Mitt Romney drew a clear line when he announced his campaign's energy policy on Aug. 23. The most important part of it led directly back to producing US states.
The former Massachusetts governor, who was expected at presstime last week to receive the Republican Party's nomination for the US presidency at its 2012 convention Aug. 27-30 in Tampa, Fla., basically said that states are better qualified than the federal government to manage and regulate oil, gas, and other mineral resources within their borders.
He stated that in a Romney administration, states would be empowered to establish processes to oversee development of all forms of energy inside their boundaries, excluding land which is specifically designated off-limits.
The federal government also would encourage formation of a State Energy Development Council, where states could work together with the Interstate Oil & Gas Compact Commission, the State Review of Oil & Natural Gas Environmental Regulations (STRONGER), and other organizations to share expertise and best management practices.
Obama administration officials and other Democrats were understandably cool to the idea. Surrendering authority to manage public lands—particularly in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, where the federal government controls significant amounts of acreage—simply didn't appeal to them.
It's legitimate to ask whether states would be willing to assume more energy regulatory responsibilities. They apparently are more efficient, however. Officials from three of them will explain some of the reasons why at the Southern States Energy Board's 2012 annual meeting Sept. 23-25 in Oklahoma City.
'Bottoms up'
Oklahoma Energy Sec. Michael Ming will moderate a discussion, "Bottoms Up: State-Based Approaches to Energy Policy", the morning of Sept. 24. Also scheduled to participate are Barry T. Smitherman, chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission; Marc Harrison, energy policy advisor to Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe (D); and Barry H. Tew, Alabama's state geologist.
"This session will highlight state-based approaches to energy and economic development through the implementation of pragmatic policies and initiatives," according to the meeting's agenda. "Participants will hear from state officials about the lead that states are taking in accomplishing the goals that are in the best interest of their individual states."
SSEB conference participants also are scheduled to hear from Charles McConnell, assistant US energy secretary for fossil energy, about linking US energy resource opportunities with effective policies. Ming also will lead a "fireside chat" about North America's energy potential with officials from TransCanada Corp., Continental Resources Inc., and Devon Energy Corp.
Bringing state and federal energy resource management priorities closer together undoubtedly won't be achieved at this meeting. But they probably will be discussed more there than during what's left of the 2012 presidential campaigns.