Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon participated in a discussion regarding permitting reform during the final Energy Superabundance initiative workshop hosted by the Western Governors' Association. The leaders addressed the necessity of regulatory reform to support the generation, transmission, and infrastructure required to meet growing energy demands in the West.
During the workshop, Governor Cox noted that capital tends to flee when faced with uncertainty. He also argued against the idea that environmental safety regulation must come at the expense of speed.
Governor Gordon commented on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), stating that while the law was originally foresightful, changes in laws and legal precedents have made it problematic. He suggested that the current state of the law can hinder development.
Panelists at the event discussed various energy topics, including nuclear power, geothermal energy, hydropower, long-duration energy storage, and critical mineral supply chains. Participants argued that burdensome regulations can delay cleaner energy technologies, push resource extraction to countries with different standards, and create national security risks.
The workshop included discussions on several key energy areas:
Energy Mix and Storage: Experts discussed the need for scalable solutions like wind, solar, and thermal power plants to maintain grid reliability. The integration of long-duration and grid-scale storage, such as pumped hydro and advanced batteries, was also highlighted as a way to strengthen the grid.
Financing and Affordability: Discussions focused on how innovative financing can reduce risks for large-scale projects and how diversifying energy supplies can help address rising utility costs.
Supply Chains and Collaboration: The event covered the importance of domestic production for critical minerals used in batteries and solar panels. Additionally, panelists explored how state collaboration on transmission planning and interstate agreements can support large-scale energy projects.
