Western States Sign Joint Statement of Agreement on Regional Transmission, Endorsing WestTEC Roadmap and Creating Multi-State Permitting Task Force

On June 30, 2026, 11 Western states signed the Western Transmission Joint Statement of Agreement for a Stronger, More Connected Western Grid. The first-of-its-kind Joint Statement of Agreement supports the Western Transmission Expansion Coalition (WestTEC), its roadmap for expanding transmission infrastructure in the West, and the establishment of the Transmission Permitting Alignment and Coordination Task Force (PACT). As Western states face rising energy demand from electrification, population growth, and economic expansion, this bipartisan agreement supports an effort to strengthen grid reliability, reduce congestion, stabilize rates, and protect against wildfires, cybersecurity threats, and extreme weather.

WestTEC, coordinated by the Western Power Pool, brings together industry, states, and Tribes to analyze future transmission needs across the Western Interconnection. Its study lays out a roadmap for expanding transmission capacity, assessing transmission needs to support reliability and promote competitive markets. The Joint Statement of Agreement endorses the WestTEC coalition and its findings and calls for collaboration among the states to advance the projects identified.

The establishment of the Transmission Permitting Alignment and Coordination Task Force (PACT), a multi-state effort to accelerate transmission permitting across the West housed under the Western Governors' Association, will provide involved state and Tribal agencies with a forum to align on permitting decisions, work through issues that cross state lines, and set regional priorities. PACT's core objectives include: establishing a governor-led regional framework with designated state and Tribal leads; identifying and accelerating high-impact "Superabundance" transmission lines; developing predictable, multi-state permitting timelines with common templates; strengthening interregional collaboration through shared best practices; enhancing Tribal and local government participation; and coordinating with federal agencies while preserving independent state permitting processes.

Signatories of the Joint Statement consist of governors for the following states:

• Arizona
• Colorado
• Idaho
• Montana
• New Mexico
• Nevada
• North Dakota
• Oregon
• Utah
• Washington
• Wyoming

More information can be found here. Please contact Camille Norton ([email protected]) with comments or questions.