SANTA FE, N.M. - The Western Governors' Association (WGA), an organization of governors from 18 western states as well as American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands, agreed to explore opportunities to develop "a clean, secure, and diversified energy system for the West and to capitalize on the region's immense energy resources." They further agreed to examine the feasibility and actions required to reach a goal of 30,000 MW of clean energy by 2015, and a 20-percent improvement in energy efficiency by 2020.

The initiatives will build on traditional energy resources while advancing the development of clean energy in the West. They 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.

For more information, visit www.westgov.org.

- compiled by Michelle Bemis

Publication date: 08/23/2004