Session 1 | Tuesday, January 19 | 9:00 AM-10:00 AM EST
A Congressional and Academic Perspective on the US-Asia Energy Relationship
In the first session of the US-Asia Energy Series, Surya Gunasekara, Principal Consultant and Founder at Section VII Strategies, was joined by Congresswoman Carol Miller of West Virginia’s Third Congressional District, Congressman Lou Correa of California’s 46th Congressional District, and Dr. Kenneth Medlock, the James A. Baker, III, and Susan G. Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics at the Baker Institute, for a conversation on expanding US energy exports to the Asia region and exploring alternative energies while supporting the development of our Asian trade partners. In her remarks on strengthening energy partnerships with US allies, Congresswoman Miller explained that US energy exports have the potential to connect developing communities while strengthening the domestic economy. Congressman Correa highlighted the challenge of solidifying the US as a dependable energy exporter while balancing objectives of important environmental and economic issues. He further explained that leveraging energy and trade relationships is crucial for avoiding conflict and keeping the world on a steady economic growth pattern. Dr. Medlock emphasized the need for finding alternative energies, the diversification of US investment and energy resources, and the responsibility of major energy actors to increase access to energy imports to accommodate Asian growth. He underscored the congressional perspectives by re-emphasizing the expansive intersection between energy and the economic, environmental, and national security interests. In the Q&A session, there was discussion on the feasibility of energy alternatives, implications of crude oil exports on the domestic economy, and potential concerns with future energy policy.
Audio and video recordings of this event can be found HERE.
If you are a Congressional staffer having questions for this briefing, please email usai@usasiainstitute.org directly for details.
