| Gov. Dave Freudenthal of Wyoming , Chair of the Western Governors’ Association, will host 12 of his colleagues and four Canadian premiers for the WGA Annual Meeting June 29 – July 1 at Teton Village in Jackson Hole , Wyo.
The governors expected to attend are: Sarah Palin, Alaska; Janet Napolitano, Ariz.; Bill Ritter, Colo.; C.L. "Butch" Otter, Idaho; Brian Schweitzer, Mont.; Dave Heineman, Neb.; Jim Gibbons, Nev.; John Hoeven, N.D.; Ted Kulongoski, Ore.; Mike Rounds, S.D.; Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., Utah; and Christine Gregoire, Wash.
Canadian premiers participating in the discussions will be Ed Stelmach, Alberta; Gordon Campbell, British Columbia; Gary Doer, Manitoba; and Brad Wall, Saskatchewan.
The meeting kicks off June 29 with a keynote speech by Tom Brokaw, NBC Special correspondent and author. Other keynote speakers include Erik R. Peterson, Senior Vice President, Center for Strategic and International Studies; and Jeffrey Immelt, Chairman and CEO of General Electric.
One or more governors will lead the discussions during the following plenary sessions.
Protecting Wildlife Corridors in the West
Speakers and Panelists: Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne (invited); Jack Dangermond, CEO of ESRI; Michael Jones, chief technology advocate of Google; and Steve Elbert, Vice Chairman of BP America.
For many wild animals, survival is dependent upon access to habitat and an ability to move freely between habitat areas. As the West’s population continues to grow, crucial habitat and wildlife movement corridors are increasingly becoming fragmented or destroyed through road building, land use development and energy development. A new threat to wildlife survival is now emerging in the form of climate change. The governors and invited guests will discuss efforts needed to protect and sustain wildlife corridors and crucial habitat in the face of these severe threats.
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Managing Water in the West
Speakers and Panelists: Brad Udall, Director of the Western Water Assessment, a joint effort of the University of Colorado and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and Duane Smith, Executive Director, Oklahoma Water Resources Board and Chairman of the Western States Water Board.
Conflict over limited water is not new to the West. However, population growth and climate change are increasing the challenges, requiring the development of new strategies for managing water resources and plans for sustainable future supplies. This session will consider the various challenges Western water suppliers face and will explore strategies to help states reduce conflicts and mitigate impacts that arise from water shortages.
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Transmission Expansion – When, Where, How Much?
Speakers and Panelists: Jeff Sterba, Chairman, President and CEO of PNM Resources; David Sokol, Chairman and CEO of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company; Michael Niggli, COO of San Diego Gas & Electric Company; and John Fielder, President of Southern California Edison.
The electricity transmission grid in the West must be expanded to reach location-constrained renewable resources and other generation needed to meet the demands of the region’s growing population. Despite an unprecedented number of proposals to build new transmission lines, few transmission projects are under construction. The governors will explore with industry leaders why this is the case and what government can do to expedite the construction of needed transmission. This session will include a candid discussion of future electric generation resources in view of public policies limiting carbon-dioxide emissions.
Energy and Climate Change
Erik Peterson and Jeffrey Immelt will join the governors for a roundtable discussion on energy and climate change policy. Governors will offer their perspectives on actions being taken within their states and regionally, giving conference attendees an opportunity to better understand climate change policy initiatives across the West.
Issues that may be discussed include: the Western Climate Initiative; state vehicle emission standards to control greenhouse gases; adaptation strategies; and state strategies and implementation issues associated with stronger energy efficiency standards.
To register, visit the WGA Web site at www.westgov.org. Early registration ends June 6.
Karen Deike is the Western Governors’ Association’s Director of Communications, overseeing media relations, public outreach efforts and publications. A
graduate of the University of Wyoming, Ms. Deike came to the Association in 1994
with a broad background in both journalism and public relations.
She worked as a general assignment and consumer reporter for the Dallas Times Herald in the early seventies before moving to Washington, D.C., where she worked for six years as press secretary for U.S. Senator Malcolm Wallop of Wyoming. She returned to journalism in 1985, working as an assignment editor and reporter for the public broadcasting station in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The Cal State-Fullerton Film Festival awarded her Best Documentary for her examination of prison reforms five years after a riot at the New Mexico State Prison that resulted in the deaths of 33 inmates.
From 1985 to 1990, Ms. Deike was employed by the NBC television affiliate in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She worked as a reporter and bureau chief in both Farmington and Santa Fe. While covering the New Mexico Legislature, Ms. Deike co-produced and reported a documentary about the state’s troubled workers’ compensation system, for which she won the Albuquerque Press Club’s Best Documentary in 1990.
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