Western governors agree to add 30,000 MW of clean power by 2015

Western governors agree to add 30,000 MW of clean power by 2015

Washington (Platts)--12Jun2006

Western governors on Sunday adopted proposals they had been discussing
for two years that will see their states install at least 30,000 MW of clean
power generation by 2015 and increase overall energy efficiency 20% by 2020.
They also committed to ensuring there will be adequate electricity
transmission for the next 25 years.

The 18 governors signed off on the goals, proposed in 2004 by
California's Arnold Schwarzenegger and New Mexico's Bill Richardson, at their
annual meeting in Sedona, Arizona.

"The Western governors believe the actions identified will help protect
our region from energy shortages and price spikes, improve the balance of
energy resources used to produce electricity, encourage more energy-efficient
practices, and mitigate the environmental impacts of power generation,"
Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano said.

To meet the clean energy goal, the governors agreed to use renewable
sources, including hydropower; and natural gas and coal gasification plants;
and combined heat and power technology. New nuclear reactors are not part of
the plan.

The governors asked Congress to expand a number of tax incentives that
would support their goals, including a 10-year extension of the popular
1.8 cents/kWh renewable production credit.

They also pressed Washington to help them develop biofuels and
coal-to-liquids as gasoline alternatives. "We need the federal government to
step up to the plate to meet this [energy independence] challenge or get out
of the way," Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer said.

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