MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
Mississippi Senator
Joel Carter
2022 – 2023 Chairman
The Energy Council
Uncertainty abounds in the energy sector between Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, record setting inflation and interest hikes, and policies that discourage oil and natural gas production in North America. Low oil inventory levels have made oil prices volatile, with a price at or over $100 a barrel in recent months. Natural gas inventories are also down while demand for U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and demand for natural gas from the electric power sector grows. Electricity prices are increasing along with most other necessities.
These market realities have defined three main focuses for The Energy Council over the 2022-2023 fiscal year: Advancements and Achievements, Hinderances and Hurdles, and National and International Concerns.
The Council’s three themed conferences in FY22-23 will examine specific aspects of the three themes, allowing our member legislators to draw a better understanding of how technological, market and regulatory forces impact their particular circumstances. The Council will also participate in the development of federal policy, bringing a state voice to federal legislative and regulatory processes.
We invite you to join the leadership of The Energy Council as we explore the elements of each theme of the Council’s Strategic Plan for 2022-2023.
ABOUT THE ENERGY COUNCIL
The Energy Council is a non-partisan legislative organization founded in 1975. The original five member states (Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico) were located within the same region, and the group was initially known as the Southwest Regional Energy Council.
The organization was formed to provide a forum for state legislators interested in energy policy. Today the member states number fourteen, including West Virginia, Mississippi and Alabama to the East and Colorado, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Alaska to the West. It allows legislative policymakers to maintain a dialogue and learn more about energy issues of importance to their states, citizens, environment and revenue base. In recognition of the continental nature of energy markets, the Council has welcomed the Canadian Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, as well.
For energy producing states and provinces, a better understanding of energy markets, technology and policy, as well as related environmental concerns, benefits lawmakers and their constituents. The Energy Council is a proven resource for developing energy policy leadership.
PUBLICATIONS
THE ENERGY COUNCIL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
ALABAMA
Senator Gerald Allen
Senator Andrew Jones*
Representative Wes Kitchens
Representative Phillip Pettus*
ALASKA
Senator Click Bishop*
Senator Bert Stedman, Vice Chairman
Representative Craig Johnson
Representative George Rauscher
ARKANSAS
Senator Ben Gilmore*
Senator Gary Stubblefield
Representative Rick Beck, Immediate Past Chairman
Representative Justin Gonzales
COLORADO
Senator Stephen Fenberg*
Senator Chris Hansen
Representative Cathy Kipp*
Representative Brianna Titone
KANSAS
Senator Dan Kerschen
Senator Carolyn McGinn
Representative Kyle Hoffman
Representative Joe Seiwert
LOUISIANA
Senator Patrick McMath
Senator Michael Reese
Representative Ryan Joseph Bourriaque
Representative Jean-Paul Coussan
MISSISSIPPI
Senator Joel Carter, Chairman
Senator Briggs Hopson, III
Representative C. Scott Bounds
Representative Brent Powell
MONTANA
Senator Christopher Pope
Pending Appointment
Representative Steven Galloway*
Representative Katie Zolnikov
NEW MEXICO
Senator Craig Brandt
Senator Steven Neville
Representative Micaela Cadena
Representative Greg Nibert
NORTH DAKOTA
Senator Dale Patten*
Senator Donald Schaible
Representative Glenn Bosch*
Representative Bob Martison*
OKLAHOMA
Senator Julie Daniels
Pending Appointment
Representative Mark McBride
Representative Kevin McDugle
TEXAS
Senator Charles Schwertner
Pending Appointment
Representative Drew Darby
Representative Craig Goldman
WEST VIRGINIA
Senator Randy Smith
Senator Rupie Phillips
Delegate Bill Anderson
Delegate Mark Zatezalo*
WYOMING
Senator Ed Cooper*
Senator Ogden Driskill
Representative Donald “Don” Burkhart
Representative Lloyd Larsen
INTERNATIONAL AFFILIATES:
ALBERTA
Minister Pete Guthrie
Minister Matt Jones*
SASKATCHEWAN
Minister Jim Reiter
MLA Fred Bradshaw
MLA Doug Steele