Several State energy policy leaders from across the US met in Oklahoma City for the annual State Policy Network’s Energy Summit.
There were four challenges addressed at the summit that are facing the States. The challenges being fracking, renewable energy mandates, the climate change challenge to States and my assigned subject at the summit to address was “the significance of Federal and State energy policies on private sector decision-making and State economics”. Among the agenda speakers were Steve Everly, Director of Energy in Depth, Washington, D.C. and John Eick, Legislative Analyst, with the American Legislative Exchange Council, Washington, D.C., and Nick Lori, Economist with the Heritage Foundation, Washington, D.C.
Fracking, (hydraulic fracturing), has been a technology used since the 1940s. There have been over 1 million wells that have used this technology.
Over the past few years, the combination of horizontal drilling and fracking has been more and more common. The first horizontal well was drilled in Texas in 1929.
There has been a concern regarding the environment using both technologies together. Hydraulic fracturing, in particular, is raising concerns for the safety of the environment.
Regulations and ordinances are at the forefront of debate whether it is city or State. Many have incorporated within their policies energy sustainability plans.
Renewable Energy Mandates are at the forefront of discussion. Most of the focus has been and will be on solar and wind for the near future. It is interesting to note that wind power was the biggest source of new generating capacity in the US. It is also interesting to note that New Jersey is among the top five solar-power capacity States as most of us would probably list States like California and Arizona.
Though “green jobs” has been vocalized as the economic changer, the big story continues to be in the oil and gas energy patch where jobs are in demand.
Climate Change, as the Wall Street Journal reported on October 1, 2013, “between 1998 and 2012 the global economy more than doubled in size—to some $71 trillion in GDP from $30 trillion. That’s the good news. Over the same period the world pumped more than 100 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. That is supposedly the bad news. Yet global surface temperatures have remained essentially flat. That’s the mystery: If emitting CO2 into the atmosphere causes global warming, why hasn’t the globe been warming?” Bottom-line, the environment is important to each of us and we will all strive for energy efficiency and environmental preservation with sound regulations, ordinances and policies.
There is the tendency to create policies, ordinances and regulations based upon fear rather than on sound research and education. There definitely needs to be the sound balance of proceeding with energy development and at the same being concerned about implementing proper environmental guidelines.
The public-private partnership is needed. An energy industry can move in an efficient manner if we have consistent paths to move forward and not be hindered. America Needs America’s Energy!
Together we can create the People’s Energy Plan! Go to www.peoplesenergyplan.com to join the effort. Facebook: America Needs America’s Energy with 7000 supporters plus and growing. — America Needs America’s Energy: Creating Together the People’s Energy Plan!