News

We couldn't agree more with the Denver Post, which notes in an editorial today (July 11) that mineral royalties paid to states by the federal government should not be subject to "sequestration" cuts.

As the Post noted: "The Budget Control Act was meant to trim federal spending. But a tax transfer to states enshrined in law decades ago to offset the impact of mineral development is not in any normal sense a federal expenditure." (Read the editorial.)

The editorial cites the letter sent in May by the Western Governors' Association to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, as well as the Department of the Interior and the Office of Management and Budget. In that letter, Western Governors expressed alarm over the cuts and noted:

"States’ statutorily-guaranteed share of mineral royalty, bonus bid, rental and other receipts is not the equivalent of a standard federal expenditure. Any comparison between a mineral receipt transfer and an appropriated expenditure is fundamentally flawed." (Read our letter.)

Our letter concluded: "Western Governors request that the Departments and OMB provide us a clear, complete and expedited response to the questions posed in this letter." To date, we have not received a response.

Other coverage:

Colorado Attorney General John Suthers: Mineral lease sequester "unlawful." Story

The Washington Times reported on the cuts. Story

The Daily Caller also reported on Western opposition to the cuts. Story

South Dakota is tops when it comes to doing business. That's the word from CNBC, which just released the annual ranking of America's Top States for Business 2013 that also showed 8 of the top 10 states were in the West.

While South Dakota topped the rankings, the top ten also included Texas (2), North Dakota (3), Nebraska (4), Utah (5), Colorado (7), Wyoming (9) and Idaho (10). The next ten included Kansas, Oregon, Montana and Arizona.

CNBC profiled the state and interviewed South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard (Watch here). Here's where to find how ALL states ranked and how they earned their ranking.

The Western Governors' Association 2013 Annual Meeting may be over, but the issues confronted by the governors remain front and center in the West.

Here's an overview of the meeting -- held June 28-30 at the Montage Deer Creek in Park City, Utah -- which saw discussions of public lands, healthcare, education and energy. It also included speeches by Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and T. Boone Pickens, Chairman of BP Capital Management.

Public lands dominated the first day of the meeting.Interior Secretary Jewell delivered a keynote (Watch Secretary Jewell's speech) about wise and balanced use of federal public lands. After the speech was finished, WGA Chairman and Utah Gov. Gary Herbert asked "How do you define balance?" Read the Salt Lake City Tribune story to see how she answered.

Saturday sessions included lively panel discussions on healthcare and education. The healthcare panel included Mike Leavitt, former U.S. Health and Human Services secretary and former Utah governor. Leavitt told the governors "States can have more influence than they think" when it comes to healthcare reform. (Read more)

Former Colorado Gov. Roy Romer, who took part in the education panel, told the governors an investment made in public education now may not pay off for decades, but the investment must be made. "It's difficult for us to assume responsibility for a 20-year spectrum. But I ask, 'Who else is?'" (Read more in the Deseret News)

Energy was the focus on Sunday, when the governors formally rolled out the 10-Year Energy Vision, which articulates the overarching goals of a Western energy policy. In addition, the Western Governors also unveiled The State of Energy in the West, which provides detailed background on energy resources and consumption in the West, and Energy Perspectives, essays by Western Governors on energy-related topics. (Download all three energy documents)

The Governors also approved nine resolutions, including: Energy & Transmission; Endangered Species Act; Federal-State Land Exchanges and Purchases; Combating Invasive Species; Wildland Fire Management; Conserving Wildlife and Crucial Habitat in the West; Farm Bill and Western Agriculture; Cleaning up Abandoned Mines, and National Minerals Policy. Read and download the resolutions.

Finally, the meeting concluded with Gov. Herbert passing the gavel to Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, who was elected WGA Chairman. It was also announced that Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval was elected Vice Chairman. 

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper was elected Chairman of the Western Governors' Association (WGA) and Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval was elected as Vice-Chairman on the final day (June 30) of the WGA 2013 Annual Meeting in Park City, Utah.

