2012 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Environment

Matt Mead: Mineral production resources equate to tremendous value

Matt Mead: With courts wolf management, winners are lawyers & wolves

We must accept the fact--if Wyoming is to have wolves and it is clear that we are--we have a scientifically sound approach that gives us management and the ability to have a balance in terms of numbers. If we don't move forward, we diminish our state's rights and miss an opportunity to achieve greater balance.

Some disagree with my plan, instead believing a solution lies in the hands of a few judges and we should continue in the courts. To date we have not gained the ability to manage wolves, the numbers keep going up, and the only proven winners have been the attorneys and the wolves.

Martin O`Malley: Flush Tax: fund green upgrade to wastewater treatment plants

But the fee was never sufficient to cover the work that has to be done. While others have suggested tripling the flush tax, I believe that the fairest way forward is to double the yield by switching most households to a fee structure based on consumption-- whereby, the less you use, the less you pay. This will double the amount of work we are able to do for the Bay.

SB 240 would modify increase the average fee from $2.50 per month to $5.00 per month. Low end users (e.g., 2,000 gallons per month) would see a lower fee ($1.80 per month) and higher end users (e.g., 8,000 gallons per month) would see an increase ($9.30 per month). Residents who qualify for an exemption from the fee because of income will be encouraged to apply for this exemption.

Nikki Haley: Charleston is now US's top tourism spot; sell South Carolina

Sean Parnell: Alaska is not just one big national park; keep EPA out

Sean Parnell: Invest in natural resources: fishing, mining, and timber

Alaska also has a vibrant mining industry that supports more than 5,500 jobs, and this is only scratching the surface of the potential. Indeed, Alaska has many deposits of untapped rare earth elements. These minerals are critical to America's security and economy. My budget includes almost $3 million for an assessment of rare earths.

The timber industry also has deep roots in Alaska. I am proud to report that we expanded the Southeast State Forest, because when we open more land for timber, we open more opportunity and more jobs for Alaskans.

Susana Martinez: $3.3M in fines from those who break environmental rules

When Intel needed an air quality permit, we held them to high standards. And when they met those standards, we got them their permit in less than four months--quicker than ever before. But when corporations broke our environmental laws, when they tried to sidestep our safeguards, we went after them, collecting over $3.3 million in fines from utility, energy, and oil and gas companies. With sensible, predictable regulations we can grow our economy and protect our environment. We can and we must do both.

Bob McDonnell: $5 million for open space land conservation

We are also making progress in restoring the jewel that is the Chesapeake Bay. Striped bass production was at an all-time record high in 2011, the blue crab population is at its second highest level since 1997 and eagle populations are up. The recent budget surpluses have allowed us to contribute over $85 million more to improving water quality. This means more assistance to Virginia's farmers and a significant contribution to the Water Quality Improvement Fund.

Mitch Daniels: First state to phase in new environmental Clean Air permits

Last year, we wiped out the last of a 550-case backlog of old, and therefore less strict, environmental permits, and are now the only state completely current. Our goal for 2012 is to maintain this status and, if national limits are lowered yet again, to find a way to meet those standards, too.

Phil Bredesen: $10M to partially restore cuts in land acquisition fund

For me, one of last year's most personally painful cuts was in the land acquisition fund. While I was not able this year to fully restore these funds, I am proposing to allocate $10 million of this year's surplus as a one-time contribution to begin making that fund whole once again.