Governor Joe Lombardo Joins Bipartisan Agreement to Strengthen Western Grid and Accelerate Energy Infrastructure

CARSON CITY, Nev. — Governor Joe Lombardo today joined the governors of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming in signing a bipartisan agreement to strengthen the Western electric grid, accelerate construction of critical transmission infrastructure, and advance an all-of-the-above energy strategy to meet the region's growing energy demands. 

The agreement formally endorses the Western Transmission Expansion Coalition (WestTEC) roadmap and establishes the Western Governors' Transmission Permitting Alignment and Coordination Task Force (PACT), a state-led effort to improve coordination on interstate transmission projects and reduce unnecessary permitting delays while preserving state authority. 

"Nevada's continued economic success depends on reliable, affordable energy," said Governor Joe Lombardo. "As our state expands and attracts new businesses, we need the infrastructure to support that growth. This agreement shows that Western states can work together to modernize our grid, protect ratepayers, and build the transmission network needed to power the next generation of economic opportunity." 

The governors' agreement recognizes that electricity demand is rising across the West because of population growth, economic expansion, manufacturing, and emerging industries, while an aging transmission system threatens long-term reliability and affordability. The agreement commits participating states to work together to expand transmission infrastructure, improve coordination across state lines, and accelerate permitting under existing law without reducing environmental protections or requiring new federal legislation. WestTEC provides a collaborative, data-driven roadmap identifying the transmission investments that will deliver the greatest regional benefit, while PACT creates a governor-led framework to improve permitting coordination, resolve cross-jurisdictional challenges, and help move priority transmission projects from planning to construction more efficiently.

The WestTEC agreement can be viewed here: Western Transmission Pact.pdf

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