​DENVER – Western Energy Alliance will honor Chris Wright of Liberty Energy, Inc., with the Wildcatter of the Year award in recognition of his achievements in community service and business. Wright has demonstrated success as a data-driven, technology-focused energy entrepreneur and dedicated humanitarian who has educated policy and community leaders around the world on the benefits of energy. As the 37th recipient of the Wildcatter award, he will be formally celebrated by leaders in the oil and natural gas industry at the Wildcatter gala on Saturday, November 5th.
 
“The world today is in the depths of a man-made energy crisis, the impacts of which are felt by the poorest individuals. What sets Chris Wright apart is his unceasing love for people facing these challenges,” said Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Alliance. “Chris has dedicated his life to advocating on their behalf and has spent the past three decades building oil and natural gas companies to provide the resources humanity needs to thrive. He has demonstrated a commitment to meeting people on their own terms, including traveling to small villages around the world, to learn about their needs and hopes for bettering their lives. Inspired by their stories, he’s been a dedicated advocate who has given them a voice before business and government leaders in order to advance policies that will improve their lives. Chris was selected for this award by his peers because he has leveraged tremendous business success into humanitarian action with a truly global reach.”

• National monuments and other public lands benefit from the Great American Outdoors Act
• The $2.8 billion/year in conservation is funded almost exclusively by oil and natural gas production, yet Biden’s energy policies threaten future conservation dollars
• Proposed Thompson Divide withdrawal ignores balanced oil and natural gas development since the 1940s

 
DENVER – In response to President Biden designating Camp Hale as a national monument, Western Energy Alliance today called on him to end policies threatening future conservation funding. The Denver-based trade association cautioned that programs under the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), which are funded almost exclusively by federal oil and natural gas, are at risk because of his policies and growing mismanagement by federal agencies. The Alliance also stressed the proposed land withdrawal around the Thompson Divide ignores the balanced oil and natural gas development in the area since the 1940s that has protected the land.
 
“Designating more national monuments like Camp Hale adds to the list of protected lands that the federal government struggles to fund and maintain,” said Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Alliance. “There is already a $22 billion backlog of conservation and infrastructure projects for protected lands, while costs continue to balloon because of government mismanagement. The bright spot is that GAOA provided secure funding for conservation derived almost exclusively from federal oil and natural gas production. On the other hand, Biden has been intent on eliminating federal oil and natural gas since day one of his presidency. It’s not clear the president is aware that oil and natural gas and conservation are directly linked. An attack on one is an attack on the other. Therefore, the president’s policies have created a double whammy that put the future of Camp Hale and other public lands at risk.” 

​DENVER -- Western Energy Alliance announced today Esther Wagner joined its staff as manager of government affairs with a focus on public lands, air and water quality, and wildlife policies. Wagner brings 19 years of government affairs and stakeholder relations experience including working for an industry trade association in Wyoming and as a senior policy advisory to a member of Congress. 

• Federal oil and natural gas leasing is mandated by IRA
• Interior Department must halt the ban and immediately schedule lease sales
• Methane fee will increase costs for consumers

 
DENVER -- Following President Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law today, Western Energy Alliance calls on Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to immediately schedule quarterly oil and natural gas lease sales. IRA mandates that Interior hold regular, substantial oil and natural gas lease sales prior to approving rights of way for federal wind or solar energy development.
 
“Congress has once again sent a resounding message to Interior about the importance of federal oil and natural gas. By supporting IRA, every Democrat in Congress and the president of the United States agreed that oil and natural gas is critical to our economic and national security. By connecting federal leasing directly to renewable energy permitting, lawmakers recognize the value of increasing American production to bring down energy inflation and enhance national security,” said Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Alliance. “Leasing federal lands for development is the law under IRA, the Mineral Leasing Act, and other laws. It’s now time for the Interior Department to move forward swiftly with oil and natural gas leasing.” 

• Interior Department has created a conservation double whammy for parks
• $2.8 billion in annual Great American Outdoors Act funds are being mismanaged
• Misguided ESG and climate change presidential orders contribute to added red tape and costs
• Biden’s limits on federal leasing threaten future conservation funding

 
DENVER – Western Energy Alliance today calls on the U.S. Department of the Interior to address growing mismanagement of national park funding and reverse policies threatening future conservation projects. Ongoing fires at Yosemite National Park and recent flooding at Yellowstone National Park underscore the growing threats to national parks from the Biden Administration’s poor oversight of conservation funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA).