Western Governors, U.S. Department of Energy report identifies promising areas for large-scale renewable development

The Western Governors’ Association and the U.S. Department of Energy today released a joint report that takes the first steps toward identifying those areas in the Western Interconnection that have both the potential for large scale development of renewable resources and low environmental impacts.

“We set and achieved an aggressive goal of bringing together in less than one year a large number of stakeholders to identify areas that have the most promising renewable energy resources,” said Gov. Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., WGA Chairman. “Their efforts are an important first step in developing cost-attractive renewable energy resources across the West and the high voltage transmission that will ensure this electricity can be delivered to demand centers.”

The results of this work and a map that shows the most promising areas are summarized in the report, Western Renewable Energy Zones – Phase 1 Report released today at the WGA’s Annual Meeting. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu joined the governors today to discuss the report’s findings and future work.

“To harness the incredible renewable energy potential of the West, we need to know where that energy can be generated and how to move it to where people live,” Secretary Chu said. “The Department of Energy was proud to partner with the Western Governors’ Association on this study, which is a necessary step for creating a clean energy economy."

The U.S. Departments of Interior and Agriculture and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission were also involved in the initiative. Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and FERC Chairman JonWellinghoff also participated in today’s discussion.

Participants in the WREZ process included renewable energy developers, tribal interests, utility planners, environmental groups and government policymakers. The WGA will continue to work with stakeholders during three future phases of the initiative.

The governors will partner with utilities and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council to evaluate transmission needs to move power from preferred renewable energy zones. They will work to improve the integration of wildlife and environmental values in decisions on the development of generation and transmission associated with these renewable energy zones. Stakeholders have agreed to work with WGA to coordinate purchasing from the desirable renewable energy zones to demand centers and to coordinate interstate cooperation for renewable energy generation and transmission.

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The Western Governors’ Association is an independent, nonprofit organization representing the governors of 19 states and three U.S.-Flag islands in the Pacific. Through their Association, the Western governors identify and address key policy and governance issues in natural resources, the environment, human services, economic development, international relations and public management.
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