WELCOME MESSAGE

Energy, environmental and international trade issues continue to evolve. New federal laws like the Inflation Reduction Act are changing the energy landscape. The international demand for liquified natural gas continues to grow. The industrial base is responding, but questions remain as to whether the supply of natural gas will continue. New technologies and practices are reducing North America’s C02 emissions. Consumers are adopting more electric equipment and vehicles.

These changes are driving our focus for fiscal year 2023-2024. We will dive into the themes “National and Global Concerns,” “New Technologies and Practices,” and “State, Provincial and Local Considerations” at three conferences in the coming year. The topics we cover will help our legislators gain a better understanding of issues facing other states and provinces, countries, and the world.  We will use that understanding to participate in the development of federal energy and environmental policy; help develop sound legislative policies; and foster an understanding of energy and the environment.

I hope that you will join the leadership of The Energy Council as we explore these themes in 2023 and 2024.

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 Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, Utah, 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.