Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force

Learn more about corporations VOTING to rewrite our laws.

About ALEC

ALEC is a corporate bill mill. It is not just a lobby or a front group; it is much more powerful than that. Through ALEC, corporations hand state legislators their wishlists to benefit their bottom line. Corporations fund almost all of ALEC's operations. They pay for a seat on ALEC task forces where corporate lobbyists and special interest reps vote with elected officials to approve “model” bills. Learn more at the Center for Media and Democracy's ALECexposed.org, and check out breaking news on our PRWatch.org site.

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has eight task forces:

• the Civil Justice Task Force,
• the Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force,
• the Communications and Technology Task Force,
• the Education Task Force,
• the Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force,
• the Health and Human Services Task Force,
• the International Relations Task Force, and
• the Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force.

(Until it was disbanded in April 2012, ALEC also operated a Public Safety and Elections Task Force, which adopted such "model" bills as the "Stand Your Ground" bill or "Castle Law" doctrine and the voter ID act.)

This article is about ALEC's Energy, Environment, and Agriculture Task Force. Corporations can join this task force for $3,000 a year. For model legislation crafted and adopted by the Energy, Environment, and Agriculture Task Force, go here.

2012 ALEC Spring Task Force Summit Substantive Agenda

The following model bills were adopted at Charlotte and then were sent on to the ALEC board for approval:

• "U.S. Commerce of Mayors Resolution" (presented by Todd Myers of the Washington Policy Center) (The introduced resolution is on file with CMD. "It encourages cities to provide evidence that they have achieved the goals of the agreement and remove themselves if they have failed to meet them.")

• "Electricity Freedom Act" (presented by the Heartland Institute) (The "model" bill as introduced is on file with CMD. It "states that a renewable energy mandate for electricity production is a tax on consumers and repeals that mandate to restore the process of selecting energy sources through the market.")

• "Resolution Urging Quick Congressional Action on the Recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future" (presented by Michael McGarey of the Nuclear Energy Institute) (The introduced resolution is on file with CMD. It "urges Congress to adopt the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission and enact legislation enabling the construction of one or more interim nuclear fuel storage facilities.")

• "Pipeline Replacement and Infrastructure Modernization and Enhancement Act" (presented by Kyle Rogers of the American Gas Association) (The introduced resolution is on file with CMD. "The act is intended to remove any limits in utilities' ability to make needed natural gas pipeline replacements that will improve reliability of the system and reduce repairs, maintenance cost, and service interruptions for ratepayers.")

• "Resolution in Support of REINS Act" (presented by Cameron Smith of the Alabama Policy Institute) (The introduced resolution is on file with CMD. "The resolution expresses support for the REINS act.")

• "Resolution Supporting A Reasonable Compliance Timeline and Economy-Wide Impact Study of EPA's Mercury and Air Toxics Rule" (presented by Paul Loeffelman of American Electric Power) (The introduced resolution argues the compliance deadlines for EPA's Mercury and Air Toxics Rule are unreasonable and threatens the economy and electric reliability...")

2011 ALEC Winter Task Force Summit Substantive Agenda

The following model bills were proposed at the Scottsdale conference:

• "The Disclosure of Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid Composition Act" (This proposal suggests a number of regulations pertaining to hydraulic fracturing and disclosure of the fluid composition used in the process.)

• "Disposal and Taxation of Public Lands Act" (This proposal "urges the Federal Government to use proceeds from the sale of lands not disposed directly to the state only to pay the public debt pursuant to the Congressional Resolutions of 1780 and 1790" and "to engage in good faith communication, cooperation, coordination, and consultation with the state of {insert state} regarding those lands wherein the public has developed a reasonable expectation of multiple use that must be disposed of directly to the state" among other recommendations.)

• "Resolution in Support of the Keystone XL Pipeline" (This proposal seeks to "support continued and increased development and delivery of oil derived from North American oil reserves to American refineries, urge Congress to support that continued and increased development and delivery, and urge Congress to ask the U.S. Secretary of State to approve the Keystone XL pipeline project that has been awaiting a presidential permit since 2008 to reduce dependence on unstable governments, improve our national security, and strengthen ties with an important ally."

