I was honored this week to be appointed Chair of the Energy Council. The council is a legislative organization consisting of members from 11 U.S. States, 5 Canadian Provinces, and the country of Venezuela. Their meetings are a unique forum for discussing energy policy with some of the most knowledgeable people in the world. I’m excited to focus their expertise on issues important to Alaska and bring that information back home to make decisions regarding our state’s resources.
As Chairman during this next year, the Energy Council will focus on three themes:
•Understanding Arctic Development in a Global Context
•Fossil Energy Trends, and Policy
•Electricity and Alternate Energy Development
These themes will allow the council to examine several issues critical to Alaskans. These include: Arctic energy exploration and transportation, U.S. LNG exports, Arctic shipping routes, federal regulation, and hydro development. We will also work to promote a better understanding of how global economic forces impact energy markets in North America. My goal is to get as many experts and leaders together as possible so that we can really target and crystallize the energy issues facing Alaska and the rest of the Western Hemisphere.
The Energy Council does most of its work during four quarterly meetings that rotate among member states and provinces, with a spring meeting in Washington, D.C. Participating in the council is an important part of our continued efforts to develop Alaska’s energy resources and promote greater collaboration between national policymakers and our state. I’ve served on the Energy Councils’ executive committee for several years, and was Vice Chair in 2011.
I’m excited to take over the Chairmanship of the Energy Council and look forward to working with policymakers from across country on issues important to Alaska.
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