Gov. Jerry Brown Pushes Plan For Western Power Grid

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown says he remains committed to expanding California's power grid to include other Western states, despite a delay announced this summer.

Brown told a meeting Wednesday hosted by the California Independent System Operator that the efficiency of a wider grid is "unmistakable."

He says a consortium with neighboring states would also create elegance and intelligence "in the way we use and produce electricity, the way we market it and the way it goes around the system."

California has been working with leaders in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming on establishing a broader power grid.

The Democratic governor, a strong backer of renewable energy, acknowledged that there are differences in philosophy, including some states' reliance on coal energy.

He says California won't compromise on its tough environmental mandates.

Jerry Brown