Gov. Hickenlooper, during his remarks, said that the WGA motto for the coming year will be “We Go Altogether.”

The Colorado Governor said he expects during his chairmanship to examine issues central to the West such as water and forest health, as well as broader issues such as health care, immigration and education reform. The governor was elected by Colorado voters in 2010; he previously had served as Mayor of Denver since 2003.

The WGA also announced Gov. Sandoval’s election as Vice-Chairman. “Western states face unique challenges and the WGA provides a forum for Governors to listen and learn from one another,” said Gov. Sandoval.” Gov. Sandoval was elected by Nevada voters in 2010 after previously serving as a U.S. District Judge in Nevada since 2005.

Gov. Hickenlooper assumed the gavel from Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, who served as Chairman for the past year. During his chairmanship, Gov. Herbert focused on "Responsible Energy Development," with a goal of providing reliable, affordable and cleaner energy for the long term.

During the 2013 Annual Meeting the WGA released a 10-Year Energy Vision, as well as nine resolutions on issues such as Energy and Transmission, the Endangered Species Act, Wildland Fire Management, and Nation Minerals Policy. (Find the resolutions here.)

Learn more about the WGA at its website.

Western Governors unveiled a 10-Year Energy Vision, which lays out overarching goals for Western energy policy, at the WGA’s 2013 Annual Meeting (June 28-30) at the Montage Deer Valley in Park City, Utah.

The "10-Year Energy Vision" provides a comprehensive approach to energy policy, from fossil fuels to renewables, as well as a focus on energy efficiency, environmental protection and education. Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, the WGA Chairman, spearheaded the year-long energy project with his WGA colleagues that produced "10-Year Energy Vision" and its companion documents, "The State of Energy in the West" and "Energy Perspectives."

“The 10-Year Energy Vision represents a consensus from states with very different resources and policy stances,” said Gov. Herbert. “It was truly a bipartisan effort that includes the perspectives of all the governors.” 

The Western Governors’ "10-Year Energy Vision" contains six energy goals on which the governors all agree. Some of the goals include: achieving energy security; generating clean, affordable and reliable energy from a diversified portfolio of energy sources; increasing energy efficiency, and protecting wildlife, the environment and natural resources.

Western Governors consider the "Energy Vision" as something of a blueprint for a comprehensive national energy policy that promotes economic growth while protecting valued natural and environmental resources.

The Western Governors created two other documents with regard to the association’s year-long focus on energy.

The State of Energy in the West: Provides detailed background on energy resources and consumption in the West. For example, you'll learn that Western coal production accounts for nearly 60% of the national total and that the West delivers two-thirds of the nation's wind energy. 

Energy Perspectives: A a collection of essays by Western Governors and Canadian Premiers on a variety of energy-related topics.

Copies of each of these documents may be downloaded on the WGA website. Go here.

Watch a video about the "10 Year Energy Vision."

The Yarnell Hill Fire in Airizona started Friday, June 28, with a lightning strike.

On Sunday night, June 30, according to a website created by the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona,  a sudden shift of wind changed the direction of the fire, trapping and killing 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots.

The Western Governors' Association wants to express its deep sorrow to the families and friends of the fallen firefighters, as well as the citizens of Arizona.

The Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona, which represents more than 6,500 fire fighters

Last year’s drought covered two-thirds of the U.S. at its height, but has since receded from the East and remained severe across much of the West, according to the most recent Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook. 

The publication also shows that the spring of 2013 set records for low temperatures in many states represented by the Western Governors’ Association, including Alaska, Hawaii and the Dakotas.

The Outlook features a synopsis of drought conditions over the past three months as well as a glimpse of potential conditions through September. Though drought is receding in much of the Central Plains, it is likely to persist across much of the Central West and the coastal states. Additional information, such as reservoir levels, areas of above-average wildfire potential, is also included in the Outlook.

The Outlook is a quarterly publication that was developed by the WGA and NOAA after the two organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding in June 2011. All of the maps and information presented in the Outlook are also available from the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), which provides a number of online drought information tools at drought.gov. Western Governors were instrumental to the passage of NIDIS in 2006;  NIDIS is currently up for reauthorization by Congress. 

