The Western Governors' Association ("WGA") Annual Meeting is in full swing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The WGA represents the Governors of 19 Western states and 3 U.S.-flag islands and is an instrument of bipartisan policy development on issues critical to the Western United States. Wyoming Governor Matt Mead is the current WGA Chairman.

Why is this meeting important to you?

Energy and natural resources-related issues in the West are a big topic of the meeting.

This morning's first keynote address was by U.S. Secretary of Energy, Ernest Moniz.

On the topic of coal, Energy Sec. Moniz reportedly pledged support for clean coal research, saying fossil fuels would continue to play a role in the country's energy mix. Concerning Department of Energy funding for various energy sources, the Casper Star Tribune reported Moniz pointed to funding quotas set by Congress of $4.5 billion in funding for renewables and $8.5 billion for fossil fuels.

Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell was also scheduled to speak this morning.

Tomorrow's agenda of the WGA is scheduled to feature a roundtable discussion on New Western Economic Frontiers to address the boom-and-bust cycles of energy production and to discuss diversifying to deliver a more predictable economic framework in the West.

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