Energy Resources Council

The University of Wyoming Energy Resources Council (ERC) was established by statute (W.S. 21-17-117 (e)) to provide direction to the School of Energy Resources (SER) regarding identifying and prioritizing issues which should be targeted for research and outreach. The ERC consists of 11 members, including:

• UW President and Director of Ruckelshaus Institute (ex officio);
• One member each of the Wyoming Senate (appointed by the President of the Senate) and the House (appointed by the Speaker of the House);
• Seven members representing diverse components of Wyoming's energy industries appointed by the Governor at the consent of the Senate. These members serve 3-year terms.

• The UW Board of Trustees assigned a trustee to sit on the ERC as ex-officio on March 4, 2011. This trustee appointment is at the invitation of the ERC and allows for greater communication between the two entities.

Upcoming Meetings

The next ERC meeting will take place on Friday, May 17, 2013 at the Energy Innovation Center on 1020 Lewis Street in Laramie, Wyoming.  The general public is welcome to attend. Click here to view the agenda for the upcoming May 17, 2013 ERC meeting.

• May 17, 2013 – Energy Innovation Center, UW Campus
• August 23, 2013 – Energy Innovation Center (Clean Coal Symposium August 22)
• November 15, 2013 – Energy Innovation Center & Joint Meeting with BOT

General Role

The general role of the ERC was left open in the original statute and it has been accepted that it should provide direction, insight and guidance to SER. The ERC was uniquely established to represent private sector needs by providing an external business perspective on the diverse higher education and research needs of Wyoming's energy industries. The premise underlying this structure is that SER's budget, together with meaningful input from nonacademic sectors, can exert long-term leverage on the university's core missions: teaching, research, and service. The ERC's most effective role is to promote stable, internationally recognized energy-related expertise and curricula into the fabric of the institution, across many different disciplines and colleges.

A specific role was assigned to the ERC in the 2010 Wyoming Budget Session Laws, Chapter 39, Section 320, paragraph (c) (ii) which appropriates $45 million in AML funds to SER for development of a sub-commercial scale CO₂ sequestration research and demonstration project. Sub-paragraph (b) specifically requires "approval of the ERC" among other conditions and requirements before those funds can be spent.

Administration and Organization

• The council self-selects a chairman and vice-chairman.
• The ERC meets at least quarterly and is staffed by SER. One of the quarterly meetings traditionally includes a meeting with the UW Board of Trustees.
• In January 2011, the ERC invited a member from the UW Board of Trustees to participate as an ex officio member of the Council.
• The ERC is supported by the SER Director and staff.
• The ERC is represented by the UW General Counsel.