NOAA also releases region-specific Outlooks that focus on the Central Region, Alaska, the Pacific Islands, and the Western Region. Find them here.

For additional information on the Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook, contact WGA Policy Manager Carlee Brown at 720-897-4547. 

By Jim Ogsbury

A recent edition of the Kiplinger Letter observed that Western Governors are exercising “growing clout” with respect to the construction of federal regulations. “They’re shaping rules on national forests, national park use and fracking,” notes the article.

Western Governors are indeed exercising greater influence in the nation’s capital, and the Western Governors’ Association is poised to build on this momentum to further establish this distinguished group as a bipartisan regional force in Washington, D.C.

WGA itself is capturing a greater share of the public’s and opinion leaders’ attention. One objective measure of this development is the recent surge in visits to the WGA website. There were more than 13,500 unique visitors to the site in May, the largest number ever recorded by WGA and the most this year by 61%. The 161,000 page views in May was the year’s largest by nearly 30%.

One factor accounting for this spike in web visits is the escalation of WGA activity on Capitol Hill and in response to executive branch initiatives. During the past several weeks, WGA has:

Successfully promoted key policy positions of Western Governors with respect to reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act by the United States Senate. 

Communicated to Congress support for reauthorization of the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS);

Testified before the House Committee on Natural Resources regarding the insidious problem of invasive species.

Engaged with the Office of Management and Budget and the Departments of Interior and Agriculture to express alarm at, and question the legality of, the sequester of mineral leasing royalties and Secure Rural Schools payments owed to the states by the federal government;

Urged Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to more effectively deploy private industry in forest management and wildfire risk reduction. 

Promoted streamlined permit and license processes for the development of small hydropower projects in the West.

Appeared before Congress to urge that federal land managers be directed to use state fish and wildlife data and analysis.

I hope to see you at our annual meeting next week in Park City, where we will elaborate on the critical role that Western Governors are playing in the development of federal and regional policy.

Jim Ogsbury is the Executive Director of the Western Governors’ Association. Contact him at 303-623-9378 or at   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

By Jim Ogsbury

As I meet with governors throughout the West, I learn that they value the Western Governors’ Association largely because of its role in bringing them together for candid conversations about common concerns and creative solutions. They have a great deal to share and learn from one another.

While Governor John Kitzhaber of Oregon would confess that there is much for him to learn from his colleagues, he may well have more to teach than anyone. Elected in 2010 to succeed Governor Ted Kulongoski, this is not the governor’s first rodeo.  Currently serving as Oregon’s 37th governor, he also served as the state’s 35th chief executive from 1995 to 2003. When he won his (non-consecutive) third term three years ago he became the first person to be elected to the office three times.

During a recent visit in Portland with the governor, who formerly worked as a practicing physician, I learned much about his active involvement in WGA during his first tour. He observed that the association operates best when it steers away from ideologically divisive issues and focuses more narrowly on policies broadly embraced by the Western Governors on a bipartisan basis.

Over lunch at Higgins Restaurant -- which serves wonderful food grown in the Willamette Valley -- I learned something else about Governor Kitzhaber.  He graduated from the same high school that my daughter currently attends: South Eugene (Ore.) High.  Armed with this information, I’m even more confident telling my kid that she can grow up to be governor.

Jim Ogsbury is the Executive Director of the Western Governors’ Association. Contact him at 303-623-9378 or at   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Newly appointed Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and B.P. Capital Management founder T. Boone Pickens won't be the only ones creating star power during the Western Governors' Association annual meeting June 28-30 at the Montage Deer Valley in Park City, Utah.

The weekend’s activities also will include some Hollywood sizzle, thanks to a sneak preview for ALL attendees of the new Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer Films' movie The Lone Ranger, which doesn't open in theaters until July 3. The movie features rising star Armie Hammer as the Masked Man and superstar Johnny Depp as his sidekick Tonto.