• "Resolution in support of modernizing the federal Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976" (This proposal "encourages the 112th Congress of the United States to enact federal legislation to modernize the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976" by strengthening chemical management.)

• "Resolution on Sustainable Resource Development" (This proposal "encourages sustainable resource development practices, balanced efforts to ensure reliable U.S. energy resources, and supports continued jurisdiction of the States to appropriately regulate oil and gas production in their unique geological and geographical circumstances.")

• "Resolution on the Reduction of Invasive Species" (This proposal suggests a number of methods by which federal and state governments may control and reduce invasive species.)

• "Resolution Requesting that the Obama Administration Confer and Consult with the States on Management of Public Lands and Energy Resources" (This proposal "requests Congress and the Administration to acknowledge and respect the role of states in a federal constitutional republic. The United States Congress, which represents the interests of the states individually and collectively, is the appropriate public body to determine management of resources within a state’s borders. ALEC further calls on Congress and the Administration to commit to greater consultation with the states and to recognize cost-benefit and job-impact analyses must be addressed in order to understand how federal regulations impact states and their respective citizens.")

2011 ALEC Summer Task Force Summit Substantive Agenda

The following model bills were proposed at the New Orleans conference:

• "Intrastate Coal and Use Act" (This proposal pertains to "environmental regulation of coal mined and used within the state.")

• "Resolution Proposing a Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish" (This proposes an amendment which states, "The people have a right to hunt, fish, harvest game, or engage in the agricultural or commercial production of meat, fish, or poultry, which is a valued part of our heritage and shall be forever preserved for the public good, subject to laws prescribed by the General Assembly and rules prescribed by virtue of the authority of the General Assembly.")

• "Resolution in Support of Energy Security, Production, Distribution, Environmental Protection and Economic Growth in the United States" (This proposal supports a number of "energy principles.")

2011 ALEC Annual Meeting Substantive Agenda

According to the 2011 Annual Meeting Program, the meeting featured "talks on a variety of topics, including climate science, chemical bans, and barriers to investment in the oil and gas industry. The Task Force will consider three pieces of model legislation, which deal respectively with intrastate coal production, preservation of the right to hunt and fish, and EPA regulation and energy affordability."

Panel discussions hosted by the Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force during the meeting included: "Benefit Analysis of CO₂" and "A Smarter Approach to Improving our Environment: Addressing the Costs of Proposed EPA Regulations on Energy Affordability."

Proposed new model legislation included the "ALEC Resolution in Support of Energy Security, Production, Distribution, Environmental Protection and Economic Growth in the United States."

Subcommittees

• Energy Subcommittee
• Environmental Health & Regulation Subcommittee
• Agriculture Subcommittee

Co-Chairs

• David Wolkins (R-IN 18), Public Sector Chair and former Ohio State Chairman
• Martin Shultz (Senior Policy Director, Government Relations Group, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, and formerly Vice President of Government Affairs, Pinnacle West Capital Corporation), Private Sector Co-Chair

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck is a corporate law firm with offices in Albuquerque, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orange County, Phoenix, Reno, Sacramento, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Santa Fe and Washington D.C. In 2010, Open Secrets shows that the firm's PAC raised $329,335 and spent $157,239 on House and Senate politicians. Individual donors, mostly employees, gave $160,879 to the PAC.

• Tom Moskitis (Managing Director of External Affairs, American Gas Association), Private Sector Co-Chair

The American Gas Association is a coalition that represents natural gas-- or "fracking"-- companies. AGA has 501(c)(3) status and actively lobbies for pro-drillings legislation in state and federal government. "Fracking"-- or hydraulic fracturing, for natural gas has been linked to polluting the wells of the people living near drill sites. The AGA PAC spent a total of $435,142 in political contributions in 2010.

