Wisconsin Governor Doyle, Fellow Governors Offer Climate Change Partnership with President Obama

January 29, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today signed a letter to President Obama to encourage a strong state-federal partnership in promoting clean energy and tackling global climate challenges. Governor Doyle, joined by Governors Schwarzenegger (California), Rell (Connecticut), Crist (Florida), Sebelius (Kansas), O’Malley (Maryland), Patrick (Massachusetts), Corzine (New Jersey), Richardson (New Mexico), Paterson (New York), Gregoire (Washington), and Kulongoski (Oregon), offered to meet with the President and his energy and environmental cabinet to develop a comprehensive national plan that builds on the momentum of strong state policies.

“Taking on the challenge of climate change, improving our energy security and growing jobs in a clean energy economy are all closely linked, and it is imperative that we build the partnerships necessary to advance this work,” Governor Doyle said. “In the absence of strong federal climate change policy, Wisconsin and many other states have led by example. We look forward to working with the Obama Administration to strengthen our combined efforts to promote clean energy that creates jobs, confront climate change and develop renewable energy policies.”

Article continues below...

The bipartisan group of Governors applauded President Obama’s federal climate change and clean energy policies and urged a dynamic partnership that reduces greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming and focuses on green jobs, renewable energy, alternative fuels, and energy efficiency.

In November, Governor Doyle co-hosted the Governors’ Global Climate Summit in Los Angeles. The international summit brought together state and world leaders to develop creative, collaborative actions to advance the global climate agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that will be negotiated in Poland in December and in Copenhagen next year. The Governors’ summit also provided an opportunity for states and provinces to partner to reduce emissions and grow green economies.

In President Obama’s message to the Climate Summit, he pledged to partner with Governors promoting clean energy. In a letter to the President seizing this opportunity, the Governors laid out the principles for a successful national program, including: setting ambitious goals to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions; using market mechanisms such as cap-and-trade programs and incentives to encourage clean energy; and ensuring that state and local authority, state and regional clean energy programs, and private investments are recognized in the plan.

Since coming into office, Governor Doyle has worked to develop climate change strategies at the state, regional and international level. Governor Doyle has made clean energy and energy independence top priorities of his administration.

To view Governor Doyle’s joint letter to President Obama, please visit: http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=15821 .

Source: Wisconsin Governor