2016 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Environment


Gary Herbert: Push refineries to produce cleaner fuel

Our environmental challenges won't be solved with hyperbole or misinformation. We must invest our limited resources in programs and technology that will actually work, not just rhetoric that ignores common sense. That's why I am continuing to push for our refineries to produce much cleaner Tier 3 fuel as soon as possible. This is one of the most effective steps we can take to improve air quality.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Utah legislature Jan 27, 2016

Gary Herbert: Utah must commit to protecting its natural resources

We are currently enjoying a wet winter, but we know from history it may not always be that way. We are currently enjoying a wet winter, but we know from history it may not always be that way. That's why my budget also calls for funds to help find long-term solutions to our water supply to accommodate future needs. We must make an individual and collective commitment to be good stewards of our land, our air and our water.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Utah legislature Jan 27, 2016

Jerry Brown: CA out front in addressing climate change

Besides the immediacy of the drought, there is the overarching threat of a warming climate. Incredibly--though last year was the hottest on record--there are still those who are in denial. The Paris climate agreement was a breakthrough and California was there leading the way. Over 100 states & provinces have now signed on to our Under 2 MOU. The goal is to bring per capita greenhouse gases down to two tons per person. This will take decades and vast innovation. But with SB 350, we're on our way.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to California legislature Jan 21, 2016

John Hickenlooper: Watershed cleanup shouldn't always meet fed. standards

Tackling watershed contamination presents a challenge because of federal laws that prevent clean-up efforts that fail to meet anything less than their standards. We ask that you support our Congressional Delegation's efforts to allow "Good Samaritans" like state agencies, local governments, watershed groups and nonprofits to improve water quality without incurring liability for meeting all federal standards.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Colorado legislature Jan 14, 2016

Andrew Cuomo: Training program to support green energy development

Let's be the international capital for clean and green energy products. We have already attracted some of the largest solar manufacturers, research and development firms on the planet to New York. I now propose a $15 million Clean Energy Opportunity Training Program so SUNY and our community colleges can train the workers with solar technology and installation. And I propose installing solar in over 150,000 homes and businesses and converting SUNY facilities to renewable energy by the year 2020.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to New York legislature Jan 13, 2016

Sam Brownback: Stewardship for water resources to lengthen useful life

With most natural resources, we aren't just taking them to use for today. We are borrowing them from the future. We are going to continue implementing action items in the Long Term Vision for Kansas Water. The first Local Enhanced Management Area has been in operation for three years and has reduced water use by roughly 20 percent, and maintained their net income. That should extend the useful life of the Ogallala in that area by 25 years.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Kansas legislature Jan 12, 2016

Peter Shumlin: VT should divest from coal and ExxonMobil

California recently passed a bill to divest state funds from dirty coal, and explore divesting from Big Oil. Our small state must partner with California, which manages hundreds of billions of dollars of state funds, and divest Vermont of coal. While we await the California study on oil, Vermont should not wait to rid ourselves of ExxonMobil stock.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Vermont legislature Jan 7, 2016

  • The above quotations are from 2016 Governor's State of the State speeches.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Environment.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Chris Christie on Environment.
  • Click here for more quotes by Terry McAuliffe on Environment.
Candidates and political leaders on Environment:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 09, 2018