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.

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AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD

2024 Annual Report

The 2024 Annual Report highlights the past year’s policy work by the Governors on topics such as decarbonization, energy, infrastructure permitting, the opioid crisis, wildfires, species management, water, and more. You'll also learn about the Governors' meetings, WGA's finances, and a look ahead to the year to come.

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NEW EPISODE

'Out West' Podcast

The Western Governors' Association celebrated the 40th anniversary of its founding by hosting an afternoon of programming that included fireside chats with current and former Western Governors. Joining WGA's current chair, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, was former Governors - and former WGA Chairs - Steve Bullock of Montana, Gary Herbert of Utah, David Ige of Hawaii, Matt Mead of Wyoming, Bob Miller of Nevada, Butch Otter of Idaho, and Brian Sandoval of Nevada. Their discussions, which were moderated by Judy Woodruff, the former anchor and managing editor of the PBS NewsHour, focused on the importance of bipartisanship when dealing with many of the country's complex problems.

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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.

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

Best of the West: National Recovery Month; rural energy projects; air quali...

Decarbonizing the West

By Wyoming
Mark Gordon

Decarbonizing the West is the 2024 WGA Chair initiative of Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon. The initiative examined 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 convened 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.

INITIATIVE REPORT