Other Members

Corporate, Trade or Other Group Members

• Nicholas K. Akins (President, American Electric Power) spoke on "A Smarter Approach to Improving our Environment: Addressing the Costs of Proposed EPA Regulations on Energy Affordability," sponsored by the Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force, at the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting
• Dr. Gerry Angevine (Senior Economist, Fraser Institute Global Resource Center) spoke at the Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force meeting at the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting
• Dr. Robert Bradley (Founder and CEO, Institute for Energy Research; Adjunct Scholar, Cato Institute and Competitive Enterprise Institute; Visiting Fellow, Institute of Economic Affairs; Honorary Senior Research Fellow, Center for Energy Economics, University of Texas at Austin) spoke at the Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force meeting at the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting
• Daniel Connelly (Attorney, Serlin Haley, LLP) spoke at the Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force meeting at the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting
• Dr. David Dismukes (Director of Policy Analysis, Center for Energy Studies, Louisiana State University) spoke on "A Smarter Approach to Improving our Environment: Addressing the Costs of Proposed EPA Regulations on Energy Affordability," sponsored by the Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force, at the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting
• Robert Ferguson (President, Science and Public Policy Institute) spoke on "Benefit Analysis of CO₂" (previously known as "Warming Up to Climate Change: The Many Benefits of Increased Atmospheric CO₂") at the Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force meeting at the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting
• Donna Gehlhaart (Senior Government Relations Manager - State Public Affairs, International Paper)
• Russ Harding (Senior Environmental Analyst and Director of the Property Rights Network, Mackinac Center for Public Policy)
• Jim Hunter (Director, Utility Department, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)) spoke on "A Smarter Approach to Improving our Environment: Addressing the Costs of Proposed EPA Regulations on Energy Affordability," sponsored by the Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force, at the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting
• Craig Idso (Founder and Chairman, Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change) spoke on "Benefit Analysis of CO₂" (previously known as "Warming Up to Climate Change: The Many Benefits of Increased Atmospheric CO₂") at the Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force meeting at the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting
• Bruce Johnson (Director, Government Affairs Ohio - BP)
• Dr. Daland R. Juberg (North American leader of the Human Health Assessment Group, Dow AgroSciences) spoke at the Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force meeting at the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting
• Jennifer Mendez (Director, Government Affairs, Carpet and Rug Institute), Chair, Environmental Health & Regulation Subcommittee
• Steve Miller (President and CEO, American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity) spoke on "A Smarter Approach to Improving our Environment: Addressing the Costs of Proposed EPA Regulations on Energy Affordability," sponsored by the Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force, at the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting
• Todd Myers (Environmental Director, Washington Policy Center)
• John Stephenson (former State Government Affairs Manager, National Taxpayers Union; 2011 Director of the ALEC Telecommunications and Information Technology Task Force, a staff position), former member of the Energy, Environment & Agriculture Task Force
• Judy Stokey (Director, Government Affairs, NV Energy, Inc.)
• James Taylor (Managing Editor, Environment & Climate News, and Senior Fellow, Heartland Institute) spoke at the Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force meeting at the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting
• Kathleen Hartnett White (Director of the Center for Natural Resources, Texas Public Policy Foundation)
• American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity
• American Electric Power
• Center for Energy and the Environment
• Center for Energy Studies, Louisiana State University
• Center for Tenth Amendment Studies
• Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change
• Dow AgroSciences
• Fraser Institute Global Resource Center
• Heartland Institute's Environment & Climate News
• Institute for Energy Research
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Utility Department
• National Taxpayers Union
• Science and Public Policy Institute
• Serlin Haley LLP

