The resolutions, which are part of a larger set of 29 policy resolutions approved on a bipartisan basis by Western Governors, are the foundation on which the Governors leverage their collective influence to advocate in Washington D.C. for western priorities.  

“This organization operates in what I would argue isn't really bipartisan anymore, it's nonpartisan, it's having concrete conversations with experts all across the country, engaging both public sector and private sector individuals and organizations, where we ask tough questions and figure out ways to make that meaningful and solve those problems,” said WGA Chair, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. “I want to highlight that we have several resolutions that we have worked on, and these policy resolutions in this cycle we've renewed five, and they are energy in the West, air quality protection and management, workforce development in the western United States, compensatory mitigation, and physical and behavioral health.”  

View each updated policy resolution below.  

Policy Resolution 2025-01, Energy in the West 

Western energy production and delivery infrastructure are indispensable to meeting our nation’s energy demand, and the energy sector is a significant contributor to the economic success of many western communities.  The effects of extreme weather events, the integration of clean energy resources, increasing demand from data centers, the electrification of vehicles and buildings, and the retirement of traditional energy generating assets are all contributing to fundamental shifts in the energy and electricity sectors.  This resolution expresses Western Governors’ collective priorities and recommendations for energy in the West, including grid modernization and resilience, innovation and technology, and economic and workforce development, while recognizing that energy priorities, use, and development vary widely among western states and territories.  The resolution also incorporates the recommendations emerging from two recent WGA Chair initiatives: the Heat Beneath Our Feet initiative of Colorado Governor Jared Polis, and the Decarbonizing the West initiative of Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon. 

Policy Resolution 2025-02, Air Quality Protection and Management 

Clean air is essential for strong communities and quality of life.  Air quality is influenced by many human activities and natural phenomena.  Western states have generated significant emissions reductions since the Clean Air Act was originally passed in 1963.  Only by working together to understand and address air quality challenges in the West will states and federal partners make further improvements to air quality.  This resolution presents Western Governors’ recommendations to improve state-federal cooperation in the regulation of air quality, ozone and particulate matter, exceptional events, regional haze, methane, and hydrofluorocarbon emissions.  The resolution also expresses support for the increased use of prescribed fire to reduce the air quality effects of uncharacteristic wildfire in the West, and encourages greater state-federal collaboration on smoke management planning and other tools to facilitate the use of prescribed fire where appropriate. 

Policy Resolution 2025-03, Workforce Development in the Western United States 

Education and workforce training that is aligned with industry demand creates opportunity for students and workers to secure good jobs and builds a skilled workforce that can support economic growth.  Western Governors call for expanding work-based learning, supporting high-quality career and technical education, and facilitating lifelong learning through workforce development policies.  Governors also emphasize the need for flexibility in workforce system funding to help states anticipate and respond to changing economic conditions with creative solutions.  The Governors support increased investment in state data infrastructure and better alignment across federal workforce, housing, human services, and education programs to improve the delivery of services. 

Policy Resolution 2025-04, Compensatory Mitigation 

Compensatory mitigation plays an important role in wildlife management and conservation, offsetting the loss of wetland and aquatic resource functions in a watershed affected by development activities.  This resolution conveys the Governors’ policy on compensatory mitigation and federal deference to state regulatory policies.  It highlights the Governors’ support for the federal government adhering to state mitigation policies and recognizing and incorporating the mitigation hierarchy into federal planning processes, and using adaptive management practices to avoid rigid mitigation requirements and formal regulations. 

Policy Resolution 2025-05, Physical and Behavioral Health Care in Western States 

Access to high-quality physical and behavioral health care services is a cornerstone for maintaining and enhancing the quality of life in western states.  However, the West faces unique challenges that can hinder the ability to provide comprehensive health care to western residents.  The resolution outlines Western Governors’ policies and recommendations to address a wide range of health care challenges, including growing rates of behavioral health conditions, workforce shortages across the health care industry, social and economic conditions that affect health outcomes, and barriers to care in rural, frontier, and tribal communities.  The Governors also acknowledge the importance of strong state-federal collaboration to ensure that all levels of government are working together to promote the health of the West’s citizens.