CERAWeek Houston Conference Features Pruitt and Hamm as Keynote Speakers

Attorney General Scott Pruitt (Republican of Oklahoma) is seen in the lobby of the Trump Tower in New York, New York, on November 28, 2016.  Credit: Anthony Behar / Pool via CNP /MediaPunch/IPX

Two of Oklahoma’s prominent energy leaders will provide insight at a weeklong conference this week in Texas.

Marking his first public address since confirmation as the new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, Scott Pruitt will speak at a keynote luncheon for oil and gas industry leaders and government officials in Houston. Pruitt will speak about environmental policy at CERAWeek on Thursday at 12:45 p.m.

CERAWeek is a global energy conference hailed as the “oil and gas industry’s Super Bowl.” The annual symposium is sponsored by Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA), an energy consulting company.

As Oklahoma’s Attorney General, Pruitt was openly critical of the EPA’s work and skeptical about climate change. Pruitt sued the EPA more than a dozen times during the Obama Administration.

The CERAWeek agenda touts Pruitt “believes that promoting and protecting a strong and healthy environment is among the lifeblood priorities of the government, and that EPA is vital to that mission.”

“He is recognized as a national leader,” the agenda concludes, “in the cause to restore the proper balance between the states and federal government.”

The weeklong conference features a cavalcade of government dignitaries and energy leaders. It kicked off Monday with a discussion on infrastructure, supply and transportation issues. Tuesday’s agenda will feature a strategic dialogue with members of various energy ministries including representatives from Russia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Turkey.

Harold Hamm, CEO of Oklahoma City-based Continental Resources, will address conference attendees early Wednesday afternoon.

Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, will speak at Thursday evening’s dinner.

Lisa Murkowski, the powerful Chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, will present comments on Friday morning.