Politician Members

• Honourable Iris Evans (former MLA Sherwood Park, Alberta-PC, now Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations) spoke at the Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force meeting at the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting
• MEP Roger Helmer (England) spoke on "Benefit Analysis of CO₂" (previously known as "Warming Up to Climate Change: The Many Benefits of Increased Atmospheric CO₂") at the Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force meeting at the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting
• Former Rep. Michael Huebsch (WI R), Member and former State Chairman
• Former Sen. Patricia Pariseau (MN R-36), Member
• Rep. Karl Van Roy (WI R-90), Member
• Rep. Jack Williams (AL R-47), Member
• Rep. Howard Sanderford (AL R-20), Member
• Sen. Sylvia Tenney Allen (AZ R-5, President Pro Tempore), Member
• Sen. Steve Pierce (AZ R-1, Majority Whip), Member
• Rep. Bryan King (AK R-91), Member
• Rep. Robert Moore (AK D-12), Member
• Sen. Michael Lamoureux (AK R-4), State Chairman, Member
• Sen. Denny Altes (AK R-13), Member
• Former CA Sen. Minority Leader Dennis Hollingsworth, Member
• Rep. Frank McNulty (CO), Member
• Sen. Mike Kopp (CO), Member
• Rep. John Piscopo (CT R-76), Second Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, Member
• Rep. Lawrence Miller (CT R-122), Member
• Sen. Michael McLachlan (CT R-24), Member
• Rep. Clay Ford (FL R-3), Member
• Sen. Lee Constantine (FL R-22), Member
• Rep. Lynn Smith (GA R-70), Member
• Rep. Michael Harden (GA R-28), Member
• Rep. Carl Rogers (GA R-26), Member
• Rep. Terry England (GA R-108), Member
• Sen. Ross Tolleson (GA R-20), Member
• Rep. Eric Anderson (ID R-1), Member
• Rep. John Stevenson (ID R-26), Member
• Rep. Brandon Phelps (IL D-118), Member
• Rep. David Forrest Winters (IL R-68), Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Member and Telecommunications and Information Technology Task Force Member
• Rep. Brian Bosma (IN R-88), Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Member and Civil Justice Task Force Member
• Rep. Richard McClain (IN R-24), Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Member & International Relations Task Force Member
• Rep. Richard Arnold (IA R-72), Member
• Rep. Betty De Boef (IA R-76), Alternate
• Rep. Dave Deyoe (IA R-10), Alternate
• Rep. Steven Olson (IA R-83), Member
• Rep. Carl Holmes (KS R-125), Member
• Former Rep. John Faber (IA R-120), Member
• Rep. Larry Powell (IA R-117), Member
• Rep. Roy Fund (IA), Member
• Sen. Ray Merrick (IA R-37), State Chairman, "Legislator of the Year" 2010, Member
• Sen. Ralph Ostmeyer (IA R-40), Member
• Rep. Ruth Palumbo (KY D-76), Member
• Rep. Dorsey Ridley (KY D-4), Member
• Rep. Ruth Ann Palumbo (KY D-76), Member
• Sen. Ernie Harris (KY R-26), Member
• Sen. Tom Jensen (KY R-21), Member
• Sen. Joey Pendleton (KY D-3), Member and Health and Human Services Task Force
• Rep. John Anders (LA D-21), Member
• Sen. John A. Alario, Jr.(LA R-8), Member
• Sen. Doug Smith (ME R-27), Member
• Del. Tanya Shewell (MD R-5A), Member
• Sen. Richard Colburn (MD R-37), Member
• Rep. Jim Ellington (MS R-73), State Chairman, Member
• Rep. Henry Zuber (MS R-113), Member
• Sen. Perry Lee (MS R-35), Member
• Sen. Thomas Gollott (MS R-50), Member
• Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (MS R-39), Member
• Sen. Tommy Moffatt (MS R-52), Member
• Rep. Walt Bivins (MO R-97), Member
• Rep. Barney Fisher (MO R-125), Member
• Sen. John Griesheimer (MO R-26), Member
• Rep. Wendy Warburton (MT R-34), Member
• Rep. Roy Hollandsworth (MT R-28), Member
• Rep. Gordon Hendrick (MT R-14), Member
• Rep. Lee Randall (MT R-39), Member
