Western Governors Support Renewable Energy Development, Revenue Sharing With States and Counties

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2013
Contact: Chris McKinnon, (303) 623-9378

DENVER -- Western Governors sent letters to Congress today supporting the accelerated deployment of renewable energy projects on federal lands and calling for sharing of renewable energy royalty revenues with impacted states and counties.  

“Renewable energy is an important energy source in the region’s and nation’s energy portfolio,” said Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert, Chairman of the Western Governors’ Association.  “Western Governors are supporting the development of an “all of the above” energy portfolio that balances the benefits and costs of different energy sources” he continued. 

The letters were sent to Senator Jon Tester and Representative Paul Gosar in support of legislation they have introduced (S. 279 and HR 596).  “We support the development of a leasing system for renewable energy that returns a portion of royalty revenues to the states and counties because they incur additional staff time and capital costs from permitting and siting this type of development,” the Governors stated. 

Congress recognized the increased burden states and counties bear from energy development when it created a revenue sharing provision for geothermal energy generation on federal lands in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.  

In their letters, the Governors also encouraged that areas on federal lands be developed which will have the least impact on wildlife and other important land uses when siting renewable energy projects and transmission lines.

 

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