We're not showing the movie because it's about the Old West -- although

Oklahoma native Blake Shelton headlined an all-star cast of performers at the "Healing in the Heartland" benefit concert on Wednesday (May 29) in Oklahoma City.

The event in the sold-out Chesapeake Energy Arena, televised live on NBC, had raised more than $3.5 million by late Wednesday for the United Way of Central Oklahoma.

Performers included Shelton's wife Miranda Lambert, as well as country star Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker and Usher, Shelton's fellow judge on The Voice.

Learn more about ongoing recovery efforts in Moore and elsewhere at OKStrong.

Those interested in supporting the victims for the May 20 tornado can visit this page.

OKNews offered photos and reporting from inside the show.

Here's where to find a gallery of photos from the event.

"On the southern Great Plains ... landowners are caught up in a struggle: to keep the Lesser Prairie Chicken off the federal endangered species list."

That's the gist of a story written by April Reese of E&E about the use of "Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances" and other efforts designed to keep the federal government from declaring the animal endangered.

Getting landowners on board with voluntary conservation agreements is crucial to persuading the Fish and Wildlife Service to forego listing the Lesser Prairie Chicken. "We've been hustling to get as many as we can," the story quotes Jeff Bonner, a technical guidance biologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

In January, the WGA released a statement from the Governors of five Western states on the federal proposal to list the Lesser Prairie Chicken as a threatened species. Governors signing the document were John Hickenlooper (Colo.), Sam Brownback (Kan.), Susana Martinez (N.M.), Mary Fallin (Okla.), and Rick Perry (Texas). In brief, the statement said:

"Our states have worked to develop state conservation plans to improve habitat for the species while also taking into account economic development needs. Collectively, our agencies released a GIS mapping tool (the Southern Great Plains Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool) that identifies the highest priority areas for targeted species conservation. This tool has facilitated our agencies' work together, and with land and mineral owners, to develop a range-wide conservation strategy to ensure that a listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken is not warranted."

The work is urgent: The story notes FWS is expected to decide on whether to list the lesser prairie chicken by the end of September.

Governors of the West faced decisions on a variety of issues in may, including health, energy, water and much more. Here's a sampling of what happened in all the states and flag territories of the Western Governors' Association.

WATER

Living on Borrowed Water: This story from High Country News illustrates how a flexible piece of 2003 Colorado water law helps ranchers and water districts temporarily lease water to the state to help keep rivers flowing.

Planning ahead: California Gov. Jerry Brown issued an executive order to streamline approvals for voluntary water transfers to assist state agriculture.

ENERGY

Energy Vision: Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead rolled out "Leading the Charge: Wyoming's Action Plan for Energy, Environment and Economy.

By Jim Ogsbury

The profile of Western Governors is on the rise and their voice gaining strength on Capitol Hill.

An upcoming illustration is set for Tuesday (May 21), when Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, Chairman of the Western Governors’ Association, testifies before the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation about "Perspectives on the Management of Federal and State Land." The hearing starts at 10:30 a.m. EDT. More information.

Here are other recent examples of WGA’s policy traction in Washington:

On May 16, I testified on the topic of Invasive Species at a hearing of the House Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation. My testimony.

Despite significant precipitation in much of the West this spring, drought continues to post a threat.That was the word today (May 16) at the Summer 2013 National Drought Outlook Forum on Capitol Hill. According to the forecast:

Extreme to exceptional drought continues to pose a threat to the agricultural community in the central U.S.

Exceptional drought now covers 44% of the state of New Mexico, where significant drought impacts have been observed.

Invasive species remain a growing threat in the West. In California alone, more than 1,000 non-native species have been identified. 

WGA Executive Director James Ogsbury addressed the challenges presented by invasive species and suggested a path to dealing with the issue during testimony Thursday (May 16) at an oversight hearing of the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation, which included (shown above) Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo).

Some of the major issues Ogsbury addressed on the behalf of western governors:

The Western Governors' Association (WGA) delivered a letter today expressing "alarm" about implementation of the "budget sequester," which has seen federal agencies request the return of substantial funds already allocated to the states under the Mineral Leasing Act and Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS).

