Energy adviser for Utah is big fan of collaboration

Call her the state energy adviser, but don't call her autocratic.

Laura Nelson, a member of Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s staff, has a long list of individuals, agencies and organizations she is working with to develop the state's energy future.

"We think that in terms of an overall view, we don't have to be driving everything," Nelson said during Wednesday's "Tech@Breakfast" event hosted by the Governor's Office of Economic Development. "There is a role for government, and it's really to set the stage so the markets can operate effectively."

Developing collaborative and cooperative relationships with anyone associated with energy in the state has been an emphasis for Huntsman and Nelson. The governor has instituted an Energy Advisory Council, a 14-member group of energy stakeholders, and spearheaded the Utah Energy Forum, which meets quarterly to discuss energy policy developments.

Nelson spoke of working with GOED on economic development opportunities; the Public Service Commission about regulation; local government officials; legislators; the Division of Wildlife Resources and environmentalists about environmental matters; and the Utah Energy Efficiency Working Group, among others.

"Having a collaborative process, being here talking with all of you . . . working with our various stakeholder groups, working with customers, with utilities, with developers, federal agencies — all of that is going to be critical to developing an energy policy that works for this state, that meets our needs and also allows for the economic development that we all believe will bring key benefits and key opportunities to the state," Nelson said.

The state will even give Congress some guidance on how oil shale and tar sands developments — a booming business in the Uinta Basin — should proceed.

"We're actually being asked by Congress, 'What do you want to do? What do you want your policy to be?' So we're preparing some input to Congress to say, 'Hey, this is what we want our policy to be,' but we definitely think there are some good opportunities when it comes to balanced, effective use of our natural resources to grow our economy and have rural community development, which is needed in many areas," she said.

Just about any discussion about energy brings up the topic of environmentalists. Responding to a question about "environmental extremists" who prevent energy development, Nelson described "a difficult balance."