2019 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Environment
Ron DeSantis:
Must be bold in tackling Florida's water problems
We are repositioning our water policy by: expediting key projects like the EAA reservoir and raising the Tamiami Trail; establishing a blue-green algae task force to develop policies to fight algae blooms, fight red tide and improve water quality; and
appointing a Chief Science Officer to better harness scientific data and research. I've requested $2.5 billion for water resources projects and Everglades restoration. Given the persistent water problems we have seen, now is the time to be bold.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Florida legislature
Mar 5, 2019
Matt Bevin:
Opposes federal regulations like waterway protection
Bevin said his administration has fought federal rules on overtime, transgender bathrooms, waterway protection, and other issues. Now he said it's time for a new approach. "No longer are we pushing back," said the
governor. "We are now being sought out here in Kentucky increasingly as a state to emulate. Now we are leading the nation in regulation reform."
Source: Press release on Kentucky 2019 State of the State address
Feb 9, 2019
Phil Scott:
Ease regulations: flexibility for forestry & farms
Let's create flexibility for our forestry businesses, working lands and trail networks. Let's simplify construction approval in rural industrial parks and reduce their fees. Let's help farms create new revenue from tourism and on-site businesses.
Let's get the most mileage from our transportation dollars by exempting projects that have environmental protections already built in.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Vermont legislature
Jan 24, 2019
David Ige:
Strong guidelines for environmental protection
We have established strong guidelines to:- Protect our watershed forests,
- Better manage our oceans,
- Strengthen invasive species prevention through our bio-security plan,
- Double our local food production, and
-
Achieve 100 percent renewable energy by 2045.
Our budget includes $3.9 million over two years for Sustainable Hawaii initiatives, to support our biosecurity plan, watershed protection and our Agricultural Loan Revolving Fund.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Hawaii legislature
Jan 22, 2019
Andrew Cuomo:
$2.5 billion in clean water infrastructure
We'll lead the way with the most aggressive environmental agenda, while the federal government taking us backwards from the Paris Accords. We're going to go the exact opposite direction of the federal government.
$2.5 billion in clean water infrastructure. Let's expand the Bottle Bill and let's ban plastic bags once and for all. Let's take the next step on the Green New Deal. Let us set the goal: 100 percent clean power by 2040.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the New York legislature
Jan 15, 2019
Gina Raimondo:
66% increase in green jobs--good for business
We've proven that you can grow the economy and protect the environment at the same time: We're the only state in America with an off-shore wind farm. We're on track to make our energy system 10 times cleaner by 2020.
Since 2014, we've added more than 5,000 green jobs - a 66 percent increase. Let's keep going.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Rhode Island legislature
Jan 15, 2019
Jay Inslee:
Imperative to save the Southern Resident orcas
We need to focus on saving the Southern Resident orcas. We must make unprecedented investments to save our orcas.
The demise of any species is a warning in our natural systems. We have to restore the balance of our ecosystem to sustain orcas, salmon and the quality of life for all Washingtonians. For as the orca go, so go we.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Washington legislature
Jan 15, 2019
Doug Ducey:
19-year drought: protect Lake Mead and Colorado River
The issues we need to tackle aren't partisan ones. In some cases, they aren't even political. At the top of that list: securing our water future. Now stay with me--this is not an issue that leads the news. It doesn't make for a snappy headline, or a
provocative soundbite, and it can't be explained in 280 characters. But as I traveled the state this year, it's one of the issues I was asked about most by real people--especially in rural Arizona. It's an issue that deserves your focus and attention.
Which is why it's first on my list.Here's the bottom line: We're in a 19-year drought. It's going to get worse before it gets better. Arizona and our neighboring states draw more water from the Colorado River than Mother Nature puts back. It's time
to protect Lake Mead. It's time to ratify the Drought Contingency Plan. Doing so will require compromise. No one stakeholder is going to get everything they want. This issue is important and it's urgent. Our economy. Our environment. Our future.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Arizona legislature
Jan 14, 2019
Jim Justice:
Invest $14M in tourism and revenue comes flying right back
Tourism is another wonderfully bright spot in West Virginia. In 2017, we had unbelievable growth. We greatly surpassed the natural growth. In 2018, it looks even stronger and stronger. Our hotel occupancy is up 11 percent.
