The 2017 Uintah Basin Energy Summit had a quick kick off on Wednesday night with a speech by Lt. Governor Spencer Cox followed by a panel of experts on developing natural gas markets. The expert panel discussed the opportunity for eastern Utah and western Colorado, who face similar issues in the oil and gas industries, to collaborate. Andrew Browning from Consumer Energy Alliance stated that the only thing dividing the two Basins is an arbitrary state line and it’s far better to view the entire area as a singular energy province. Specifically, the panel explored the prospects for liquefied natural gas and a global market in need. Bob Braddock, Senior Project Advisor for the Jordan Cove exportation terminal project in Oregon, participated in the panel discussion, explaining their plan to export natural gas to Asia and their desire to work with Utah and Colorado where natural gas is plentiful. Dr. Laura Nelson, Executive Director of the Utah Office of Energy Development, also participated in the panel and expressed Utah’s interest in building partnerships in order to promote a robust natural gas economy.
