Energy Bill Protects West’s Ability to
Avoid Potential Electricity Shortages

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2005

Contact: Kevin Moran, Director of WGA's D.C. Office, (202) 624-5402

DENVER -- The Western Governors’ Association said today that the energy bill being finalized in Congress will protect the region’s ability to finance and construct adequate transmission to avoid future electricity shortages and thanked Western members on the conference committee for their work on the measure.

The Western congressional delegation stood firm in the face of legislative efforts that would have limited the West’s ability to ensure an adequate and reliable supply of electricity, said Gov. Dave Freudenthal of Wyoming.

“Serious attempts were made during the energy bill conference to mandate a provision called ‘Participant Funding’ in allocating the cost of new transmission and upgrades to existing transmission,” Gov. Freudenthal said. “While that is one option, it is not always the best solution, and the West needs to make sure all options remain on the table. A number of Western leaders in Congress stepped in and ensured our region will have the flexibility it needs.”

Among WGA’s lead governors for energy issues who commented on the bill are Govs. Freudenthal; Arnold Schwarzenegger (Calif.); and John Hoeven (N.D.).

"It was really fantastic to see Western states, both Democrat and Republican, Governors and members of Congress come together to defeat this effort in the Federal energy bill,” Gov. Schwarzenegger said. “The West recognizes that we have to work together, across party and state lines to build the energy infrastructure needed to power our economies and meet the renewable energy goals that the Western Governors’ Association has established."

The energy bill also includes other electricity provisions that will continue to support reliable electric power supplies for consumers and industry.

"In addition to expanding transmission lines, it would ensure the development and enforcement of reliability standards that meet the consumer needs of the nation, as well as each electrically distinct region," Gov. Hoeven said. "In particular, it will accommodate the international nature of the West's electricity grids, which include several Canadian provinces."

The governors have been very proactive in advancing electricity issues that will help meet the needs of the fastest growing region in the nation. In recent years, the West has constructed more new miles of transmission than all the regional transmission organizations in the eastern interconnection. Western transmission planning efforts have led to the development of additional transmission projects. The planned Frontier Line through California, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming is but one example.

For more information on the energy-related policy positions of the Western Governors’ Association, visit the Web at: http://www.westgov.org/wga_energy.htm.

The Western Governors’ Association is an independent, nonprofit organization representing the governors of 18 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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