In addition to seeking return of the funds, which were distributed in Fiscal Year 2012, one of the agencies plans to assess interest, penalties and administrative costs on the sequestration amounts if states do not remit payment.

The letter was sent to Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Office and Management and Budget Director Sylvia Mathews Burwell. It received media coverage in the Idaho Statesman, Casper Star Tribune and the Oregonian in Portland. In addition, E&E reported on the letter and posted it on its websiite.

UPDATE: Our annual meeting was held June 28-30 in Park City, Utah.  Read about it. Our Winter Meeting will be held Dec. 11-12 in Las Vegas. 

MAY 8, 2013: It's time to register for the 2013 Annual Meeting of the Western Governors' Association June 28-30 at the beautiful Montage Deer Valley in Park City, Utah.

We're excited to announce that newly appointed Interior Secretary Sally Jewell has agreed to attend and will take part in a panel examining ways to align state and federal resources to improve health and management of public lands.

The keynote speaker will be T. Boone Pickens, the Chairman of BP Capital Management. In addition to building one of the largest independent oil companies in the United States, Pickens is a compelling speaker on the future of energy.

Attendees will hear from Utah Gov. Gary R. Herbert, WGA Chairman, and Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, WGA Vice Chairman, as well as other Western governors and Western Canadian premiers.

A variety of Plenary Sessions are planned on issues such as Healthcare, Education, Endangered Species, Energy and Public Lands.

Much more is in the works. Once you register, you'll continue to receive periodic updates on the agenda and activities.

Hotels in the Park City area are beginning to fill, so register NOW to secure your room. 

The reduced fee for early registration ends May 31; online registration continues to June 21. On-site registration will be available as well. Register online.

The Western Governors' Association is an independent, non-partisan organization of Governors from 19 Western states, two Pacific-flag territories and one commonwealth. Follow us on Twitter and "like" us on Facebook.

Better management of national forest land is a top priority for Western governors.

In fact, the Western Governors’ Association recently sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Thomas J. Vilsack requesting increased attention for environmentally stressed national forest land and use of the private sector to reduce epidemics such as pine beetle infestations and wildfires.

Which is why we attended the May 2 hearing “Seeking State Solutions: Forest Health, Wildfires, and Habitat Protection” hosted by the Congressional Western Caucus in Denver. Co-Chairmen Steve Pearce (R-NM) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) were joined by the Colorado Members of the Caucus: Mike Coffman (R), Cory Gardner (R), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), and Scott Tipton (R-CO). (Rep. Lummis spent time with WGA's Jim Ogsbury before the event, right.)

Witnesses included Gale Norton, Former Secretary of the Interior, and Mike King, Executive Director of Colorado Department of Natural Resources. Read the complete testimony. Here's a sampling of what they had to say:

State municipal leagues have more than a little in common with the Western Governors' Association. They are non-profit, non-partisan associations of local government officials and, like WGA, they promote public policy positions and provide services to facilitate the management of government.

So I was pleased to speak to the board of the Colorado Municipal League (CML) in Denver at the invitation of Executive Director Sam Mamet. Sam, who has dedicated his professional life to municipal public service, has been with CML since 1979.

My remarks focused on the reorganization of WGA, specific policy issues in which our Governors are interested, and the opportunities for state and local officials to leverage their collective political influence to make things happen. Taking advantage of such opportunities is more important than ever, now that “gridlock” describes the new normal in Washington, D.C.

The lively discussion at CML reflected a mutual interest in working together more closely on issues of mutual concern, such as infrastructure development and water availability. This conversation will be continued when I speak on May 24 in Flagstaff, Ariz., at the Western Interstate Region Conference of the National Association of Counties.

James Ogsbury is the Executive Director of the Western Governors’ Association. Contact him at 303-623-9378 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Here's a quick look at some of the news that happened during April in the Western states that comprise the Western Governors' Association.

