2014 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Environment

Rick Scott: Break tourism records while protecting our environment

Working together, we have made Florida not just a destination for tourists--but a destination for opportunity.

Mary Fallin: Oklahoma Strong: Rebuild after devastating tornadoes

The loss of life--especially the loss of children--was devastating. I will never forget the unbearable grief I saw when I met with mothers and fathers who had lost a child, or the scream of a woman who had just learned her husband had been killed.

But I will also never forget the brave and compassionate actions of so many of our citizens: men and women taking complete strangers into their homes and offering them a place to sleep and a warm meal; Oklahomans, and even people from neighboring states, dropping everything to volunteer their time and resources to help the recovery effort.

Today we are rebuilding and well on our way to recovery. Main Streets across central Oklahoma struck by tornadoes are once again thriving. We owe that success to our resilient, hardworking people. They are, as we say, Oklahoma Strong.

Pat Quinn: Clean Water Initiative: $1B for wastewater & stormwater

To date, we've received 91 clean water applications. And this year, we'll expand our Clean Water Initiative--and double this investment--to include critical stormwater and flood control projects. When it comes to creating the infrastructure we need for a strong economy, we've been getting the job done. And there's more work to do.

Martin O`Malley: Passed milestone of preserving 1 million acres of open space

Together, we have taken the strongest actions in decades to make the Chesapeake Bay cleaner and healthier; strong actions that are restoring our menhaden, our blue crab, and our oyster populations.

And we are leading the states of our Bay watershed in cleaning up the Chesapeake--consistently meeting our two-year milestones, allowing less nitrogen and phosphorus to pollute our Bay today than seven years ago. Measurable progress, by our hands, in our time, for the long term restoration of the Bay.

Terry Branstad: Fight EPA on biofuel rules; protect agricultural sector

The proposed rule comes at a time when our state continues to implement new pioneering policies encouraging growth and innovation in the renewable energy sector. We launched the "Fueling Our Future" program last October, which will bring Iowa to the forefront in the use of E30 fuel. This new program is a reflection of the importance of further advancing the renewable fuels industry, and how the RFS is helping to create important Iowa jobs. The RFS has led to a cleaner environment, opened the markets for Iowa corn and soybeans and reduced our nation's dependence on foreign oil. Thousands of Americans are coming together to support the RFS.

We will be holding a public hearing later this month to give Iowans the opportunity to voice their concerns with the EPA's proposal.

John Hickenlooper: Start methane capture rule; finish Water Plan

If words were water the state would never run dry. Our budget is requesting a second year of funding to help create cleaner water for Colorado. This year we will complete the Colorado Water Plan, which will emphasize conservation, address incremental storage, and address drought mitigation. We must create alternative choices to buy-and-dry. No matter where we live, we cannot afford to let our farm and ranch land dry up.