Video Links from 2011 WGA Annual Meeting

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

WGA Chairman Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter

• Increasing educational and career opportunities for veterans
• Forest heath initiatives
• Industrial energy efficiency plenary session

Plenary 1 – Increasing Educational and Career Opportunities for Veterans

• What the State of Washington is doing to support veterans and their families.
• Governors of Idaho, Washington, Utah and Montana respond to reporters’ questions about the outcome of the WGA session focusing on how to increaseon educational and career opportunities for veterans.

Media Availabilities

Governors respond to questions regarding budgeting during tough economic times.

• Gov. Otter - Idaho 
• Gov. Gregoire - Washington 
• Gov. Herbert -  Utah 
• Gov. Schweitzer - Montana

THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2011

PLENARY II – “RESTORING AND MANAGING THE HEALTH OF FORESTS IN THE WEST”

• During a session on forest health, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer discusses the devastating impacts of the Arizona wildfires and how it relates to the work of the Western Governors' Association.
• Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber discusses funding for forest health activities.  Congressman "Doc" Hastings of Washington, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, was a panelist. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0AcylI0QDU and  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV_MKS7lSPU
• Utah Governor Gary Herbert talks about the federal management of public lands as it relates to catastrophic wildfires and on the critical need to prevent them.
• Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter discusses the importance of State involvement in the management of national forests and public lands.
• Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer discusses State involvement in management of federally owned lands during a session on forest health during the 2011 WGA annual meeting in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

WESTERN STATES AND NOAA WORKING TOGETHER

• Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire welcomes NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco and highlights the importance of the agency’s good relationship with the States.
• NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco discusses the new memorandum of understanding between NOAA and Western states to support natural resource management and to help the states improve planning for natural disasters.
• Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter and Utah Governor Gary Herbert joined NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco during a media-availability to discuss the new MOU between NOAA and Western states.

PLENARY III – “REDUCING ENERGY DEMAND BY IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY”

• Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber discusses energy efficiency.
• Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead discusses the perspective of low-cost energy states.
• Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter discuses the outcomes of WGA's Industrial Energy Efficiency Workshop held earlier in 2011 and examples of Idaho prioritizing energy policy and conservation. 
• Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer discusses examples of how Montana reduced energy consumption and improved energy efficiency within State agencies.  He also asked panelists about the effectiveness of State tax credits for energy efficiency.
• Utah Governor Gary Herbert discusses marketplace and competition-based incentives for energy efficiency and how that relates to government-induced efforts to improve energy efficiency in the private sector.

“GET OUT WEST!” INITIATIVE 

• Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter hands over the chairmanship of the Western Governors’ Association to Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire.  She discusses the important issues Gov. Otter took on during his tenure as chairman and what she plans to focus on as the new WGA chair with her "Get Out West!" initiative.
• Utah Gov. Gary Herbert talks about Utah’s efforts to get youth outdoors.