Western Governors meet with Browner, Salazar to discuss clean energy, transmission priorities and coordination (2/22/09)

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2009

 

Contact: 
Karen Deike, 303-377-6787

 

Western Governors meet with Browner, Salazar 
to discuss clean energy, transmission priorities and coordination

WASHINGTON- Western Governors today discussed their priorities and opportunities for working together in addressing critical energy and climate change issues with Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change.

It is clear that our states and the Obama Administration agree swift action is needed in developing a long-term energy plan and expanding the transmission grid to bring more clean energy resources to market, said Gov. Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., of Utah, Chairman of the Western Governors' Association. This will require unprecedented coordination among states and the federal government, and today's discussion was a good beginning.

The governors have  called for a national energy plan that will provide affordable and clean energy to sustain our economy, stimulate greater energy efficiency, strengthen our energy security and independence and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The governors also support reforming federal policies to support construction of optimally sized transmission to reach location-constrained, low-carbon resources.

Huntsman noted that Western states already are working with the U.S. Department of Energy on the Western Renewable Energy Zones initiative, which will expedite the development and delivery of electricity generated by renewable energy throughout the Western Interconnection. The initiative has brought together a broad-based constituency to identify areas that have highly concentrated, developable renewable resources and low environmental impacts.

Earlier this month, a map of Qualified Resource Areas and several supporting documents were released for public comment. The comment period for these work products continues through March 2. A second phase of the initiative will begin this fall with the development of a conceptual transmission plan, followed by discussions among utilities on coordinated procurement of renewable energy.

For more information about the WGA's energy policies, initiatives and the WREZ project, visit the WGA Web site at: http://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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