WITH THE election season now past, the legislature preparing to reconvene in Montpelier and a growing interest in energy issues, I'd like to address fears that many Vermonters appear to have about the state's electricity supply.

As I've crisscrossed the state in recent months, Vermonters have repeatedly asked two questions about Vermont's energy future: Why isn't there a plan in place to ensure replacements for the contracts with Vermont Yankee and Hydro-Quebec, which will end over the next eight years, and why isn't Vermont moving to expand its reliance on renewable energy.

The simple answer to both questions: Vermont does have an electricity plan, and Vermont is moving toward a more renewable energy future. In fact, every utility in the state conducts integrated resource planning, typically tied to the state's energy plan, which is regularly reviewed by the Public Service Board.

Vermonters enjoy arguably the cleanest power portfolio in the country, with a miniscule reliance on fossil fuels. According to the Edison Electric Institute, typical Central Vermont Public Service bills are the lowest of any major utility in New England, and Vermont as a whole has a competitive advantage over our neighbors. At CVPS, our goal is to maintain those environmental and economic advantages to the greatest extent possible in the years ahead, incorporating the state energy plan and last year's public outreach process into our efforts.

In many cases working with both regulators and other utilities, we are taking myriad steps to ensure a clean, reliable and economic energy future for Vermont. Among current activities, we are:

- Preparing a request for proposals for new energy supplies from the Northeast and Canada, with a preference for new renewable projects. This effort, with other utilities, is intended to secure up to 90 megawatts of new energy, which could include wind, wood and solar.

- Working with Efficiency Vermont to reduce demand through targeted energy efficiency programs, particularly along our Southern Loop, where efficiency measures can help reduce the need for new transmission systems.

Expanding CVPS Cow Power™, with our fifth farm about to come online, and plans to generate 5 percent of our load from cow manure by 2018.

Negotiating with Hydro-Quebec and Vermont Yankee for new contracts. In the case of VY, which provides significant emissions and economic benefits to Vermont, any contract would be contingent on a clean bill of health from state and federal regulators, and a new license.

- Preparing a request for proposals for new renewable generation along the Southern Loop, and seeking out commercial customers interested in hosting combined heat and power projects.

- Funding studies and demonstration projects to determine the potential of utility-scale solar, manure solids and algaefueled generation in Vermont.

- Considering construction of a new in-state baseload generation facility, most likely in northwestern Vermont. A study completed on behalf of several utilities suggested natural gas or wood as the most likely fuel sources.

- Developing CVPS plug 'n go™, the nation's first program to help customers use low-cost, off-peak electricity to charge hybrid-electric vehicles and reduce air emissions.

- Developing CVPS SmartPower ™ a new system of rate designs and automated metering systems that could significantly change how Vermonters buy and use electricity, and reduce demand and costs.

Key to our efforts is a desire to diversify our power portfolio. Though Vermont Yankee and Hydro-Quebec provide energy at rates well below market costs, one need look no further than Wall Street to see the dangers a lack of diversity can have on one's portfolio.

In the weeks and months ahead, Vermonters can expect to hear about significant milestones in our efforts, from new contract proposals with Hydro- Quebec to progress on an everexpanding list of in-state renewable projects. Vermont's utilities take their obligation to serve our customers seriously, and regulators, customers and state leaders have been clear in their expectations for a cleaner, affordable and reliable energy future. That is what we intend to deliver.