Governor Polis Attends Western Governors' Association Summer Meeting Highlighting Colorado’s Leadership and Collaboration Among Western States

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SANTA FE, NM ~ Santa Fe, NM - As the Western Governors' Association summer meeting kicks off in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Governor Jared Polis of Colorado is joining his fellow western governors to discuss important policy issues and collaborate on solutions.

Governor Polis expressed his belief in the unique ability of western governors to come together and get things done. The West faces a variety of challenges, from wildfires and natural disasters to managing public lands and pursuing renewable energy options. During this meeting, the governors will focus on issues that are particularly important to Coloradans, such as housing, education, agriculture, and wildfire mitigation.

In 2023, as chair of the Western Governors' Association, Governor Polis launched The Heat Beneath Our Feet initiative. This initiative aims to expand geothermal energy research and exploration in the West. Despite the abundance of this low-cost clean energy resource in the region, it remains largely untapped. Governor Polis sees this as a unique opportunity for the West to lead the nation and the world in developing this renewable energy source.

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To start off the summer meeting, Governor Polis will moderate a session focused on collaboration between state and federal governments to strengthen career pathways and prepare students for good-paying jobs. U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon will also be participating in this session.

As chair of the bipartisan National Governors Association, Governor Polis launched another initiative called Let's Get Ready: Educating All Americans For Success. This initiative is focused on finding real solutions to ensure that students have the skills they need to succeed both inside and outside of the classroom.

Governor Polis will also take part in a roundtable discussion on housing solutions and increasing affordable housing options. He plans to highlight Colorado's leadership in breaking down barriers to housing development in order to increase supply and reduce costs. In recent years, Governor Polis has signed new laws aimed at increasing housing near transit, eliminating costly parking requirements and discriminatory occupancy limits, and allowing for the construction of accessory dwelling units on private property.

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The governor will also participate in discussions about ways to bolster agricultural production in Colorado and across the western states. Other topics on the agenda include increasing accessibility to outdoor spaces, land management opportunities, conservation efforts, wildfire mitigation, forestry workforce development, and rural healthcare.

In addition to the governors, several White House Cabinet members will also be joining the discussions. These include U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Rollins, Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgam, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, and Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer.

Governor Polis believes that while there may not always be agreement on every issue among the governors, they are still able to learn from each other and find ways to better support the people they serve. The Western Governors' Association summer meeting provides a valuable opportunity for collaboration and progress on important issues facing the West.

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