Clean, affordable energy is essential for continued growth of the economy in Western states. State laws and policies put in place in the last decade requiring energy suppliers to bring on-line large amounts of wind and solar generation have changed the traditional mix of “fuels” used for energy generation. By 2022, these policies are expected to more than double the amount of renewable resources in the Western U.S. compared to 2010.

Integrating these resources into a reliable and affordable power system will require an unprecedented level of cooperative action within the electric industry and between the industry and state, subregional and federal entities. Western Governors have encouraged utilities and transmission providers to reduce the cost of integrating renewable energy (see WGA Resolution 10-15). These efforts need to increase as wind and solar resources scale up to help power the Western economy in the future.