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Western Grid 2050 was supported by the WCEA, a broad coalition of organizations working to advance clean energy policies and planning across the West.  Individual organizations issued the following press statements in support of the report:

Aspen Environmental Group
Director of Integrated Energy Analysis & Planning Carl Linvill:

“It is time to rethink our grid. Advances in information, communications and clean energy technologies have opened the opportunity to overcome the barriers of 20th century grid technology and transition to a 21st century clean energy economy in the West. Retooling the infrastructure and changing the way we use will require a serious commitment, but the transition is achievable through deliberate policy, planning and investment decisions.”

Western Grid Group
Managing Director Dave Olsen:

“Our diverse coalition of industry associations, conservation groups, and regional clean energy advocates have come together to ensure that decision-makers and the public understand the opportunities we have to create a more secure and sustainable energy future—and understand the costs and risks of continuing to rely on coal and gas.”

Natural Resources Defense Council
President Frances Beinecke:

“The Clean Energy Vision lays out a promising and achievable path to transforming our energy future in the western United States. The West is home to world-class renewable energy potential on a large scale. By harnessing that potential – and balancing it with the use of existing tools including energy efficiency, demand side management and distributed generation – we will create jobs, reduce carbon emissions, and chart a bipartisan way forward to improve America’s energy security.”

Interwest Energy Alliance
Executive Director Craig Cox:

“Clean renewable energy resources are abundant, economically beneficial and cost-competitive throughout the West.  With public policy certainty and transmission development, the West will lead the world in harnessing our wealth of clean energy resources for a prosperous, sustainable future.”

Western Resource Advocates
Transmission Project Director Gary Graham:

The Western Grid 2050 report provides, for the first time since Western Resource Advocates’ 2004 Balanced Energy Plan, a credible, well-researched vision of contrasting environmental and economic futures for the West.  We must take the bull by the horns, making choices that empower the West to be competitive in the global renewable energy business while creating a clean, safe environment. Otherwise, we will allow inertia and “business as usual” drive our slide into mediocrity.

Sonoran Institute
Senior Adviser John Shepard:

“The Clean Energy Vision makes a persuasive case for investing in clean energy development and the transmission to support it. Leaders in Arizona and other states should use it as blueprint for action to make the West a global leader in clean energy.

Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies (CEERT):

“CEERT is tremendously grateful for the publication of WCEA’s “Western Grid 2050” report. The time for action is now; we must find a way to develop a smart path to achieve a clean energy economy in the West. This report inspires confidence in California’s ability to effectively recognize the problems we currently face, and attempt to rectify them by banding together with other Western States to form regional solutions.”

Vote Solar
Director of Large-Scale Solar Policy Jim Baak:

This groundbreaking report clearly shows that the only logical path forward for the West – one that includes significant job creation as well as economic and environmental benefits – is one that relies heavily on clean energy and energy efficiency.  It gives advocates like Vote Solar the ammunition to challenge the status quo and to shine light on the path forward.

Geothermal Energy Association (GEA)
Executive Director Karl Gawell:

“GEA applauds the Western Grid 2050 Report because it guides U.S. energy policy in the right direction by showing the clear economic and environmental advantages of expanding domestic renewable energy production, including a large increase in utility-scale geothermal energy.  Geothermal energy has the potential to employ thousands of Americans while providing clean, baseload electricity, but we must have a grid that can harness this potential.”

Clean Line Energy Partners:

“Clean Line Energy supports the Clean Energy Vision Project and believes the mission set forth by the WCEA is an important step in addressing the challenge of getting more renewable energy to consumers in the West.  If the nation continues to move towards a clean energy economy then we need to address the lack of transmission.  To help move large amounts of renewable energy to demand centers, Clean Line is developing the Centennial West Clean Line, a long distance high voltage direct current transmission line that will deliver 3,500 MW of low cost, renewable energy from the southwest United States to California, creating lasting economic and environmental benefits.”

Interstate Renewable Energy Council
Legal Counsel Laurence Chaset:

“For nearly three decades, IREC has worked with industry, government, educators and other stakeholders to ensure that the broader use of renewable energies is possible, safe, affordable and practical, particularly for the individual consumer.  The Clean Energy Vision development trajectory espoused by the Western Grid 2050 Report will result in economic, environmental, energy security and public health benefits throughout the West that are entirely consistent with IREC’s efforts to facilitate broader reliance on renewable energy throughout the United States.”

Western Environmental Law Center
Energy and Conservation Associate Betsy Hands

“The Clean Energy Vision Report underscores the importance of expanding our transmission system smart from the start. WELC is a member of WCEA because we know that by investing in new infrastructure that meets our region’s growing electrical needs, we will grow jobs, improve public health, stay competitive globally, and proactively address our urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas pollutants quickly and affordably.”

Renewable Northwest Project
Executive Director Rachel Shimshak:

“The West has long spearheaded the path toward a clean energy future to benefit communities, economies and the environment. As our resource mix evolves to displace polluting fossil fuels with clean renewable resources, it is imperative that our grid system modernizes to accommodate this necessary change. The Western Grid 2050 report offers an invaluable vision forward; with the right leadership and innovation among all stakeholders, we can together realize the better energy future that our citizens want and environment needs.”

Northwest Energy Coalition
Executive Director Sara Patton:

“This important new study confirms for the entire West what we already knew about the Northwest: that we have the resources to move boldly and affordably to a 21st-century economy fueled by clean energy.”

Press Contacts:

Clean Line Energy Partners
Sarah Bray
832-319-6340
sbray@cleanlineenergy.com

Geothermal Energy Association
Shawna Seldon
212 255 7541
shawna@rosengrouppr.com

Interstate Renewable Energy Council
Laurence Chaset
510-282-4935
lchaset@keyesandfox.com

Natural Resources Defense Council
Serena Ingre
415-875-6155
singre@nrdc.org

Northwest Energy Coalition
Fred Heutte
503-757-6222
fred@nwenergy.org

Renewable Northwest Project
Erin Greeson
503-223-4544
erin@rnp.org

Sonoran Institute
Ian G. Wilson
520.290.0828 ext 1106
iwilson@sonoraninstitute.org

Vote Solar
Rosalind Jackson
415-817-5061
Rosalind@votesolar.org

Western Environmental Law Center
Betsy Hands
406-449-6086
hands@westernlaw.org

Western Grid Group
Dave Olsen
dave@westerngrid.net

Western Resource Advocates
Anita Schwartz
303-444-1188 X227
anita@westernresources.org