Office of the Governor.  October 17, 2011, Buffalo, New York –Sean Parnell by Dave Harbour, IOGCC, OCS, Federal Overreach, BOEMRE, BLM, ESA Governor Sean Parnell (NGP Photo) today assumed the chairmanship of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC). The organization represents 30 oil-and-gas-producing states. The IOGCC also has several international members, including Canadian provinces. Governor Parnell takes over from Governor Mary Fallin of Oklahoma.  As chairman, Governor Parnell will set the direction for the IOGCC and provide a leading voice for domestic oil and gas production while ensuring the protection of the environment. Several other Alaska governors have served terms as chair, including Governors Steve Cowper, Tony Knowles, Frank Murkowski, and Sarah Palin (NGP file photos below).  Governor Parnell delivered the keynote speech at the IOGCC’s 2011 annual meeting in Buffalo, New York. He discussed the challenges to new energy production and called upon the states to work together and help make the case that increasing energy production at home makes sense.  “Many thoughtful Americans are deeply troubled at what is now almost a $15 trillion federal debt,” Governor Parnell said. “We are concerned about the future of our republic. And yet, the solution is right in front of us. We can regain our economic footing through producing more American energy. To boil it down to one simple truth: More American oil and gas production means jobs. And jobs translate into stable communities, vibrant states, and a strong nation.”

Business Week (10/14/11) reports: North Dakota will likely leapfrog California and may even overtake Alaska in the next year — far outpacing earlier industry predictions — to become one of the nation’s three biggest oil-producing states, a government regulator said…Government and industry officials had predicted that North Dakota likely would hit the No. 2 spot within the decade but the explosion of drilling activity has accelerated the timeline.