Pat Wood III, principal of Wood3 Resources, and Jesse Berst, managing director of Global SmartEnergy.com, spoke about energy infrastructure at the NGA Natural Resources Committee Session
Energy Infrastructure: Vital for a 21st Century Economy.
It's the final day of the of the National Governors Association (NGA) winter conference.
Governors, as CEOs of their respective states, heard about ideas from fiscal health of their home turf to a strong focus on infrastructure needs, transportation, foreclosure issues, and renewable energy development.
Last night, President Barack Obama hosted a formal dinner for the governors at the White House. The President stated he thinks it's "important that all governors work with Washington to help repair the economy."
Governors heard from notables, including Dr. Frank Luntz, CEO of The Word Doctors, who presented findings from a recent national poll targeting Americans' attitudes around infrastructure investments. T. Boone Pickens, founder and chairman of BP Capital Management, demonstrated for governors his strategy for reducing America's dependence on foreign oil through new infrastructure investments. Finally, CEO of Exelon Corporation John Rowe highlighted the utility sector's perspective on energy infrastructure investment in the context of efforts to reduce greenhouse gases.
The complete "An Infrastructure Vision for the 21st Century" PDF is available online.
"Strengthening Our Infrastructure for a Sustainable Future" is an initiative by Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, who serves as NGA chairman.
"From roads, rails and bridges to the electrical grid, water treatment plants, broadband networks, schools and hospitals, infrastructure makes modern life as we know it possible," said Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas, NGA vice chairman.
Founded in 1908, the NGA is a public policy organization, comprised of the governors of the 50 states, three territories and
two commonwealths. For more information see www.nga.org.
