Initiatives
North American Energy Summit 

Coal Bed Methane Best Management Practices

Border Energy

Western Renewable Energy Generation Information System (WREGIS)

Resolutions
Western States' Energy Policy Roadmap (2003)

State Authority Regarding the Federal Hydropower Licensing Process (2005)

Protecting the Reliability of the Western Electric Power System (2003)

Meetings
Energy and Transmission meetings information

Links
EPRI White Paper -- Western Electricity Crisis

Transmission Financing Committee

North American Energy page

Transmission Protocol page

A goal of Western Governors is to secure reliable, diverse, affordable, and environmentally sound energy for all citizens. They believe that the States have and should continue to shape their energy futures through cooperative action among themselves with the support of the federal government. To that end, the governors have taken and are planning additional actions to ensure the energy needs of the West are met.

Key Documents
Western Governors signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Secretaries of Energy, Interior, and Agriculture and the heads of EPA  and CEQ to work cooperatively on energy development and conservation in the Western U.S. The MOU provides a framework to expeditiously work together to resolve both the short term energy crisis in the region and longer term energy problems.  

Western Governors signed a Protocol to cooperate on the review of any new applications to site transmission lines in the region. (June 2002)

Financing Electricity Transmission Expansion in the West: A Report to the Western Governors (February 2002)

The Transmission Finance Committee (TFC) has prepared this report exploring transmission financing issues raised in the earlier Conceptual Plans for Electricity Transmission in the West report.  It recommends to the Governors several specific steps they can take to help ensure that justifiable expansion of the Western grid can be financed. In its consideration of transmission financing and cost recovery alternatives, there has emerged among the TFC members a broad consensus documented in this report.

Conceptual Plans for Electricity Transmission in the West

The governors empanelled a diverse, public/private work group to identify a range of potential transmission enhancements that would help ensure the region can move electricity where and when it is needed over the next decade.  The report identifies different scenarios for expansion of the Western Interconnection and alternatives to expansion linked to emerging technologies, more efficient use of electricity that reduces demand, peak load management and distributed generation located at or near the customer load.     

A Western States’ Energy Policy Roadmap resolution adopted by Western governors says states must continue to play a pivotal role in electric power decisions affecting the West, and Congress should allow states to create regional mechanisms to decide their common power issues.

Supporting Testimony, Press Releases, Correspondence

WGA Chairman Governor Richardson's letter to the Western Electricity Coordinating Council requesting development of a report on how to implement the electric reliability provisions pending before Congress (10/20/03)

WGA Executive Director Souby's responds to House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Tauzin request for information about the eastern states electricity blackout  (8/25/03)

Sen. Domenici commended by Governors for including in energy legislation adopted today a regional approach to electricity that better "fits the needs of the West." (4/30/03)

WGA letter, testimony, preemption fact sheet, and energy resolutions (3/26/03)

Governors Martz and Richardson letter to Thomas Kuhn, President, Edison Electric Institute (3/20/03)

Governors Kitzhaber & Geringer letter to colleagues on regional energy policy collaboration  (12/3/02)

Letter to Senator Thomas in appreciation of his efforts to protect western interests in electricity reliability legislation (11/22/02)

Letter to Chairmen of Senate and House Energy committees on proposed FERC Standard Market Design rule (10/9/02)

Letter to Chairmen of Senate and House Energy committees signed by thirteen western governors and five southern governors on proposed FERC Standard Market Design rule (9/19/02)

Letter & testimony on proposed FERC Standard Market Design rule -- Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (9/17/02)

Governors Cite Concerns over FERC Proposal for Electricity Grids. (8/22/02)

Governors urge conferees to recognize regional differences in energy production, transportation, and use. (7/24/02)

Governors applaud creation of a Western Electricity Coordinating Council as crucial step in ensuring reliable electricity supplies in the region (4/16/02)

Governors write to President regarding FERC Commissioner vacancy. (4/10/02)

Gov. Hull writes Paul Gigot, Editorial Page Editor, Wall Street Journal, regarding article on Senate amendment to energy bill (3/20/02)

Western governors call Senate amendment to energy bill good news for consumers (3/14/02)

Western governors, organizations urge Senate to adopt bill assuring reliable supplies of electricity (3/13/02)

Governor Hull transmits draft regional siting protocol to the Administration -- same letter sent to DoD Sec. Rumsfeld, DOI Sec. Norton, Ag Sec. Veneman, and CEQ Director Connaughton. (3/13/02)

Governors thank Senator Thomas for help on electricity reliability legislation (3/12/02)

Governors copy House and Senate committees on letter to Administration on electricity legislation (3/6/02)

Governors respond to Administration's views on electricity legislation (3/5/02)

Governors encourage Congress to create stable, market-based incentives for concentrating solar power (2/26/02)

Governors ask House committee leaders for further changes in electricity reliability legislation. (2/6/02)

Governors ask Senate leaders for further changes in electricity reliability legislation. Attachment. (1/29/02)

Governors ask Leaders of House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, for changes in electricity reliability legislation. (12/1101)

WGA Chair Governor Jane Dee Hull and Governor Locke Tell FERC Regional Approach Best Way to Shape West’s Electricity Future (11/02/01)

Governors letter to House Committee on Energy Supply and Transmission Act (10/24/01)

Governors' letter to Vice President Cheney on energy legislation (10/12/01)

Letter to CEQ Director on President's Executive Order 13212. (9/7/01)

Governors Tell DOE States Must Take Lead in Shaping Region's Electricity Future (9/28/01).  Letters also sent to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on same issue (9/6/01) and (9/12/01)

Conceptual Plans for Electricity Transmission in the West (8/9/01)
Appendix: Log of Recommended Transmission Additions

Governors' Recommendations from Energy Summit (2/2/01)