WGA to receive Alliance to Save Energy's prestigious public service award for advancing energy efficiency (9/20/07)

WGA to receive Alliance to Save Energy's prestigious public service award for advancing energy efficiency

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 20, 2007

Contact: Karen Deike, 303-623-9378
DENVER -- The Western Governors' Association will receive the Alliance to Save Energy's most prestigious award for public service at a ceremony this evening in Washington D.C. Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter will accept the award on behalf of WGA during ASE's annual awards dinner, Evening with the Stars of Energy Efficiency.

The Charles H. Percy Award for Public Service is presented each year to an individual or organization in the public or private sector in recognition of an outstanding public service contribution and/or a lifetime commitment to energy efficiency.

Over the past three years, Western Governors have led efforts to promote clean energy, energy efficiency, and energy security. WGA's Clean and Diversified Energy Initiative has provided a jump-start for many current activities taking place both regionally and within the Western states.

The majority of Western states, including Colorado, are setting aggressive energy efficiency goals and removing impediments and disincentives to energy conservation programs, Ritter said. In addition, nine of WGA's member states have adopted Renewable Energy Standards or Renewable Portfolio Standards, and 18 states provide some type of tax incentive for clean energy.

Earlier this summer, WGA hosted an energy efficiency workshop that focused on ways to improve energy efficiency performance in public buildings and new residential construction. A report on the workshop findings will be issued at WGA's Winter Meeting to be held Nov. 7 and 8 in Tucson, Arizona.

More information about WGA's Clean and Diversified Energy Initiative is available on the WGA Web site at www.westgov.org.

The Western Governors' Association is an independent, nonprofit organization representing the governors of 19 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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