and Vice Chair in 2007.
CONEG Chairman Corzine appointed Governor Jodi Rell (CT) to oversee CONEG activities in transportation, Governor Douglas to lead CONEG’s energy activities, and Governor John Lynch (NH) to guide CONEG’s work on the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

The selections were made late Monday afternoon during the organization’s meeting in Washington, D.C. where the governors discussed the need for a stronger state voice in decisions affecting the future of intercity passenger rail in the region, and opportunities to build markets for renewable energy and energy efficiency in the Northeast.

As he assumed the chairmanship, Governor Corzine asked the Northeast governors to work together to improve and expand intercity passenger rail service along the entire Northeast Corridor Network. “As governors, we strongly support and have invested in safe, efficient and reliable intercity and commuter passenger rail services, and we look forward to structured engagement in defining NEC Network policy, economic development, strategic investment, and establishing new markets as Congress prepares to reform Amtrak,� he said.

Governor Douglas noted the Northeast states’ leadership in policies, strategies and investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency. He called for the CONEG states to continue working together to encourage the development of markets for renewable energy and energy efficiency in the Northeast. One initiative that will bring together state energy and transportation officials is to identify “smart energy use� in the transportation sector. CONEG will work with the states to ensure that emerging federal energy legislation will benefit the type of renewable energy resources and technologies common to the Northeast, such as the woody biomass and smaller scale production facilities.

The chair and vice chair positions are one-year terms. The Coalition of Northeastern Governors (CONEG) is a non-partisan organization through which the Northeast governors work together to improve the region’s economy and environment. CONEG offers the governors a forum to exchange information, develop innovative solutions, and take cooperative actions that benefit the region. The CONEG Governors are: Governor Corzine (NJ), Chair; Governor Douglas (VT), Vice Chair; Governor Jodi Rell (CT), Governor John Baldacci (ME); Governor Deval Patrick (MA); Governor John Lynch (NH); Governor Eliot Spitzer (NY); and Governor Donald Carcieri (RI).

For further information, contact Governor Corzine’s press office or Anne Stubbs at
202-624-8450.