Governor Joe Lombardo just picked up a new job, and it's one worth paying attention to if you care about states running their own business instead of waiting on Washington.
Lombardo was sworn in this week as Vice Chair of the Western Governors' Association, known as the WGA. It's a group of governors from 22 western states and territories who work together on shared problems like energy, water, and housing — without needing Congress to sign off first.
“It is an honor to serve as Vice Chair of the Western Governors' Association and continue working alongside my fellow governors to advance practical, bipartisan solutions for the people of the Western United States,” Lombardo said.
“The strength of the WGA has always been its commitment to collaboration and results-driven leadership.”
I'm honored to assume the role of Vice Chair of@westgov and look forward to serving with new Chair @GovJoshGreenMD.
Alongside my fellow governors, we will work to advance practical, bipartisan solutions for the people of Nevada and the American West. https://t.co/hEKmS2l9Uo
— Governor Joe Lombardo (@JosephMLombardo) July 2, 2026
Why This Matters To Conservatives
Here's the simple version. The WGA isn't a federal agency. Nobody in Washington D.C. runs it. It's governors — Republicans and Democrats — sitting down together and solving problems state by state. That's federalism working the way the Founders drew it up.
Think of it like neighbors fixing a shared fence. Nobody needs to call in a government inspector from three states away. The people closest to the problem just get together and handle it.
That matters right now because the West is facing a real energy squeeze. Data centers are popping up everywhere and eating up power. Just this week, Lombardo joined ten other western governors — including Utah's Spencer Cox and New Mexico's Michelle Lujan Grisham — in signing a bipartisan agreement to speed up permitting for power lines that cross state borders.
New Mexico's governor put it bluntly:
“We cannot move enough electricity under the current national system.”
She added the West has already shown it can build transmission faster than the rest of the country, and that proves it's possible.
Utah's Cox made a similar point, saying producing more energy doesn't do much good if the country can't move that power across the grid. That's not a partisan complaint. It's basic math about wires and demand.
Who's Leading Now
Lombardo takes over as Vice Chair from Hawai'i Governor Josh Green, who was just sworn in as the new WGA Chair. Green will run the group through July 2027 and is launching a yearlong project called “Health Beyond Healthcare,” aimed at improving health outcomes across western states.
“I look forward to partnering with Governor Lombardo over the coming year as we continue WGA's strong tradition of bipartisan collaboration to address the challenges and opportunities facing the American West,” Green said.
He also thanked outgoing chair Cox for his leadership.
WGA Executive Director Jack Waldorf called Lombardo:
“the kind of pragmatic leader who has helped make WGA a trusted forum for solving problems and advancing lasting bipartisan policy.”
Green's health initiative comes with a sobering number behind it. Eight of the 13 states with the nation's highest prevalence of mental illness and lowest access to care are in the West, and the 10 states with the highest suicide rates are all located in the region. That's the kind of statistic that should get any Nevadan's attention, regardless of party.
What Comes Next
Over the next year, expect Lombardo's fingerprints on decisions about power grid permitting, water policy, and possibly housing rules across the West.
The new grid task force, called PACT, will work on speeding up permits for transmission lines without changing federal law — another sign this is a state-led fix, not a Washington mandate.
What Conservatives Can Do
Nevadans who like the idea of states solving their own problems should keep an eye on WGA announcements coming out of Lombardo's office.
Show up to public comment periods when NV Energy or state regulators discuss transmission and permitting decisions tied to this grid agreement. And if you like what you see, let the Governor's office know. Local pressure keeps state-led solutions state-led.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