Economic development and jobs

Gov. Matt Mead Ready for Cowboy Tough Adventure This Summer: The first ever Cowboy Tough Adventure Race (July 18-21) will wend its way over several hundred miles highlighting adventure opportunities in Wyoming.

Gov. Otter signs bill to reign in drone use by law enforcement: Idaho Gov. Butch Otter (in photo at right) has signed a law that creates stricter guidelines for when police and other public agencies can deploy drones, Reuters reported.

Governor Looks to Develop Tourism, Growth Along Kansas River: Gov. Sam Brownback announced an 18-member committee, the Kansas River Development Committee, to spur recreational use and get more people to visit the river.

Gov. Bullock announces Resource for Entrepreneurs, Innovative Businesses: Gov. Steve Bullock and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development have relaunched Innovate Montana, a public-private partnership that connects Montana entrepreneurs and businesses across the state with economic development and networking resources.

This week's busy schedule included WGA's first sponsor luncheon of the year, hosted by Wyoming Governor Matt Mead at the Governor's Mansion in Cheyenne.

I was able to share with our sponsors and the governor just how busy we've been at WGA. In the previous week alone, we:

Testified before Congress, requesting a directive to federal land management agencies to use state wildlife data and analysis. (Read the testimony)

Met with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to discuss a new model for the state-federal relationship, one involving an authentic partnership, as opposed to the federal government telling the states what to do and how to do it;

Don't let the recent stormy weather across the Midwest and the Rocky Mountains fool you -- drought remains a significant issue for Western states.

The Western Governors' Association recognizes that and has worked to raise awareness about key bills in Congress that can help western states prepare for drought (and flooding), as well as offering information on the latest conditions.

One of the ways WGA accomplishes the latter is through Climate Impacts and Outlook, a quarterly publication that was developed by the WGA and National Oceanic & Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) after the organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2011.(Read the latest report.)

UPDATE (MAY 8): The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted to move four bills on hydropower, supported by the Western Governors' Association, out of committee. "It’s encouraging to see senators from both sides of the aisle coming together to work on bipartisan energy legislation," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). The bills now move to the Senate floor. Learn more. Read the story in E&E.

Did you know hydropower is the United States' largest source of renewable electricity, producing some 100,000 megawatts, or 7% of the nation's electricity needs? It's also a fact that the potential exists to develop an additional 60,000 megawatts.

Even though I was born in Arizona and now call Denver home, I spent nearly 20 years working in Washington, D.C. That time included a stint as staff director for the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. 

So it felt familiar to be in Washington on Wednesday (April 17) to deliver testimony on behalf of WGA before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies.

UPDATE: Rough & Ready Lumber, the last sawmill in southwest Oregon's Josephine County, has closed, a grim milestone in the persistent stalemate over logging federal land. Read more.

APRIL 16: The Western Governors’ Association delivered a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Thomas J. Vilsack today (April 16, 2013) requesting increased attention on environmentally stressed national forest land and inclusion of the private sector in efforts to reduce epidemics such as pine beetle infestations and wildfires. Read the letter: 

Out West, we know the value of water. We also know what a precious, scarce commodity it can be.

"Water Transfers" have been one way that Westerners have dealt with that scarcity. A Water Transfer happens when someone who has been previously allocated water decides to sell or lease it to those in need of water. These types of voluntary transfers have occurred for many years, but with the increased demand for water in the West, it's important to evaluate how we best use transfers.

Carlee Brown, a Policy Manager at Western Governors' Association, recently made a presentation on Water Transfers at the 31st annual Southwestern Water Conservation District seminar in Durango, Colo. Read a story about Carlee's talk by reporter Dale Rodebaugh of the Durango Herald.

Want to learn more about Water Transfers? Read Innovative Water Transfers report produced by WGA and the Western States Water Council.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S NOTEBOOK: By James Ogsbury

Water has long been a signature issue for Western states. Given last year’s drought and projections that this year will continue the trend, water remains a top priority.

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.

DENVER -- Drought conditions remain in much of the West, but improvement is likely for Kansas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas, according to the most recent Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook.