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Western Guvs Take Lead on New Energy Policy

Recognizing the key role western states are going to take in the nation's potential energy revolution, the Western Governors are weighing in with their recommendations for the Obama administration's national energy policy, and for action that should be taken in the first 100 days.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The governors of the nation's largest energy-producing states are encouraging President-elect Barack Obama to quickly adopt a national energy policy that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The bipartisan Western Governors' Association has delivered Obama a four-page letter outlining what steps it believes his administration should take in his first 100 days in office to address the issue....

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The governors propose an ambitious 100 day plan (pdf, via New West):

Establish an aggressive and achievable national greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal that will put the United States on a path to contribute to global climate stabilization.
Propose a mandatory national system for reducing greenhouse gas emissions that makes maximum use of market-based mechanisms. Revenue raised should support the energy policy principles in this letter and not be used as a means of sustaining or expanding general governmental operations.
Aggressively pursue a national energy efficiency program to reduce existing and future energy demand and thereby reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Establish an oil import reduction goal that strengthens energy security and independence. Since nearly 90% of oil is used for transportation, propose a plan that
Brings more fuel efficient and near-zero emission vehicles into the market;
Increases the supply of domestically produced, low-carbon fuels;
Minimizes the economic and technological uncertainties inherent in deploying high efficiency vehicles and developing and using nonpetroleum transportation fuels; and
Reduces vehicle miles travelled and increases mass movement of people and goods.
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