Legislative energy policymakers from across North America met in San Antonio to discuss the impact of national energy topics on their respective states, provinces and regions, and to learn how state legislatures can address them.
“The recent Energy Supply Task Force meeting was an invaluable opportunity for lawmakers to exchange ideas and explore real-world energy solutions,” says Illinois Sen. Sue Rezin (R), a task force co-chair. “The discussions around nuclear power, grid reliability and emerging demands like data centers will help guide the development of balanced, forward-thinking policies that ensure both affordability and security.”
The biannual meeting of NCSL’s Energy Supply Task Force gathered legislators and legislative staff from 17 states and two Canadian provinces, as well as 17 private sector task force sponsors. Two days of policy sessions covered infrastructure reliability and affordability; FERC Order 1920; economic development and grid planning; data center energy usage; advanced nuclear reactor development, regulation and state policy options; and an update on NCSL’s state policy monitoring efforts, federal tracking resources, and advocacy and engagement on federal policy.
“The recent Energy Supply Task Force meeting in San Antonio provided opportunities for legislators from across the country to engage at a high level in the challenging energy policy questions facing all states, no matter the political persuasion,” says Maryland Sen. Bryan Feldman (D), a task force co-chair. “As energy demand grows at a rapid pace, we all must develop policies to meet the demand, manage the costs and address the environmental impacts. Collaboration and dialogue will continue when the task force reconvenes for our fall meeting.”
The policy sessions and subsequent discussions are key aspects of all task force meetings, which aim to provide legislators with fact-based, nonpartisan information they can use to develop strategies tailored to their own state needs. The upcoming surge in energy demand was of top concern for lawmakers. Specifically, lawmakers discussed how to balance economic development, needed energy infrastructure and affordability for their states and regions. Lawmakers also considered the ongoing energy demands of data centers and the status of advanced nuclear reactor development, licensing and regulation.
Kansas Rep. Mark Schreiber (R), a task force co-vice chair, noted the meeting included panelists with broad experience regarding energy supply, reliability and challenges. “Discussion between task force members and the panels gave us several ideas to take back to our states for consideration,” he says.
During a tour of Port San Antonio, a 1,900-acre technology and innovation campus south of downtown, lawmakers received briefings on an electromagnetic grid protection project, efforts to secure the manufacturing supply chain, and the work of the Alamo Regional Security Operations Center, which aims to protect public utility systems and infrastructure from cyberattack.
Created by NCSL in 2009 to examine critical state and federal energy issues and explore policy options, the bipartisan task force includes members from 42 states, one territory and two Canadian provinces. The task force serves as a conduit for state legislative communication with Congress, the U.S. Department of Energy and other federal agencies. It also informs NCSL standing committee policies, which guide the organization’s federal advocacy work in Washington, D.C. The task force will meet again in Washington, D.C., in November.
Bryan Law is an associate director in NCSL’s Energy, Environment and Transportation Program.