WESTERN ELECTRICITY DIALOGUE

IDEA

The Western United States faces an electricity landscape unlike any other area of the country. The region’s distance between load centers, vast but dispersed resources, rapid growth, aridity and altitude all signal that energy decisions in the West will be made in an environment that leaves little margin for error for utility managers and policy makers. Western electricity providers must determine how to best provide affordable energy while reducing carbon emissions, especially in an era where pressure is mounting to respond effectively to global warming. Western electric utilities and environmental interests need to unite around a common vision, set of goals and implementation strategies for addressing climate change and meeting future electricity demand in the region. This consensus needs to occur over the next twelve months in order to effectively facilitate the region’s participation in national climate change policy formation and responsibly meet future electricity demand.

Western electric utilities and environmental interests need to unite around a common vision, set of goals and implementation strategies for addressing climate change and meeting future electricity demand in the region. This consensus needs to occur over the next twelve months in order to effectively facilitate the region's participation in national climate change policy formation and responsibly meet future electricity demand.

APPROACH

The principle strategy of the project is to create a solid and sufficiently detailed agreement between the western utility industry and environmental interests that they may both carry it forward in public forums and policy discussions. This agreement would define the critical issues facing western electricity generators and suitable ways to resolve them that are actionable, transparent and compelling to the public. The solutions might include reforms to economic and environmental regulation of utilities, and authorization of public and private financial strategies to mitigate risk. The second strategy of the project is to educate government regulators, other policy makers and the public on the value and necessity of implementing portions of the agreement in order to achieve critical economic and environmental objectives.

The Park City Center for Public Policy has convened a dialogue between major western environmental leaders and senior electric utility executives to create an agreement that will create a path forward for industry, environmental groups and policy makers to limit carbon emissions while still effectively meeting the West’s need for affordable energy.

James Souby, President and Chief Executive Officer, Park City Center for Public Policy

Rob Simmons, Vice President, Operations, Park City Center for Public Policy

Arizona Public Service