IOGCC Chairman Says Image of Oil and Gas Industry Must Change

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

"It's not us vs. them. Adversary issues need to be placed on the back burner," said Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, who replaced Nebraska Gov. Ben Nelson Monday as IOGCC chairman.

About 400 representatives from 36 oil- and gas-producing states, including Nevada, are meeting in Las Vegas this week for IOGCC's annual meeting. Created in 1935, the Oklahoma City-based commission serves as a primary forum for the discussion of energy policies.

During his year as chairman, Keating wants the commission to develop a national energy policy to let states work together with the federal government on energy decisions. But first, the image of the oil and gas industry has to changed, he said.

"In Oklahoma, two-thirds of our teachers think the fossil fuel industry was yesterday's industry. That's astonishing to me," Keating said.

The IOGCC recommends the federal government fund and cooperate with an independent study to determine the true cost of imported oil and gas.

The commission also wants to expand research and development, re-examine federal and state policies on oil and gas development and encourage consumer conservation.

"It isn't going to happen by accident. It's going to happen by all of us working together. We want to use the IOGCC to join the debate," Keating said.

Wyoming Gov. Jim Geringer told the delegates that a national energy policy is needed to control the nation's destiny.

"We will never be self-sufficient," he said.

The federal government's role in creating a national energy policy should be establishing a goal, defining the standard, providing an incentive and then stepping out of the way, Geringer said.

"The government's role should be one that's much more general. Let (the) people doing it do it right."