Stedman named chair of The Energy Council

Alaska Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, has been named chair of The Energy Council, a legislative organization consisting of 11 states, five Canadian provinces and Venezuela. The council provides a forum for exchanges of idea, best practices and sound solutions on energy issues affecting Alaska, the nation and the Western Hemisphere.

Stedman has been on the council’s executive committee for five years and was elected vice chair in late 2011.

The council’s focus this year is on three themes: Arctic development issues; fossil energy trends; and alternative energy development.

“Within these themes, we will be examining several issues that are critical to Alaskans including energy exploration and transportation in the Arctic, LNG exports from the U.S., Arctic shipping routes, federal regulation, and hydro development,” Stedman said in a statement.

The council does most of its work during four quarterly meetings that rotate among member states and provinces, with a spring meeting in Washington, D.C.

Stedman called the meetings important to continued efforts to develop Alaska’s energy resources and promote greater collaboration between national policymakers and Alaska.

He said his “goal is get as many experts and leaders together as possible so that we can really target and transform the energy issues facing Alaska and the rest of the Western Hemisphere.”

—Petroleum News