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Western Governors Talk Renewables Transmission, Climate Change At the Western Governors Association annual meeting, the dangers of climate change and the challenges of getting more renewable energy into the power mix dominated discussion.
Governors discussed the need to fast-track the transmission lines needed to bring renewable energy from remote locations to population centers. But the prospect of those lines traversing national forest or private property has prompted resistance from environmentalists and landowners.
Montana governor Brian Schweitzer said that in the absence of transmission capacity, alternative projects won’t be able to attract investment and thus won’t be built. This sentiment was echoed by Washington governor Chris Gregoire. Both are Democrats.
The bipartisan association elected a new chairman, Idaho’s Republican governor, Butch Otter. Gregoire will take over Otter’s former role of vice-chair. A consensus report from the governors’ group detailed the problems climate change could present for the region, from declining air and water quality to reductions in plant and animal species populations and diversity. |
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