• Sen. Merton Dierks (NE 40), Member
• Sen. Chris Langemeier (NE 23), Member
• Sen. LeRoy Louden (NE 49), Member
• Rep. Stephen Palmer (NH R-6), Member
• Rep. Betsy McKinney (NH R-3), Member
• Rep. Beverly T. Rodeschin (NH R-2), ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force and Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Member
• Rep. Jimmie Hall (NM R-28), Alternate
• Rep. William Gray (NM R-54), Alternate
• Rep. Paul Bandy (NM R-3), Member
• Sen. Vernon Asbill (NM R-34), Member
• Sen. William H. Payne (NM R-20), ALEC International Relations Task Force and Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Member
• Former Rep. Curtis Blackwood (NC R-68), Member
• Rep. Ric Killian (NC R-105), Member
• Rep. Ruth Samuelson (NC R-104), Member
• Rep. Wesley Belter (ND R-62), Member
• Rep. Darrell Nottestad (ND R-43), Member
• Rep. Don Vigesaa (ND R-23), Member
• Sen. Gerald Uglem (ND R-19), and Health and Human Services Task Force Member
• Rep. Bruce Goodwin (OH R-74), Member
• Sen. Kris Jordan (OH R-19), Member
• Sen. Tom Niehaus (OH R-14), Member
• Former Rep. Michael Thompson (OK R-2, candidate for U.S. House of Representatives 2010), Alternate
• Rep. Mike Sanders (OK R-59), Alternate
• Rep. Marian Cooksey (OK R-39), Member
• Rep. Phillip Richardson (OK R-56), Member
• Sen. Ron Justice (OK R-23), Alternate
• Sen. Brian Bingman (OK R-12), Member
• Rep. Tim Freeman (OR R-2), Member
• Rep. Scott Hutchinson (PA R-64), Member
• Rep. Laurence Ehrhardt (RI R-32), Member
• Sen. Francis Maher (RI R-34), Alternate
• Former Sen. Leonidas Raptakis (RI D-33 until 2010; ran unsuccessfully for election in 2010 in the Democratic primary for Secretary of State), Alternate
• Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (RI D-37), Alternate
• Sen. Paul Fogarty (RI D-23), Member
• Sen. Walter Felag (RI D-10), Member
• Rep. William E. Sandifer, III (SC R-2), and Telecommunications and Information Technology Task Force Member
• Rep. Dwight Loftis (SC R-19), Member
• Former Rep. Jeffrey Duncan (SC R; elected U.S. Representative of SC's 3rd Congressional District in 2010), Member
• Rep. Betty Olson (SD R-28B), Alternate
• Rep. Charles Hoffman (SD R-23), Alternate
• Rep. Kim Vanneman (SD R-26B) , Member
• Former Rep. Kristi Noem (SD R-6; elected to U.S. House of Representatives in 2010), Member
• Rep. David Hawk (TN R-5), Alternate
• Rep. Frank Niceley (TN R-17), Member
• Rep. Joe McCord (TN R-8), Member
• Sen. Bill Ketron (TN R-13), and Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Member
• Rep. Warren Chisum (TX R-88), Member
• Rep. Bill Callegari (TX R-132), Member
• Rep. Tracy King (TX D-80), Alternate
• Rep. Rick Hardcastle (TX R-68), Alternate
• Rep. Brandon Creighton (TX R-16), Alternate
• Sen. Kel Seliger (TX R-31), ALEC State Chairman, received $124,000 in campaign contributions from ALEC corporate members from 2004-2011 and Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Member
• Rep. Roger Barrus (UT R-18), Member
• Rep. Rebecca Lockhart (UT R-64), Member
• Sen. Ralph Okerlund (UT R-24), Member
• Del. Lee Ware (VA R-65), Member
• Sen. Frank Wagner (VA R-7), Member
• Rep. Robert Helm (VT R/D-2), Member
• Rep. James McNeil (VT R/D-1), Member
• Rep. Joe Schmick (WA R-9), Member
• Sen. Janea Holmquist (WA R-13), Member
• Sen. Brian Hatfield (WA D-19), Member
• Del. Carol Miller (WV R-15), Member
• Rep. Thomas Lockhart (WY R-57), Member
• Rep. Matt Teeters (WY R-05), Alternate and Education Task Force Member
• Rep. Pat Childers (WY R-50), Alternate
• Sen. Grant Larson (WY R-17), Member
• Sen. Eli D. Bebout (WY R-26), and International Relations Task Force Member

Staff

• Clint Woods, Director
• Brian Weynand, Legislative Assistant