Governor: Transmission and Wind Power Must Develop Together

OFFICE OF GOVERNOR DAVE FREUDENTHAL
July 18, 2006

CHEYENNE, Wyo. Gov. Dave Freudenthal urged stakeholders at an energy conference in Denver Monday to keep transmission and wind power development linked as they move from policy decisions to on-the-ground action. Freudenthal delivered the keynote address at a leadership forum co-sponsored by the National Wind Coordinating Committee. Wind power and electrical transmission were the focus of the conference; Freudenthal noted that it is important for Western states to recognize that the two go together.

"In the absence of transmission, the wind resource in Wyoming will go largely undeveloped," the governor said. "Thus, it is important that we maintain our focus on developing transmission along with our capacity to exploit the vast wind resources that exist in Wyoming."

Ultimately, Freudenthal said, the marketplace will determine which resources are developed to produce electricity. Consumers, particularly in California, are sending some signals in support of a diversified energy mix including renewable resources but the governor said he is not sure that the consumer is prepared for the higher utility rates that would come with that.

"In Wyoming, we do not intend to change our long-standing emphasis on natural gas, oil and coal development, but we are certainly in the process of adding wind power as an important part of the energy that we produce," Freudenthal said.

The Western Governors' Association (WGA), which recently passed a policy resolution based on the recommendations of its Clean and Diversified Energy Advisory Committee (CDEAC), co-hosted the forum. The event is focusing specifically on proposals made in the CDEAC transmission and wind task force reports.

In June 2004, CDEAC was tasked by the governors with finding ways to develop an additional 30,000 megawatts of clean energy by 2015; increase energy efficiency 20 percent by 2020; and ensure secure, reliable transmission for the next 25 years. CDEAC developed a series of resource-specific and system-wide recommendations, drawing on input from more than 250 stakeholders. The governors' policy resolution, adopted last month, drew upon on the recommendations outlined in a WGA report titled, "Clean Energy, a Strong Economy and a Healthy Environment."

In his remarks, Freudenthal stressed to stakeholders the importance of moving toward detailed, specific actions now that policy has been set and recommendations are in place.

Listen to Governor Freudenthal discuss wind power and its transmission in a sound bite. (mps3)