Western Governors Comment on President-elect Obama's Picks for Interior, Agriculture, Energy and Environment (12/17/08)

Western Governors Comment on President-elect Obama's Picks for Interior, Agriculture, Energy and Environment

DENVER - Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Chairman of the Western Governors Association, and Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, WGAs Vice Chairman, said they look forward to working with President-elect Barack Obama and his picks to lead the departments and agencies that will be part of the energy and environment team.

Today, the President-elect named Senator Ken Salazar of Colorado as his choice for Secretary of the Interior and Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack for Secretary of Agriculture. On Monday, he announced the following nominees:

• Steven Chu, Secretary of Energy;
• Lisa Jackson, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency;
• Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change; and
• Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

At no time in history have these positions been more important to our nation, our economy and our people, Huntsman said. Western Governors presented President-elect Obama with recommendations for transforming the countrys energy infrastructure and economy, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The change we are talking about is broad based and will require new policies, incentives, market mechanisms, private-public partnerships, and a consensus among political leaders and with the American people.

Governor Schweitzer noted that the West is the countrys energy breadbasket with more than 90 percent of the nations on-shore oil and natural gas reserves, 66 percent of its coal reserves, 100 percent of its installed solar thermal and geothermal generation, and 77 percent of its installed wind generation.

We have urged swift action on a national energy plan Schweitzer said. The West is ready to assist the new President and his team in developing a comprehensive plan and in implementing it as swiftly as we can.

Upon confirmation, we know they will work to integrate and coordinate their efforts, and will include expertise from the states to chart a new path that addresses energy and environmental issues in tandem

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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