Western Govs. Take Charge Of Energy Policy

Fed Up With What They See As Lagging Leadership In D.C., States Discuss Proposal

(AP)  Citing a lack of federal leadership, the nation's Western governors want to draft a national energy policy they hope will influence the next presidential administration.

Governors participating in the final day of the Western Governors' Association meeting in Wyoming said their resource-rich region is well positioned to take the lead on the issue.

"We all know that nature abhors a vacuum, and so does politics," said Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman. "This group is very, very serious about putting forward a policy recommendation to the next administration."

Tuesday's meeting wrapped up three days of discussions on issues related to energy, climate change, water supply and wildlife habitat. Over the next several months, representatives from the governors' offices will craft the energy policy proposal.

British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell, one of four Canadian provincial leaders in attendance, said not all Canadians or Americans are convinced that climate change is real. However, he said regional governments would be negligent not to take action.

"I don't actually look at this as a challenge between the north side of the border and the south side of the border; this is a challenge for all of us," he said.

The discussion centered on the need for diverse, secure and affordable energy sources, relying both on traditional fuels such as coal and natural gas while also expanding renewable sources such as wind and solar. Government and industry officials emphasized increased conservation would be a key part of any energy policy.

The governors also focused on climate change, discussing technology and strategies for cleaning up carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels. Those strategies include emerging technologies for capturing carbon and the potential for a national "cap-and-trade" system to limit smokestack emissions and assign a monetary value to pollutants.

Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal, whose state leads the nation in coal production, said regional efforts at that type of system illustrate the lack of federal initiative.

"What you see is all of those efforts pushing in the direction of forcing the federal government to finally do what it should do and figure out how to monetize carbon and integrate that into the economy," Freudenthal said.

Jeff Immelt, chairman and chief executive of General Electric Co., attended Tuesday's meeting as a keynote speaker and participated in discussions with the governors. He said the United States is not alone in dealing with issues of how to provide clean energy and clean water, two principles he said his company is committed to.

"If we don't push it in the United States, other countries are going to do this," Immelt said. "It's not like other people are waiting for us to lead."

But delivering a federal energy policy proposal to Washington won't have much effect if it's simply a consensus document among governors, said Gov. Christine Gregoire of Washington. She said the governors should solicit officials from a range of sectors to sign the document.

"I'm behind us governors delivering something, but I think we need to deliver something more than a consensus document, and that is the hearts and minds of the people of our respective states," she said.

[Buck Godot]

Bravo! It''s about time somebody stood up and did something!

[docpeter-2009]

I got a better idea. Sell that extra car, keep one family car for rainy days, travel, and shopping. Buy scooters. Honda makes nices ones for under $6000.00, and they get about 60 or so miles to a gallon. Speculators will be holding oil that isn''t in demand so they lose the $$ they are planning on, which is good for everyone else.

[rudy654-2009]

Bush''s policy? Do absolutely nothing. Nothing at all, that might stop the corruption.

[rudy654-2009]

Speculators will be holding oil that isn''''t in demand so they lose the $$ they are planning on, which is good for everyone else.

Posted by docpeter at 09:23 AM

A dream come true!

[jntlw-2009]

Between solar, oil, coal, wind, wave, the West has enormous potential engery sources. They just need to be developed in a comprehensive long term/short term plan that includes keeping the carbon footprint low. Oil and coal are not the only resources and in fact they are finite, but solar, wind, wave, and geothermal are infinite and need to be part of our long term energy resources. We must start developing this now!!

[slim1h2o]

Fed Up With What They See As Lagging Leadership In D.C., States Discuss Proposal

More like "no" leadership, the way I see it.

[indivthinker]

Is there any leadership left in DC? I mean, the Congress and President are on vacation right now, while we are made poor and the economy is collapsing because of gas prices.

Republicans and Democrats in Congress, stop the fighting and start uniting, otherwise this country is going to end up like the Soviet Union... collapsing and undergoing a depression that makes the Great Depression look good.

[lochlan-2009]

Start with taking control of them media, and banning all censorship and propaganda through them. Three years and not one journalist, politician, or exec. knows where the money is going for oil. It just disappears. Then you can get the criminals (mostly the same companies)

How can anyone have faith in our media?

[cfin5]

Is the massive Gull Island Oil Field in Alaska still,.....psssst, "Classified"? If so, what for? Everyone knows about it. There is enough oil their to fuel America for 200 years. And the government just feigns that they are trying to help us while we are all filling the credit card companies bank accounts, the same ones that our "public servants" have business dealings with.......Please God, avenge us from these kinds of people in office!

[kansas1946]

LOL. Still in the name calling phase I see. What about real issues?
When it comes to issues all we are seeing is John McCain offering up solutions and programs, whil Obama just says Change.
McCain on the environment - Clean Car Challenge to the automakers of America. Obama - Change?
McCain on energy - energy plan called the Lexington Project. Obama - Change?
McCain on education - empowering parents by greatly expanding the ability of parents to choose among schools for their children. Obama - Change?

The list goes on and on. Throw in Obamas questionable character and the decision is rather easy. But of course, that is only my opinion.



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Posted by JERSupporter at 02:18 PM : Jul 02, 2008
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Of course there has been no leadership on the issue. There has been no leadership on any issue for almost eight years. Bush is not a leader.

[patriot12436]

I would like to see the governorr of Utah run for president. He is implementing some great ideas in his state alone, not just talking about them. This is the kind of leadership our country needs. I could see the other governors as his chiefs of staff or at least in the senate. It is time for change and this man is ahead of his time.