Governor names Jeremy Price to AOGCC public seat currently vacant

Kristen Nelson

Petroleum News

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has named Jeremy Price to the public seat on the three-member Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and has also named him chair of the commission. This seat has been vacant since the governor removed Hollis French in February.

Price, who begins work at the commission Oct. 7, has been the governor’s deputy chief of staff.

“Jeremy Price shares my vision for a state that is both economically competitive and protects the interest of Alaskans,” Dunleavy said Oct. 1 in announcing the appointment. “I welcome him into this new role as Chair of AOGCC and look forward to his work to prevent waste of our natural resources while ensuring our regulatory environment yields greater recovery of Alaska’s oil, gas, and geothermal potential. I’m confident Jeremy will work to increase collaboration between AOGCC and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. Ultimately, he understands that Alaskans are the customer and we are in their service.”

Price, who resides in Anchorage, grew up in Salcha and worked for Salcha Electric for 10 years. The governor’s office said he has worked in a wide range of public policy roles, including areas of oil and gas policy, for two members of the state’s congressional delegation, Congressman Don Young and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, and at the American Petroleum Institute. Price has also worked at the Alaska chapter of Americans for Prosperity.

In the announcement from the governor’s office Price said that while working in the offices of Congressman Young, Sen. Murkowski, and the Dunleavy Administration, he focused his efforts on improving the lives of Alaskans through infrastructure development, streamlining permitting requirements, and finding efficiencies in government.

There are three AOGCC commissioners, an engineer, a geologist and the public member. The statutory requirement for the public member is: “one member who shall have training or experience that gives the person a fundamental understanding of the oil and gas industry in the state.”

The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Legislature.

- KRISTEN NELSON