Ten Western Governors, hosted by WGA Chair and Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, will open the 2017 Annual Meeting on Monday in Whitefish, Montana, with conversations about energy grids security and the states' partnership with Canada.
Gov. Bullock will be joined by fellow Western Governors Dennis Daugaard (South Dakota), Matt Mead (Wyoming), Brian Sandoval (Nevada), Gary Herbert (Utah), David Ige (Hawaii), Doug Burgum (North Dakota), John Hickenlooper (Colorado), Butch Otter (Idaho), and Ralph Torres (Northern Mariana Islands).
Nearly 500 have registered to attend the three-day meeting, which will features guests such as Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and actor and anti-hunger activist Jeff Bridges.
On the agenda for Day One:
Opening Remarks (1:15 p.m.): WGA Executive Director Jim Ogbsury will introduce the Governors.
Connecting Canada and the West (1:45—3:15 p.m.): Canadian Premier Brad Wall of Saskatchewan and Canadian Ambassador David MacNaughton will join the Governors to discuss common issues such as economic development, wildfires, forest management, energy and bilateral trade.
Cybersecurity for the Power Grids (3:15-4:15 p.m.): The security and reliability of the nation’s electric grids is a critical priority. Montana Public Service Commissioner Travis Kavulla and Scott Aaronson of the Edison Electric Institute will join the Governors.
On-site registration will be available today 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center, 600 E Second St., Whitefish.
Can’t attend? Follow the meeting on Twitter using the hashtag #WGA17.
