GOVERNORS TALK NEW ENERGY

Water, energy, climate top Western govs' agenda
Mike Stark, June 13, 2009 (AP via Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

"There are a few topics governors running states in the West just can't escape: water scarcity, a warming climate and energy development…[They] will get ample attention as Western governors and federal officials gather in Utah…The three-day Western Governors' Association meeting in Park City is meant to allow governors to step outside of their partisan affiliations to discuss unifying, cross-state issues…

"…[The association] represents the governors of 19 Western states and American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands…"

click to enlarge

"The political landscape has shifted dramatically since the last gathering. President Barack Obama's new administration has placed an increased emphasis on climate change and renewable energy. Several top administration officials are scheduled to be at the meeting, including Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Nancy Sutley, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

"Sunday's discussion will be dominated by talk about managing declining water supplies amid increasing demand and a warming climate…[P]rojections that the West will add 40 million people by 2030 have state leaders thinking about where they'll get basic resources, including water and electricity…Meanwhile, the West is expected to warm up and dry out more than any other part of the country under most climate change predictions…That poses problems for governors, federal officials and anyone else who will have a say in decisions on development and doling out water for farmers, businesses, and cities…"

click to enlarge

"On Monday, the focus turns to the potential for renewable energy in the West and, just as important, developing a transmission system that can deliver that power to the market…

"Other topics at the meeting include a session on climate change, discussion of the creation of a national climate service and global cooperation on energy and environmental issues."