Juneau -- An official delegation from the Alaska Legislature will attend the The Energy Council's annual Federal Energy and Environmental Matters Conference February 27-March 2 in Washington, D.C.

Legislators from Alaska and nine other energy producing states, the Canadian province of Alberta, and the nation of Venezuela will participate in the conference aimed at influencing the formation of federal energy and related environmental policy. Member states of The Energy Council include: Alabama; Alaska; Arkansas; Colorado; Louisiana; Mississippi; New Mexico; Oklahoma; Texas; and Wyoming. These ten states account for more than 80 percent of U.S. oil and gas production.

"When working to influence the formation of federal policy, there is strength in numbers," said Senate President Drue Pearce. "Alaska's ongoing affiliation with other natural resource dependent states has given us a larger collective voice in D.C. where policy issues can make or break our state's long-term ability to provide jobs for Alaskans and a stable economy."

"No matter how powerful they may be, our Congressional Delegation has only three members," said House Majority Leader Representative Joe Green. "But when you combine our delegation with those of Texas and the other member states, you have a pretty formidable number of congressmen and senators putting our positions across on Capitol Hill."

"We are very pleased that our own Congressman Don Young will be delivering the opening address at this conference," commented Senator Loren Leman, who serves as the Energy Council's Vice President for Federal Energy and Environmental Matters. "Congressman Young will offer a uniquely Alaskan perspective to the delegates." As host legislator for the conference Senator Leman helped arrange for Congressman Young's appearance, and also that of Ali Rodriguez-Araque, the Minister of Energy and Mines for Venezuela, who will comment on his country's role as a member of OPEC.

"This Environmental Matters Conference is extremely important to Alaska," said Representative Gail Phillips, Chair of the House Special Committee on Economic Development. "This session will focus on policies concerning clean air, clean water, global warming, and energy restructuring. It is imperative that Alaska's voice be considered in these deliberations as these policies affect individual Alaskans on a daily basis and must be acceptable to Alaska."

In addition to Congressman Young, who is Chairman of the House Resources Committee, there will be a keynote address from Ali Rodriguez-Araque, Venezuela's Minister of Energy and Mines. Conference highlights also include speeches from U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico and James Hoecker, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Senator Pearce noted that in addition to Alaska's greater ability to influence national issues, The Energy Council provides the opportunity for members to form strong ties with each other that are progressive and economically beneficial.

"Early relationships developed with Venezuela through The Energy Council have given Alaska oil and gas support businesses a 'leg up' on the competition from other regions," Pearce said. "Alaska and Venezuela share many similarities and challenges in terms of oil and gas production. Our advance work at a government level has been opening doors for possible Alaska and Venezuela joint ventures."

Senators Pearce and Leman and Representatives Green and Phillips are all members of the Executive Committee of The Energy Council. Representatives Scott Ogan, Chair of the House Resources Committee; Jim Whitaker, Chair of the House Special Committee on Oil and Gas; and Gary Davis, a member of the House Finance Committee are also attending the conference.

The Energy Council achieves its work primarily through four conferences annually and through extensive coalition-building efforts. The conferences include:

• Federal Energy and Environmental Matters Conference -- Washington, D.C. in the spring.
• State Trends in Energy and the Environment Conference -- June.
• Annual Meeting -- September.
• Global Energy and Environmental Matters Conference -- December.