Press Release

Gov. Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho, Western Governors' Association Chairman, also announced a WGA Energy Policy Roundtable will be held Feb. 2 in Portland, Ore. to review implementation of state strategies and to examine both short- and long-term solutions. The governors said the recent, unprecedented problems with the price and reliability of energy supplies demand long-term strategies and careful, coordinated solutions to increase investment in new energy supplies, energy transportation infrastructure and energy efficiency.

Governors participating in the short-term energy conservation strategy released a document with four components:

• Conduct a coordinated state-by-state media campaign to inform the public about the severity of the problem and to highlight their responsibility for achieving short-term solutions.
• Each state is encouraged to develop a specific strategy for providing personal and practical information to all homes, businesses and public agencies that detail steps they can take to reduce energy use and manage and reduce costs during times of energy shortage.
• In states with immediate shortages, encourage utilities to establish and expand voluntary programs for electricity users to reduce non-essential consumption of electricity.
• Especially in those areas with immediate shortages of energy, encourage public agencies across the Western states, including local governments and school districts, to conserve energy.

Governors who endorsed the strategy today include Kempthorne; Jane Dee Hull, Ariz.; Bill Owens, Colo.; Kenny Guinn, Nev.; Gary Johnson, N.M.; John Kitzhaber, Ore.; Mike Leavitt, Utah; Gary Locke, Wash.; and Jim Geringer, Wyo.  Other governors may endorse the strategy at a later date.

Kempthorne said the ongoing electricity and natural gas crisis in the Western power grid has demonstrated the value and urgency of the Energy Policy Roundtable on Feb. 2.

"The roundtable will focus not only on steps needed to address the immediate crisis, but also on developing an action plan to increase the long-term supply and availability of electricity that will help maintain a robust economy for the growing West," Kempthorne said.

The governors called for such a forum on Dec. 1, when they adopted a policy resolution, "Energy Policy for the Americas," sponsored by Gov. Geringer.  Following the December meeting, electricity and natural gas prices reached unprecedented levels in the West, resulting in power shortages, emergency calls for conservation and financial hardship for consumers in several states.

Several Western states have independently taken action to address the immediate crisis. The governors of Colorado, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming met Dec. 20th in Denver to discuss the problem and possible steps that could be taken. Joining them were Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson; Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Jim Hoecker; other administration officials; and representatives from utilities, generating companies and natural gas suppliers. The conservation strategy announced today emanated from that meeting.

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