Alaska State Legislature
News from the Senate and House Majorities

Wendy Lindskoog, (907) 465-4582
Jerry Ritter, (907) 465-3804
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801
web site at http://www.akrepublicans.org
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540

Alaska Legislators Discuss Alaska and National Energy Issues in Washington D.C.

For Immediate Release -- March 19, 1998

Juneau – Alaska’s natural gas project, access to federal lands, and the impact from dropping oil prices were among top issues discussed at the Energy Council’s annual conference held in Washington D.C. March 14-17. The Energy Council is a coalition of ten energy producing states, the Canadian Province of Alberta and the nation of Venezuela.

Alaska’s delegation included Senators Drue Pearce and Loren Leman, and Representatives Joe Green, Scott Ogan and Gary Davis. The annual conference provides energy producing regions a forum to build coalitions with one another on energy issues. By building strong relationships, Energy Council members strive to present a more unified message on energy to leaders at all levels of industry and government with a goal of influencing the formation of federal energy and related environmental policy.

Senator Drue Pearce (R-Anchorage), the senior member of Alaska’s delegation, said the Energy Council’s annual meeting in D.C. provides a great opportunity to network with other energy producing states on behalf of Alaska issues. "The key to influencing federal policy in a positive direction for Alaska is building a strong base of support at the state level," said Pearce.

Pearce noted that what delineated this conference from years past was a joint meeting held between members of the Energy Council and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC). The IOGCC represents the governors of 36 states that produce virtually all domestic oil and natural gas in the United States. "This alliance provides Alaska a better opportunity to gain support and educate people in the lower 48 for issues including ANWR, NPR-A, and the natural gas project – issues essential to Alaska’s ongoing economic stability," Pearce said.

"The highlights of the meeting, for me, were the discussions on Federal land access issues, especially as they relate to the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska," said Representative Ogan (R-Palmer). " NPR-A is, after all, a petroleum reserve, not a wildlife refuge. The Energy Council provided a good opportunity to communicate the Alaska message that we want 100-percent access to NPR-A, as well as a chance to learn more about access issues from other members."

Senator Loren Leman (R-Anchorage) said a conference highlight was the unanimous support received from Energy Council members on Alaska’s natural gas resolution. The resolution proposed a policy statement for the Energy council recommending the United States Congress consider tax legislation that would improve the economics for the Alaska gas project.

"I believe the natural gas project will be one of Alaska’s most important upcoming endeavors, said Leman. "It was heartening to see that Energy Council members will stand united behind Alaska as we press this issue at the federal level."

"At every meeting we were able to do something positive for Alaska," said Representative Joe Green (R-Anchorage). "During this most recent conference we were able to get representatives from other states to support changes in federal tax laws that will make it easier to to build the gas pipeline. This is right in line with the Majority’s Commitment to Alaska to develop our resources and create jobs."

"The Energy Council’s annual Washington D.C. conference gives us an opportunity to discuss recent energy-related legislation," said Representative Gary Davis (R-Soldotna). "We were able to spend some quality time with both Senator Ted Stevens and Senator Frank Murkowski talking about a broad range of issues important to Alaska. They gave us an update of what’s going on in Congress and how they can help solve some of the challenges we face in Alaska."

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

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

Member states of The Energy Council include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming -- accounting for over 80 percent of U.S. oil and gas production.

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