Transportation fuels are the major component of our energy portfolio. Of the 20 million barrels of petroleum consumed each day in the United States, 68 percent is used in the transportation sector. The Western states are in position to become key producers and beneficiaries in the emerging alternative-fuels economy. We have abundant resources that have great potential as domestic sources for transportation fuels. In 2008, the Western Governors accepted a report and passed a resolution reaffirming their commitment to developing and diversifying the region's transportation fuels portfolio.
WGA Transportation Fuels Council Report
The WGA Transportation Fuels Council was formed in June 2008 and consists of state representatives designated by the governor. The Council was formed through the 2008 resolution to oversee its implementation and report progress back to the Governors at their 2009 Annual Meeting. The Council has been meeting regularly to discuss state initiatives, federal policy, and opportunities for regional collaboration.
In June 2009, the Council delivered a report to the Governors describing state and regional programs that are being pursued by the states and can be downloaded here. The report notes that there is no
silver bullet to the challenges facing the region's expanded use of alternative fuels and also describes key policy issues that merit additional consideration by the Governors.
Advanced Biofuels Workshops
The Western Governor’s Association (WGA) Transportation Fuels for the Future Report and the accompanying Strategic Bioenergy Assessment identified the West’s potential contribution to advanced biofuels and barriers that must be overcome to realize this potential. WGA is partnering with the Western States to hold state and regional conferences to identify ways that Governors can address these barriers and continue to lead in the development of policies that promote advanced biofuels. Funding for these workshops is being provided by the Energy Foundation and U.S. Department of Energy.
Western Bioenergy Assessment - Technical Reports
The Bioenergy Assessment Team was formed to examine the potential for future development and to create a comprehensive framework to assess environmental, technical and socioeconomic impacts associated with national, state and regional bioenergy and biomass management policies. This assessment will assist the governors individually and collectively as they develop bioenergy policies. The extensive evaluations conducted by the Assessment Team are contained in the following areas:
The Assessment is not adopted policy and does not represent the views of WGA or any individual Western Governor. Support for this work was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Western Bioenergy Assessment Team is now working to adapt its model to produce a national framework, which will allow for additional analysis in the Western states and a more comprehensive and insightful framework.
WGA Transportatiation Fuels for the Future Initiative
Through their 2006 resolution, “Transportation Fuels for the Future,” Western Governors placed a priority on assessing the West's alternative and replacement fuels to supplement traditional sources. They assembled stakeholders to develop a policy roadmap for transportation fuels in the region. The Governors created the Transportation Fuels Advisory Committee to oversee this effort and seven working groups were formed to develop reports on different promising alternative fuels and vehicle technologies. The Advisory Committee released its final report in February 2008.
In January 2008, the seven working groups released reports that describe the potential for the develpment of alternative fuels and vehicle fuel efficiency in the West. The reports can be downloaded by clicking the links below. for more information on each of the working groups, please click here.
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