Juneau -- A delegation of Alaska lawmakers returned to Juneau today following four days of meetings in Washington, D.C. at The Energy Council's annual "Federal Energy and Environmental Matters Conference."

"It was no surprise that discussion of low oil prices and strategies for expanding petroleum markets dominated the agenda," stated Senator Loren Leman (R-Anchorage), who also serves as The Energy Council's Vice President of Federal Energy and Environmental Matters. The Energy Council is a coalition of state lawmakers from ten oil and gas producing states, as well as two international affiliates. In addition to Leman, the Alaska delegation included Senate President Drue Pearce (R-Anchorage), House Majority Leader Rep. Joe Green (R-Anchorage), Rep. Gail Phillips (R-Homer), Rep. Scott Ogan (R-Palmer), Rep. Gary Davis (R-Soldotna), and Rep. Jim Whitaker (R-Fairbanks).

"We are not the only state reporting severe impacts from the plunge in oil prices," Rep. Phillips said. "Louisiana has been hit especially hard, so Alaska is certainly not alone in facing this budget shortfall."

As part of a strategy to expand demand for oil, The Energy Council approved a policy statement sponsored by Sen. Leman that calls on the federal government to purchase oil to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. "This time of depressed oil prices gives the federal government a perfect opportunity to purchase oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and to do so in an economic manner. Our policy statement also asks the President to convene a White House summit, including both industry leaders and public officials, to address this pressing matter," Leman said.

Alaska Congressman Don Young delivered the keynote address at The Energy Council meeting, and the legislators also met separately with U.S. Senators Ted Stevens and Frank Murkowski to discuss subsistence and other federal issues.

Leman and Phillips described the meetings in Washington as "productive," but also noted that the obstacles Alaska faces in developing its resources remain daunting. "We visited the federal Department of Energy and received a sobering briefing from officials there. One thing is clear: while some officials in the Clinton Administration pay lip service to cooperation with industry and state governments, many others are pursuing an ideological agenda to thwart any new development or jobs in Alaska. We have our work cut out for us."