You know, our increased prices in revenue in our hotels is up 13.4%, and I will be asking you for another $14,000,000, because every dollar we put in tourism comes flooding back to us. It's a multiplier effect.
It's just absolutely a cash register. We put the money in, it comes flying right back at us. We seeing this every month in our surpluses.
This is the state that ought to be the number one state in the nation as far as tourism.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to West Virginia legislature
Jan 9, 2019
Jim Justice:
$60M upgrade to state parks
We sold $60,000,000 of excess lottery bonds to upgrade our state parks. We have absolutely been doing that. That's all underway right now. We're getting a tremendous response with our state parks, and there's just lots of good going on there.As far
as our DNR efforts we've made, you know, we have reestablished an Elk herd in West Virginia; we're extending deer seasons. We're doing so many things with our trout and our streams, and we're exposing this state in so many ways, it's unbelievable.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to West Virginia legislature
Jan 9, 2019
Mark Gordon:
Research controlling invasive species at state colleges & UW
Wyoming, like many western states, is struggling to contend with the spread of invasive species like cheatgrass, leafy spurge, and medusahead wildrye. These species are degrading our range, threatening agricultural viability, impacting big game, and
raising fire risks across the West.In our quest for UW to be a top-tier agricultural school, certainly one mission we should consider expanding is our research into better ways to expunge and control the spread of invasives.
In support of that effort, I plan to work with UW's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, our community colleges and the state's weed and pest districts to put together a
program that will combine research with management, aiming to make sure Wyoming is a leader nationally on combating invasive species.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Wyoming legislature
Jan 9, 2019
Brad Little:
Replenish more water into aquifers than we remove
Water is Idaho's lifeblood, and we've made great strides in protecting it. Under the leadership of the Water Resource Board, we have doubled our goal of refilling and replenishing our critically important Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer,
adding more water this year than was removed. While this is an impressive accomplishment, this must be an ongoing effort. Regardless of the water year, we must focus on expanding the water infrastructure across our state.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Idaho legislature
Jan 7, 2019
Gavin Newsom:
The water we drink & the air we breathe hang in the balance
So deep does the California Dream run in the history and character of our state that it can feel as enduring as our primeval forests or our majestic mountain ranges. But there is nothing inevitable about it. Every dream depends on the dreamers.
It is up to us to renew the California Dream for a new generation. And now more than ever, it is up to us to defend it. California has always helped write America's future. And we know the decisions we make would be important at any time.
But what we do today is even more consequential, because of what's happening in our country.
People's lives, freedom, security, the water we drink, the air we breathe--they all hang in the balance. The country is watching us. The world is waiting
on us. The future depends on us. And we will seize this moment.
We will prepare for uncertain times ahead. We will be prudent stewards of taxpayer dollars, pay down debt, and meet our future obligations. But let me be clear: we will be bold.
Source: 2019 California governor inaugural (State of the State)
Jan 7, 2019
Chris Sununu:
Be smart about environmental policy: look at economics
Whether it's solar, or wind, or battery storage, we need to ensure that the benefits of these well-intentioned programs deliver results to the people who are struggling to pay the bill each month. We don't need to further raise electricity rates and
tax our citizens to be good environmental stewards, we just need to be smarter about how we spend the money we have. We must look at the environmental, economic, and social aspect of any policy.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to New Hampshire legislature
Jan 3, 2019
Doug Burgum:
Innovation--not regulation--solves oil & gas challenges
We believe innovation--not regulation--is the best way to solve complex challenges in a digital age. Adding value to our enormous natural gas production is a tremendous opportunity. Converting gas to plastics or fertilizer--using gas to heat
commercial-scale greenhouses for year-round local food production--converting gas to electrons to be exported on transmission lines--or reinjecting gas back into the ground as part of enhanced oil recovery-
each of these represents a billion-dollar business opportunity. Substantial progress on gas capture is in our near future--with billions of private capital being invested in mid-stream processing and gathering pipelines--
but more capacity will be needed as our gas-to-oil ratio continues to grow. And we must ensure our regulations incent--versus discourage--capital investment.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to North Dakota Legislature
Jan 3, 2019
Page last updated: Apr 02, 2019