Wyoming Infrastructure Authority

Agenda

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Today, nine federal agencies entered into an MOU with the goal being to “expedite the siting and construction of qualified electric transmission infrastructure in the United States”.  DOWNLOAD

By Lisa Baertlein

LOS ANGELES, Sept 12 (Reuters) - A bill that would power up California’s already ambitious effort to shift to cleaner, renewable energy has cleared the state legislature, but it was uncertain if Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger would sign it.

Schwarzenegger, who supports the more aggressive requirements in the measure, is under pressure from interests such as small energy producers and local utility districts to veto the bill.

The plan, passed by the state Senate late on Friday, would require California’s utility companies to get one-third of their electricity from solar, wind and other alternative energy sources by 2020.

The state has embarked on the most ambitious U.S. effort to switch to more environmentally friendly energy production. But it is struggling to meet its current goal of sourcing 20 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2010.

Senate Bill 14 would lift the existing renewable energy sourcing requirement and boost the 2020 goal to 33 percent.

It also would limit the amount of out-of-state renewable power sold in California, a move meant to keep jobs in the nation’s most populous state as it grapples with dwindling revenue and high unemployment.

Schwarzenegger has 30 days to act on the legislation, which was written by Senator Joe Simitian. His district includes Silicon Valley — the famed technology hub that gave birth to companies like Web search company Google Inc (GOOG.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and computer maker Hewlett-Packard Co (HPQ.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

Electricity generation accounts for 32 percent of California’s gross carbon dioxide emissions. Emissions from the electricity sector are increasing twice as fast as emissions from any other sector, including transportation, state officials say.

California’s three largest utilities, Pacific Gas and Electric (PCG_pa.A: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Edison International’s (EIX.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDO_pa.A: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), produced just 13 percent of their power from renewables last year.

The state, which is the world’s eighth-largest economy, is a huge market for companies like Tempe, Arizona-based First Solar (FSLR.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and San Jose, California-based SunPower Corp (SPWRA.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

Lawmakers also passed Senate Bill 32, which would expand California’s feed-in tariff — a form of government incentive — for solar power projects. The governor has 30 days to veto or sign this legislation.

The bill would increase the size of the eligible projects to 3 megawatts from 1.5 megawatts. (Additional reporting by Laura Isensee in Los Angeles and Peter Henderson in San Francisco; Editing by Xavier Briand)

©2009 Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition. All Rights Reserved.

OFFICE OF GOVERNOR DAVE FREUDENTHAL
State Capitol
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Ph. (307) 777-7434

July 17, 2009

******FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE******

Contact: Press Secretary Cara Eastwood
Office: (307) 777-7437
Cell: (307) 421-0197

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Gov. Dave Freudenthal will convene stakeholders next month to examine the complex issues surrounding wind energy development in Wyoming, focusing on economic, physical and cultural impacts on the state’s landscape, its wildlife and the people who live here.

Members of the public, civic leaders, industry representatives and others interested in wind energy development are encouraged to attend the conference at the University of Wyoming’s Union Ballroom on August 13-14.

“As this boom in wind development unfolds in Wyoming, our state is balanced on the ‘razor’s edge’ with respect to sage grouse and other sensitive wildlife species and our economic sustainability and private property rights,” the Governor said. “I encourage the public and state and local leaders to engage in this important discussion.”

Among the topics to be examined in depth at the Wyoming Wind Symposium are the implications of federal policy, project siting and development strategy, transmission development and the impacts on Wyoming’s natural resources including its land and water, wildlife and cultural and historic sites.

Highlights of the conference include a keynote address by Gov.
Freudenthal, who will discuss the broader issues posed by wind development and transmission infrastructure. Steve Black, Counselor to the Secretary of the U.S. Dept. of the Interior, will follow the Governor’s address with a discussion of the federal government’s perspective on wind energy development.

In a session focused on the impact of wind energy infrastructure on state and local revenues, presentations will be offered by: Wyoming Senator Jim Anderson, who chairs the Legislative Wind Task Force; Ed Schmidt, Director of the Wyoming Dept. of Revenue; Lynne Boomgaarden, Director of the Office of State Lands and Investments and Converse County Commissioner Ed Werner.

The key role of transmission development will be the focus of a panel discussion, with speakers including Steve Ellenbecker of the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority; Walt George, Wyoming BLM State Liaison; Rich Walje, President of Rocky Mountain Power and Bob Easton of the Western Area Power Administration.

Addressing the impacts to wildlife and in particular, sage grouse, will be a panel moderated by Bob Budd, Executive Director of the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust. Panelists include: Paul Ulrich, Government Affairs Advisor at EnCana; Brian Rutledge, Executive Director of Audubon Wyoming; Dale Strickland, President of Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc.; Scott Hicks of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; John Emmerich, Deputy Director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Dept.; Chris Keefe, wildlife biologist at the Wyoming State BLM and Ryan Henning, project manager at CH2M HILL.

Sessions will also focus on the impact of wind energy development on Wyoming’s open spaces and cultural resources, with presentations Mary Hopkins, Wyoming State Historic Preservation Officer and Tom Lahti, Landscape Architect at the Wyoming State BLM.

The conference’s second day will begin with a discussion on the economics of wind energy project development to be moderated by Indy Burke, Director of the Haub School and Ruckleshaus Institute of Environment and Natural Resources. The final session will include discussion about the future of wind development in Wyoming.

To view a complete agenda and for registration information, visit the Wyoming Wind Symposium web site:
http://www.uwyo.edu/ENR/IENR/info.asp?p=12721.

For more information, call Temple Stevenson, 307-777-2817.

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