2001 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Energy & Oil
Bob Wise:
Renew 5-cent gas tax to pay for road-building
We’re going to continue to build roads in West Virginia. Our Congressional delegation has worked overtime to secure funding for Corridor H and Corridor D. And we will complete these roads, and others crucial to our future.
To keep our road building plans moving, I will ask you to renew the 5-cent gas tax. This is not a new tax, but simply continues an existing tax, and that $55 million is necessary to keep our road program going.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to West Virginia Legislature
Feb 14, 2001
Tommy Thompson:
More power plants and more transmission lines
There is no issue more crucial or critical to Wisconsin’s future right now than energy. We’re running out of it. Plain and simple. In Wisconsin, we simply don’t have enough power plants and transmission lines.
We’ve built some plants in the last few years, and our deregulation efforts have been hailed nationally as among the smartest -- in stark contrast to California. But this has only allowed us to get by.
We need to immediately pursue a balanced course of building more power plants and erecting more transmission lines. And we need a natural gas pipeline to make our supply more reliable. We can do all of these without harming the environment, despite what
the fear mongers claim. We’ve proven this in the past.
Without enough energy, not only will our existing businesses suffer, all those high-tech companies we want to attract will go elsewhere. High-technology runs on raw power, not wood stoves.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address
Jan 31, 2001
Judy Martz:
Protected transition to competitive energy prices in 2002
The 1997 Legislature demonstrated leadership by protecting Montana consumers from energy price changes until July 1, 2002. Other states in our region that did not do so are experiencing what our legislature protected us from. Still, Montana law should
be changed to extend the transition period for customer choice for the time necessary to obtain the best power price for customers and give investors the time to bring new facilities on line.In the near-term, the industrial customers and the
generators of electricity should enter into contracts for power supply, perhaps with incentives from the State. The price of electricity will increase after July 1, 2002, but it must be reasonable. Suppliers should recover their costs, plus a reasonable
profit. The California prices of today are not being set by a competitive marketplace and are unrealistic because they are not a result of long-term supply contracts. Competition will work, but we cannot be halfway in and halfway out.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Montana Legislature
Jan 25, 2001
Judy Martz:
More energy plants; diversify sources; include renewables
We must increase the supply of power through more generating facilities. We should diversify, wherever possible, our sources of fuel. For example: natural gas, coal, and renewable resources such as wind and solar energy.
We should streamline the permitting process, allowing construction of new facilities to be built within a more reasonable time frame, but also within the parameters of our stringent environmental standards.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Montana Legislature
Jan 25, 2001
Bob Taft:
Project THAW: $250 for home heating oil costs
Ohioans need relief from the high cost of heating their homes! - I’m announcing “Project THAW”, a one-time home-heating credit of up to $250 for families and seniors of modest means.
- [I will issue] a 60-day moratorium on home-heating
disconnections to protect those customers participating in a company payment plan.
- Further, I’ve asked Ohio’s natural gas companies to contribute a total of at least $5 million to help low-income customers pay heating costs.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Ohio Legislature
Jan 24, 2001
Kenny Guinn:
Delay power deregulation until protections are in place
We are challenged by the soaring cost of energy. Electric utility restructuring in California is, in the words of Governor Gray Davis, a “colossal and dangerous failure.” We must learn from the mistakes in California, so that we never repeat them here.
In 1997 and again in 1999, our Legislature approved deregulation for Nevada. Last session, however, the Legislature recognized that there were problems on the horizon, and they gave me the authority to delay it.
Twice I have looked at the situation, twice considered the consequences, and twice said “no” to implementing deregulation.
Over the next few weeks, I will be reviewing those [latest] recommendations and any new proposals from the Legislature.
But let me be very clear: I cannot and will not support deregulation until I am assured that power supplies are secure and those who would be hardest hit by rate increases are protected.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to the Nevada Legislature
Jan 22, 2001
Kenny Guinn:
$5M to fight becoming the nation’s nuclear waste dump
The single greatest threat to the health and safety of the people of this state [is] the prospect of Nevada becoming the nation’s nuclear waste dumping ground. We’ve fought this battle together, for many years and on many fronts.
Yet the nuclear power industry is as determined as ever to target our state. Tonight, I am announcing that we will match that determination with an unprecedented dedication of funds. For the first time in our long fight against nuclear waste,
we will dedicate $5 million to fight the Department of Energy and those in Congress who are determined to make Nevada the nation’s nuclear waste dump.
We will launch a media campaign to rally our neighboring states, because the transportation
of nuclear waste is a danger to everyone. We will continue to pursue all legal avenues. We will expose the unprincipled tactics used by the industry in their attempt to force us to accept this deadly waste.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to the Nevada Legislature
Jan 22, 2001
Mike Leavitt:
Ban nuclear waste & fuel rods from the state
Let our voices be heard: We do not want high-level nuclear waste here, and we will continue to use every legal, environmental, legislative and political tool available to ban nuclear fuel rods from this state.
I fully endorse the legislation which will outlaw these companies’ use of our resources, keep them from getting services and tax them to the fullest extent allowable under the constitution. There will be no compromise here.
Source: 2001 State of the State address to the Utah legislature
Jan 16, 2001
Gary Locke:
Diversify to renewable energy; reduce consumption by 10%
- I’m proposing tax breaks so utilities can convert part-time polluting generators into full-time, clean generators, and tax breaks for companies who want to produce their own permanent power, thereby freeing up electricity for the
rest of us.
- I’m also proposing tax breaks for citizens and businesses buying clean and renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and fuel cells.
- I’m calling on utilities to diversify their energy sources so our citizens aren’t hurt when
price- or supply-problems hit a particular industry like natural gas or hydroelectric.
- And I propose additional financial assistance so low-income citizens don’t go without power during these cold winter months.
- We must conserve. I’m calling on
everyone to reduce consumption by 10%. And to set the example, tonight, at my Inaugural Ball, for the first time in history the traditional “three miles of lights” will not be lit. The Capital Dome will remain dark. We must all do our part.
Source: 2001 State of the State / Inaugural Address
Jan 10, 2001
Jim Geringer:
Expand energy infrastructure & exploration
The lesson [of this year’s energy crises] is that energy today isn’t just dependent upon OPEC. We have a shortage of infrastructure, such as pipelines to carry oil and gas, transmission lines to carry electricity, and refineries to process raw petroleum.
We have limits on exploration for new energy production and an alarming shortage of electrical generation capacity. The current crisis in California is in large part due to past actions by California that discouraged new natural gas pipelines into the
state and California’s reluctance to build new generation capacity. Wyoming is in a position to benefit greatly from the current energy crisis, either with natural gas or with coal. The dramatic rise in state revenues is almost entirely due to the
extraordinary demand for natural gas. We can continue to supply what the market seems to demand. We could and should encourage added generation capacity in Wyoming and push for even cleaner coal technology above Wyoming’s already high standards.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Wyoming Legislature
Jan 10, 2001
Jane Dee Hull:
Supports cleaner burning fuels
We must do something to address cleaner burning fuels, particularly diesel. I know many in the transport industry are opposed to new fuel standards. I have a challenge for that industry: join with us to find a cheaper,
cleaner and more effective solution. The health of our citizens depends on it.
Source: 2001 State of the State address to the Arizona legislature
Jan 8, 2001
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