"Cap & Trade" Energy States Alliance & Climate Change Summit - Rapid City, SD
The Energy States Alliance Summit on Energy and Climate Change Policies will be discussed by key Energy Industry and Great Plains and Alaskan Leaders Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at the Ramkota Convention Center, Rapid City, South Dakota.
By Courtesy of Black Hills Today.com staff writer - Kathy L. Swensen
"Cap & Trade" Energy States Alliance & Climate Change Summit - Rapid City, SD
As we look to the future, Congress will continue to develop energy policies that will affect our homes, farms and businesses. This is publicly, loosely referred to, as the "Cap & Trade" issue. How legislation is drafted and implemented will have a dramatic impact on the population of the 6 Great Plains states and Alaska, the states that produce energy for most of America.
The following letter from Kelvin L. Hullet, President, Bismarck Mandan Chamber very plainly states the goals of this most important regional focus group.
Dear citizens of Alaska and the Great Plains States of the USA,
Over the last 12 to 18 months, many of our organizations have worked on the issue of energy policy and climate change. As we look to the future, Congress will continue to develop energy policies that will affect our homes, farms and businesses. These energy policies are currently referred to as the "Cap & Trade," issue. How legislation is drafted and implemented will have a dramatic impact on the states that produce energy in America. From lignite coal in North Dakota to the Wyoming Powder River basin and the gas and oil producing states, all will be impacted by federal energy policies.
While there are many coalitions and groups forming around the energy issue, it became apparent that there was one crucial group missing, the states that actually produce the nation’s energy. We began this effort through a few local and state Chambers of Commerce in the Midwest and Alaska.
Now, our goal is to expand our coalition to include interested groups, organizations and individuals in energy producing states including: local Chambers of Commerce; agriculture related groups; companies related to producing energy and representatives of consumers in the respective states, plus (Elected Officials).
Our goals are very straightforward:
1. To build a coalition of the energy producing states and create a communication network that allows for efficient distribution of information.
2. To raise awareness of energy policy and the positive and negative impacts various policy proposals could have on energy producing states.
3. To communicate effectively with the Congressional Delegations of the energy producing states.
To provide a framework to the Alliance, we have crafted a basic set of principles to guide discussion.
* The cost / benefit analysis of any energy or climate change legislation on all economic sectors, including local economies, consumers, and industries.
* All sources of greenhouse gases from all sectors of the economy are included in the legislation
* Any revenue generated should be utilized to effectively and efficiently implement research and demonstration projects that reduce greenhouse gases, rather than fund unrelated government programs.
* The time frame for reductions must be realistic and in accord with the current state of technology. If solutions are required that technology does not support, the result will be more economic displacement
* Binding treaties with other countries before any mandatory reductions
The purpose of this correspondence is to ask your organization to join as part of the Energy States Alliance. As you can see from the following list, seven states are represented.
Current Members of the Energy States Alliance
North Dakota State Chamber of Commerce
Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce
Fargo Moorhead Chamber of Commerce
Minot Chamber of Commerce
Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce
Hazen Chamber of Commerce
Beulah Chamber of Commerce
Wahpeton Breckinridge Area Chamber of Commerce
Casper Area Chamber of Commerce
Gillette Chamber of Commerce
Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce
Sutton Area Chamber of Commerce
Alaska State Chamber of Commerce
Montana State Chamber of Commerce
Billings Chamber of Commerce
Belgrade Chamber of Commerce
Helena Area Chamber of Commerce
Rifle Area Chamber of Commerce
South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce
There is no cost to join the Alliance. From time to time, we will be hosting events in the various states and we may ask for assistance with costs to put on forums related to energy and climate change policies.
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to call me at the Bismarck Mandan Chamber at (701) 223 5660.
Warmest Regards,
Kelvin L. Hullet, President
Bismarck Mandan Chamber
Black Hills Today.com is respectful of this letter of invitation to all readers who find this a most important event for the citizens of our Great Plains, and Alaska Regions, and the USA. The "Cap & Trade" term inserted is to help draw attention to this most important issue. The term itself "Cap & Trade" is a 'loose term floating around' the traditional public media, and hyped up to generate angst and controversy on energy and climate change issues by many public broadcasting channels, and print media venues.
Black Hills Today.com will be LIVE web-casting, online internationally, the panels, and discussion groups throughout the day on August 25, 2009 at the Rapid City, South Dakota, Ramkota Convention Center. As a company, our mission and civic responsibility is to make available, the truth to the public, internationally online.
As we look to the future, Congress will continue to develop energy policies that will affect our homes, farms and businesses. This is publicly, loosely referred to, as the "Cap & Trade" issue. How legislation is drafted and implemented will have a dramatic impact on the population of the 6 Great Plains states and Alaska, the states that produce energy for most of America.
