News from the Senate Majority
Alaska State Legislature
Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press
Secretary
716 West 4th Avenue, Suite 510
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Phone: 907/258-8184
web site at http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540
Anchorage to Host Energy Council’s Annual Fall Conference
For Immediate Release: September 19, 1997 Contact: Senator Drue Pearce at (907) 258-8185.
Anchorage -- The Energy Council, an organization of legislators from ten energy producing states, the Canadian province of Alberta and the nation of Venezuela, will hold its 1997 Annual Meeting in Anchorage, September 25-27, at the Anchorage Hilton Hotel.
Senator Larry Dickerson (D-Oklahoma), Energy Council Chairman, said the conference agenda will include the installation of new officers and the inauguration of Venezuela as the Energy Council’s second international affiliate. In keeping with the 1996-97 Energy Council themes, topics addressed will be as diverse as North Slope gas, electric power reliability, Arctic drilling and fuel cell development.
"The Energy Council’s 1997 Annual Meeting will wrap up an extremely substantive year of work, plot our course for the next year and, in an historic move for the group, welcome our first Latin American affiliate, the nation of Venezuela," Dickerson said.
"We look forward to flying Venezuela’s flag for the first time with the other Energy Council members’ at the Annual Meeting," said Senator Drue Pearce (R-Anchorage), former chair of the Council. "Venezuela was unanimously approved by the Executive Committee as a new member last June. We anticipate the insight energy leaders from our most important oil export partner will add to our discussions as we develop strategies to meet the challenges faced by Pan American energy interests."
The Energy Council’s predominant objective is to influence the formation of federal energy and related environmental policy.
"Energy Council meetings represent an important opportunity for energy producing states to assist its members in policy development and promote dialogue with energy leaders at all levels of industry and government. This promises to be one of our largest meetings ever with more than 250 participants," said Pearce.
The Annual Conference will kick off with a breakfast meeting, held jointly with the Alliance, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Friday, September 26 at the Hilton. Venezuela Energy Minister Erwin Arrieta will deliver the keynote address.
"It’s a real thrill to hold this conference in Anchorage, since Alaska is both a major energy contributor to the nation and an active member of the Energy Council," said Dickerson. "Alaskan legislators are very aggressive in promoting energy issues within the Council and in energy policy forums nationally."
"Alaska’s participation with the Energy Council has been invaluable. We need to continue capitalizing on all opportunities that allow our state leaders to contribute in the formation of energy policy," Pearce said. "Decisions made in Washington D.C. can make or break our state’s long-term ability to provide jobs for Alaskans and fuel for our nation."
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.
The Energy Council achieves its work primarily through four annual conferences and through extensive coalition-building efforts. The conferences include:
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