Vermont Business Magazine The Board of Directors of the Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) announced today that Rebecca Towne will be joining the co-op as chief executive officer. Towne has almost 18 years of utility experience in Vermont, serving 14 years in various roles at Green Mountain Power and the last 3 ½ years as vice president of organizational strategy at Vermont Gas Systems.
Towne, who currently lives in Essex, will start at Johnson-based VEC onOctober 8. She takes over from Christine Hallquist, who stepped down in February to run for governor. She will be the Democratic candidate against Republican Governor Phil Scott in November.
Rebecca Towne. VEC photo.
“We are thrilled that Rebecca has chosen to join the co-op in this critical role,” said Dan Carswell, the chair of the VEC board of directors. “Her experience, proven leadership skills, and strong roots in northern Vermont make her well-positioned to serve the co-op extremely well.”
Towne will help VEC continue to advance a range of innovative initiatives already underway, including a robust energy transformation program that offers incentives to members to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources; a community solar program under which members can sponsor panels in solar arrays and save money through bill credits; and energy storage and demand-management initiatives. VEC also recently earned, after a rigorous review, a prestigious safety award from the Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
VEC is the second largest electric utility in the state, behind only GMP.
”I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to lead the co-op,” Towne said. “It's a dynamic time in the energy sphere, and I look forward to working with the co-op team to seize strategic opportunities that maximize our service to VEC members.”
Towne is a 7thgeneration Vermonter who grew up in Cambridge and for many years was herself a co-op member. She holds a BA from Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA, and an MS from St Michael’s College in Colchester.
About Vermont Electric Cooperative
Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC), established in 1938, is a non-profit, member-owned electric distribution utility that provides safe, affordable, and reliable electric service to approximately 32,000 members in 75 communities in northern Vermont. Nationally recognized for innovative and advanced use of technology, VEC is the largest locally-owned electric distribution utility in Vermont.
Source: VEC 8.22.2018 www.vermontelectric.coop