WGA Advisory Committee to Consider Array of Options for Increasing Clean Energy, Efficiency in the West (1/10/06)

WGA Advisory Committee to Consider Array of Options for Increasing Clean Energy, Efficiency in the West

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 10, 2006

Contact: Rich Halvey, WGA (303) 623-9378

DENVER - The Western Governors' Association's Clean and Diversified Energy Advisory Committee (CDEAC) is set to consider an array of options for bringing on-line 30,000 Megawatts of clean energy by 2015, increasing energy efficiency 20 percent by 2020 and providing adequate transmission for the region. The CDEAC released today several task force reports that examine the feasibility of and options for reaching those goals.

Task force reports completed to date include advanced coal, biomass, energy efficiency, geothermal and solar. Reports on natural gas, wind and transmission are expected to be completed in the coming weeks. White papers also were produced on the topics of combined heat and power and hydropower.

Western Governors launched the Clean and Diversified Energy Initiative in 2004 with the unanimous approval of a resolution sponsored by Govs. Bill Richardson (N.M.), Arnold Schwarzenegger (Calif.), Dave Freudenthal (Wyo.) and John Hoeven (N.D.). The CDEAC is co-chaired by William J. Keese, former Chairman of the California Energy Commission, and Bill Real, Senior Vice-President of Public Service Company of New Mexico.

The quality of these reports is tremendous. It is obvious how committed and enthusiastic everyone has been throughout this initiative, Real said. The consistency and detail of information included in the reports will not only serve as an important guide to the CDEAC, but will also likely be referenced in a variety of future energy policy efforts.

Keese said release of these reports marks a very crucial step in the CDEAC process of developing recommendations for the Governors to consider at their 2006 Annual Meeting, June 11 - 13 in Sedona, Ariz.

Over 250 individuals participated in developing these recommendations and represented every facet of the energy industry, environmental organizations, consumer interests and government, Keese said. They poured countless hours of their time into preparing these reports, and it is now up to the CDEAC to review them and consider how the various pieces may best fit together in reaching the Governors' goals.

The CDEAC will hold its final meeting this spring. Copies of all the reports and information on the initiative and upcoming meetings are available on the WGA Web site at www.westgov.org.

The Western Governors' Association is an independent, nonprofit organization representing the governors of 18 states and three U.S.-Flag islands in the Pacific. Through their Association, the Western governors identify and address key policy and governance issues in natural resources, the environment, human services, economic development, international relations and public management.

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