IBM Joins Vermont Energy Partnership
Vermont's Largest Employer Concerned About State's Energy Future
IBM, Vermont's largest employer, has joined the Vermont Energy
Partnership, a recently launched sizable and diverse coalition working to
ensure that Vermont has reliable, affordable, and clean electricity.
The Vermont Energy Partnership,
a recently-launched coalition of business, labor, and
community leaders dedicated to ensuring that Vermont has
reliable, affordable, and clean electricity, announced today
that IBM has joined the organization. With this addition, the
Partnership, which was formally launched on January 31, now
has 25 members.
"The two key questions that should be asked about our power
system are the ones most often ignored, 'Will the lights go
out and can we afford the bill?,'" said John O'Kane,
government relations manager for IBM.
"This is an issue that goes to the heart of preserving jobs and Vermont's
quality of life. We need to take steps now to improve the cost and
reliability of Vermont's electricity supply. In doing so, we will be able
to make the state's electricity costs more competitive for residents and
busineses, and attract companies to expand and re-locate to Vermont," said
Mr. O'Kane.
Former Governor Tom Salmon, a founding member of the Vermont
Energy Partnership said, "IBM gets it. They understand that
Vermont is at a critical crossroads. We can come together and
address electricity issues now and help to ensure a promising
future, or we can continue to neglect this exceedingly
important public policy issue and invite potential calamity,"
said Governor Salmon.
Founded in 2005, the Vermont Energy Partnership (www.vtep.org
) is a diverse group of business,
labor, and community leaders working to ensure that Vermont
has reliable, affordable, and clean electricity, which is
essential to maintaining the state's quality of life and
future prosperity. The Vermont Energy Partnership recognizes
that it is imperative to address Vermont's tremendous
electricity challenges today, so that Vermont stays a great
place to live and work.
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