INITIATIVE REPORT

Decarbonizing the West

The central policy initiative of WGA's 2024 Chair, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, examined how decarbonization strategies can position western states at the forefront of innovation and reduce CO2 in the atmosphere. The initiative explored a wide range of engineered decarbonization approaches as well as natural sequestration through enhanced land and agriculture management practices, all of which present enormous opportunities for western states.

Read the report

40th Anniversary

Celebrate 40 years of WGA History

Watch a recording of WGA's 40th anniversary celebration, during which Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon spoke about the importance of bipartisan policy with former Governors Steve Bullock of Montana, Gary Herbet of Utah, David Ige of Hawaii, Matt Mead of Wyoming, Bob Miller of Nevada, Butch Otter of Idaho, Brian Sandoval of Nevada.

Watch here

POLICY

Resolutions

Western Governors formally approved five policy resolutions at the 2024 Annual Meeting in Olympic Valley, California. The resolutions represent the Governors’ collective policy on disaster preparedness and response, transportation infrastructure, water resource management, cleaning up abandoned hardrock mines, and water quality. Additional details can be found below.

Read, download resolutions

Governor's Meeting

WGA's 2024 Annual Meeting

The 2024 Annual Meeting of the Western Governors’ Association was held in Olympic Valley, California. The two-day meeting featured five Western Governors in public policy discussions with federal officials, national thought leaders, and industry experts about the most critical issues facing the region.

Read summaries, see photos

WATCH

2024 Western Prosperity Forum

The 2024 Western Prosperity Forum, hosted in Phoenix by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, focused on community and economic development efforts to ensure the success of all communities. Especially noteworthy were the ‘”fireside chats” between Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves, and Dr. Homer Wilkes, the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The two-day workshop will also include panel discussions with regional experts and policymakers about community planning, digital equity, energy opportunities for rural communities, workforce demands for the semiconductor manufacturing industry, extreme heat, and protecting communities from wildfire smoke.

Watch here

STATE WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Celebrate the West

The Celebrate the West regional art competition, now in its ninth year, challenges high school students to create original works inspired by their state. Students are encouraged to think about what the West means to them, what it means to call the West home, what they learned about its complex past, and what they imagine its future may look like. WGA's panel of art experts selected one finalist from each state and territory in WGA's footprint. Overall winners will be announced on May 10.

VIew the winning artwork

WGA Winter Meeting, December 9-10, 2024, Las Vegas Nevada

Western Governors submit testimony on FY 2025 appropriations to House, Sena...

Decarbonizing the West

By Wyoming
Mark Gordon

Decarbonizing the West is the 2024 WGA Chair initiative of Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon. The initiative will examine how decarbonization strategies and technologies, including carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies, direct air capture (DAC), and natural sequestration can position western states at the forefront of innovation and reduce the effects of carbon emissions on the environment. Through a series of workshops and webinars, WGA will convene federal, state, local, tribal, and industry stakeholders to explore issues and themes relevant to the development and deployment of carbon dioxide removal technologies, including statutory and regulatory barriers, technical advancements and challenges, and emerging applications for carbon. An initiative report will be released at the conclusion of the initiative in summer 2024.

INITIATIVE REPORT