Utah is on the verge of becoming the West’s energy powerhouse. As the home of one of the largest solar-and-battery projects in the nation, with plans to host a first-of-its-kind nuclear facility, the state is proving that it can build. Gov. Spencer Cox’s “Operation Gigawatt” initiative aims to double Utah’s energy production. But that’s only half the battle; successfully delivering that power across Utah and other Western states is the other half.
Across the country, the grid is riddled with bottlenecks that block power from flowing where it’s needed most. In the West, vast distances between rural energy resources and booming cities compound the problem. And looming demand, from AI data centers to reshoring factories, asks more of our transmission system.
But there’s a solution, and it starts with states working together.
Two decades ago, a bipartisan group of governors led a coalition of eleven Midwestern utilities to coordinate the buildout of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) transmission system — a regional transmission network that aimed to cut costs, boost reliability, ensure resource adequacy and fuel economic growth. MISO, the regional grid operator, provided a centralized platform to plan, advocate for and execute this buildout.
That same playbook can work in the West, and Gov. Cox is already laying the groundwork as chair of the Western Governors’ Association (WGA).
His recent call for better transmission policy is exactly the kind of leadership that can drive regional cooperation. The WGA can assess the energy needs of each state and collaborate with major utilities to support shared goals. The right steps can turn the vastness of the West from a challenge into an advantage. By building new transmission lines, power can flow from unaffected areas during the coldest winter storms and the hottest summer heatwaves. A grid that extends beyond local weather patterns strengthens both affordability and reliability — precisely when families need it amid rising costs and demand.
Western states can also leverage improved technology to build more transmission miles with less land. High-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission lines are uniquely suited to fully harness our diverse energy mix. They can deliver power efficiently across long distances with minimal line loss while also providing additional resilience benefits to the grid and taking up less space than conventional solutions.
Western governors have a chance to lead together by advancing coordinated regional grid planning and pressing for a federal permitting package that cuts through red tape. Utah already has a compact to collaborate with Idaho and Wyoming. Expanding this to include all of the Western states will formalize cooperation, accelerate planning and ensure that the region’s energy innovation is matched by the infrastructure needed to deliver it.
Gov. Cox has set the right priorities: build more energy, foster innovation and position Utah as an energy powerhouse. The next step is making sure that power reaches the people who need it — both here in Utah and across the West. Drawing on past successes, Gov. Cox can create a working group within WGA to ensure transmission builds the support the region’s economic and energy needs. A future of energy abundance depends on moving forward together by pushing for federal permitting reform and building a coordinated Western grid worthy of the resources and leadership already taking shape in the region.