Press Release

Western Governors adopted a resolution at their Annual Meeting that will launch the initiative, spearheaded by Govs. Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Arnold Schwarzenegger of California. The resolution builds upon recommendations the governors received from the nearly 700 participants at the North American Energy Summit, which WGA held in April.

The Governors have agreed to examine the feasibility and actions required to reach a goal of 30,000 megawatts of clean energy by 2015 and a 20 percent improvement in energy efficiency by 2020. A new working group will be formed to determine how to reach that goal, and at the same time, ensure the region has the necessary generation and transmission capacity. The group will have balanced representation that includes state, local and Native American leaders; environmental organizations; state and tribal air quality agencies; the private sector; federal agencies; and representatives from Mexico and Canada.

"This region has a unique opportunity to develop clean energy to fuel our growing economy," said Gov. Richardson, WGA Chairman. "We have an enormous potential to improve the efficiency of energy use. The West also has the highest quality solar, wind, and geothermal resources in the nation, and this clean-energy initiative will determine the steps needed to take advantage of this unique opportunity."

Gov. Schwarzenegger said, "California has historically been very aggressive in promoting renewable energy and the highest efficiency energy standards. We have proven that cost-effective efficiency programs can help reduce overall energy use, protect our environment and save consumers in the long run. I think it's fantastic that my fellow Western Governors came together today in this bipartisan spirit to affirm our mutual commitment to a clean, diversified energy future throughout the West."

The initiative will build on our traditional energy resources, while advancing the development of clean energy in the West. The project will stress incentive-based, non-mandatory approaches that will help states achieve their clean and diversified energy goals, and will consider federal programs that could assist in the development of clean and diversified energy in the West.

Gov. Dave Freudenthal of Wyoming will serve as lead governor for energy policy, along with Richardson and Schwarzenegger.

"Western governors recognize that both traditional and non-traditional resources will play an important role in meeting the energy needs of the West," Freudenthal said.

A copy of the resolution is available on the Web at www.westgov.org.

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 governors identify and address key policy and governance issues in natural resources, the environment, human services, economic development, international relations and public management. Additional information about WGA is available on the Web at www.westgov.org.

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