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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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.

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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