Western Renewable Energy Zones -- Steering Committee
The Steering Committee comprising the Governors of the 11 states, one PUC commissioner from each of the 11 states, the Premiers of the two Canadian Provinces, and a representative from the area of Mexico in the Western Interconnection, as well as ex-officio members from the Department of Energy, Interior, and Agriculture. The Steering Committee will be the decision-making body of the initiative. The Chair and Vice Chair of the Western Governors’ Association will lead the Steering Committee. A facilitator and technical expert will be made available to staff the committee upon request.

The Steering Committee will direct the initiative and establish work plans for each phase, from the designation of development zones (Phase 1) to development of coordinated regional procurement and interstate cooperation on permitting and cost allocation (Phases 3 and 4). The Steering Committee will use Phase 1 and 2 results to facilitate development of commercial transmission projects to make large-scale renewable energy generation available to load centers across the Western Interconnection.