Press Release

In a letter to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Western governors opposed as "unwarranted and inappropriate" proposals to preempt state authority over transmission line siting. They also said decisions on and enforcement of reliability standards should be made by the affected region, not the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Gov. Jane Dee Hull of Arizona, Chairman of the Western Governors' Association, said the legislation the energy committee plans to markup in the coming weeks should focus on cooperation not federal usurpation of state authority. She also plans to discuss the states’ position in separate meetings today with Secretary of Energy, Spencer Abraham, and with FERC’s chairman, Patrick Wood, and commissioner Nora Brownell.

"Western states, collectively and individually, have been very aggressive in addressing a wide range of energy issues, from extensive conservation measures to the siting and permitting of new generation," Hull said. "We have agreed to move forward on a plan for streamlining the permitting of interstate transmission by next June. We have clearly demonstrated that decisions on these issues are best made at the smallest, most appropriate geographic area."

Twelve governors signed the letter to the Senate energy committee, and all but Alaska share the same electric grid known as the Western Interconnection. In addition to Gov. Hull, the letter was signed by Govs. Tony Knowles, Alaska; Gray Davis, Calif.; Dirk Kempthorne, Idaho; Mike Johanns, Neb.; Kenny Guinn, Nev.; Gary Johnson, N.M.; John Kitzhaber, Ore., WGA co-lead governor for energy; Bill Janklow, S.D.; Mike Leavitt, Utah; Gary Locke, Wash.; and Jim Geringer, Wyo., WGA co-lead governor for energy.

"Ensuring that citizens have access to reliable and affordable energy will require coordinated and consistent action by states, (Canadian) provinces and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission within the geographic boundaries of the market," the governors said. "It does not require federal preemption of state authority over transmission siting and does not require unilateral FERC authority to set and enforce reliability standards in the West. We oppose any schemes to empower FERC or DOE and relegate the states to an advisory role to those distant federal agencies."

On the issue of transmission siting, the governors said no Western state has ever denied a permit for an interstate transmission line. The major challenges in siting long distance transmission lines have typically involved those crossing federal lands. The governors said they hope the federal agencies will join the states in coordinating their reviews of transmission line applications. A memorandum of understanding signed by the governors and five federal agencies last month should assist in that process.

To ensure the reliability of the electric system, the Western states and Canadian provinces that are part of the Western Interconnection are working with industry to develop a Western Electricity Coordinating Council, which would set and enforce standards. The governors have asked FERC for its approval of the council. In addition, they said federal reliability legislation must require deference by FERC to decisions made in the West and enable the establishment of regional bodies, consisting of gubernatorial appointees, to oversee reliability issues.

"We oppose proposals to give FERC unfettered authority to set and enforce reliability standards," the governors’ letter stated. "The agency does not have the expertise, resources or local knowledge to successfully execute such responsibilities."

A copy of the letter, WGA policy resolutions and other supporting materials are available on the WGA Web site 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.