Western Governors Association

Western Governors Association. The Western Governors Association is a nonpartisan organization of governors from the states and territories of the Western United States. Founded in 1984, it serves as a forum for collaborative policy development and collective action on critical issues facing the region. The association focuses on leveraging the shared interests of its members to influence federal policy and promote innovative solutions in areas such as natural resources, energy, and economic development.

● History

The organization was established in 1984 during a meeting in Park City, Utah, convened by then-Governor of Utah Scott M. Matheson and Governor of Arizona Bruce Babbitt. Its creation was driven by a need for western states to present a unified voice on federal policies affecting public lands, water, and resource management, particularly in dealings with agencies like the United States Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. A landmark early achievement was its instrumental role in the passage of the Endangered Species Act amendments of 1988, which incorporated greater state flexibility. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the association expanded its scope under leaders like Governor of Colorado Roy Romer and Governor of Wyoming Mike Sullivan to address emerging challenges in telecommunications, wildfire management, and healthcare.

● Membership

Membership consists of the sitting governors of 22 entities: the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, along with the territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The chair and vice chair positions rotate annually among the members, ensuring bipartisan leadership and regional representation. Associate membership is also extended to the governors of Canadian provinces and Mexican states that share borders with member jurisdictions, fostering cross-border collaboration on issues like trade and environmental conservation through forums such as the North American Summit.

● Policy Initiatives

The association develops policy through task forces and workshops, producing detailed reports and resolutions that guide its advocacy. A major, enduring initiative is the Western Wildlife Council, established to improve the implementation of the Endangered Species Act and promote species conservation. In energy, it has championed the Western Renewable Energy Zones initiative to facilitate transmission for solar power and wind power projects. Other significant focus areas include water scarcity and drought resilience, leading to the creation of the Western States Water Council, and initiatives to modernize wildland fire management and bolster cybersecurity for critical infrastructure. These efforts often result in formal recommendations to bodies like the United States Congress and the United States Department of the Interior.

● Organization and Leadership

The organization is led by an annually elected chair and vice chair, who set the strategic agenda; as of 2024, these positions are held by Governor of Wyoming Mark Gordon and Governor of Guam Lou Leon Guerrero, respectively. Day-to-day operations are managed by a professional staff headquartered in Denver, overseen by an executive director. Policy work is conducted by committees and task forces composed of gubernatorial appointees, often state cabinet officials like directors of environmental quality or energy agencies. Key internal groups include the Center for Regional Policy Innovation and the Western Governors’ Foundation, which support research and outreach. The bipartisan structure is designed to build consensus, as seen in joint letters to Presidents and testimony before the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

● Meetings and Events

The association convenes its official annual meeting each summer, hosted by the sitting chair in their home state, such as the 2023 meeting in Boulder, Colorado. These gatherings feature sessions with federal officials from agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Department of Agriculture, as well as panels with leaders from industry, tribal nations, and academia. A major mid-year meeting is the Winter Meeting, often held in Washington, D.C., to engage directly with the Biden administration and members of Congress. It also hosts specialized summits, like the Western Governors’ Drought Forum and the Western Energy Summit, and participates in broader events such as the National Governors Association annual meetings to amplify regional priorities.

Category:Intergovernmental organizations Category:Organizations based in Denver Category:State governments of the United States