|
This year’s recipient of the Charles H. Percy award will be presented to the Western Governors’ Association (WGA) for its support of energy efficiency as a means to promote a reliable energy source.
WGA addresses important policy and governance issues for 19 states and three U.S.-flag Pacific islands, advancing their role in the federal system, while strengthening the social and economic ties within the region. This is achieved through policy and program development in a variety of areas including natural resources, the environment, economic development and human services.
In 2004 the Governors created the Clean and Diversified Energy Advisory Committee (CDEAC) to identify non–mandatory, incentive-based approaches that would increase energy efficiency 20 percent by 2020 and bring online 30,000 megawatts of clean and diverse energy by 2015.
The governors accepted the CDEAC’s recommendations in June 2006, and have since been moving rapidly within their states and as group to implement them. A June 2007 update showed new clean energy generating capacity increased nearly 20 percent annually in 2005 and 2006. Eight Western states have adopted energy conservation standards for public buildings since 2005. In addition, WGA brought together all levels of government, industry and non-profit groups in July for an Energy Efficient Buildings Workshop, the results of which are being distributed widely. WGA plans to continue to promote energy efficiency improvements in the Western states and will issue updates on its activities periodically.
|
