Operations in Washington
Richard Ward is Director of Aspen Energy Initiatives. Ward was previously with Shell Oil Company as Shell Group Environment and Safety Strategy and Plan Manager. His earlier roles included: Leader of Shell’s “Factor 4” efficiency effort; Global Manager of Group CO2 accounting, assurance and reporting; and Organizational Effectiveness Consultant. Prior to joining Shell, he gained broad experience as a senior environmental manager in Arabia and as a geologist and hydrogeologist in the US. He received his B.S. in Geology and his M.S. degree in Applied Earth Sciences from Stanford University.
Aspen Energy Initiatives maintains a robust presence in Washington DC, convening gatherings with policymakers, NGOs, academics, and energy leaders. Much of our work depends on close collaboration with the DOE, DOI and the EPA and corporate, NGO and political leaders who are often in Washington.
Public Policy and Governing
“A Black Swan has landed in the North American natural gas business. A “Black Swan Event” is an event that was unexpected, has a major, even disruptive, impact; and is then “explained” by hindsight. The Black Swan that has landed in the gas patch is shale. The numerous shale plays (Barnett, Haynesville, Marcellus, etc.) are disrupting the conventional thinking, and planning, that the industry has relied upon for years… The new paradigm is that… we will have all the domestic supply we need. The reason – shale resources are large, pervasive, and can now be made highly productive at reasonable cost. The implications are huge… the shale plays are a major disruptive force in the US natural gas industry and
the future will be unlike the past.”
H. deforest Ralph
Washington Summits
A PROGRAM
TO RESTORE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE
In the Spring of 2011 President Obama directed Secretary Chu to convene this group as part of the President’s “Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future” – a comprehensive plan to reduce America’s oil dependence, save consumers money, and to make our country the leader in clean energy industries.On April 20th 2010, Aspen hosted an interdisciplinary workshop in Washington, D.C. on Natural Gas production best practices as a lead up the the Critical Path Project in May of 2010 in Aspen.
The purpose of the Washington workshop was to review the methods and controls that provide assurance that Natural Gas Production can be done without detrimental effect to the environment and community. Based on this review, the workshop identified areas where further work could be considered to enhance assurance. This document summarizes the findings.
The April 20th Environmentally Sound Natural Gas Development workshop included subject matter experts from the NGO community, Government (state and federal) and the Natural Gas Industry. Service Companies were invited but declined the opportunity to engage.
Convening such a wide spectrum of stakeholders in the Natural Gas arena was an innovative experiment in itself, and, hearing from most participants from this “odd bedfellows” gathering, was a highly successful one.
Latest News and Events
Kevin Ward announces his resignation as president of Aspen Science Center
Posted on September 1, 2011
Kevin Ward recently announced his resignation as president and member of the board of directors of the Aspen Science Center in order to devote his full attention to energy-related policy initiatives. Ward is a co-founder of the Aspen Science Center, and has overseen its growth into a successful, multi-dimensional education and outreach organization, delivering rich science-based programs and resources to students and the community, from Physics BBQs and Cafes to the Western Slope College Fair from district-wide Science Fairs and an inquiry-based science curriculum to the (HS)2 gifted minority program. He observed: “As we have grown, we have been innovative and opportunistic, expanding into areas where we saw a need that we could fill”.
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Natural Gas Panel
Posted on July 16, 2011
A panel with representatives from government, industry, and environmental groups would make recommendations on how best to proceed with permitting and regulating fracking in the Marcellus Shale. Those named to the panel so far are former lieutenant governor Stan Lundine; Kathleen McGinty, former chair of Bill Clinton’s White House Council on Environmental Quality; Eric A. Goldstein and Kate Sinding, senior attorneys for the Natural Resources Defense Council; Robert Hallman, chair of the New York League of Conservation Voters; Robert F. Kennedy Jr., president of the Waterkeeper Alliance; Robert Moore, executive director of Environmental Advocates of New York;Mark Brownstein, chief counsel to the Environmental Defense Fund’s Energy Program; Heather Briccetti, acting president and CEO of the Business Council of New York State, Inc.; Robert B. Catell, chairman of the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center at SUNY Stony Brook; Mark K. Boling, executive vice president, general counsel, and secretary to Southwestern Energy; State Senator Tom Libous; and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo.
Ally Renewables with Natural Gas
Posted on June 24, 2011
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At first, some environmentalists saw the natural gas boom as a way to promote a relatively carbon-light “bridge fuel” that would take us from dirty coal to clean renewables. Then concerns surfaced that natural gas extraction was contaminating water and soil. And natural gas, it turns out, has its own greenhouse gas issues. Is increasing domestic natural gas production a smart way to transition from coal to renewables? Richard Ward of the Aspen Science Center says, Yes – with the proper oversight.
White House hears last-minute pleas on power plant
Posted on June 18, 2011
Gabriel Nelson, E&E reporter
As the Obama administration prepares a final rule ordering coal plants to help clean up soot and smog in the East, all sides have converged on the White House in a last-ditch effort to sway the rule, meeting records that were made public by the White House late this week show.
Fracking rules for diesel likely to spread nationally(06/14/2011)
Posted on June 15, 2011
Mike Soraghan, E&E reporter
U.S. EPA's guidelines for hydraulic fracturing of gas wells with diesel fuel could become a de facto nationwide standard for drilling, environmental and industry experts say.
The agency has floated a wide-ranging proposal that suggests well-construction standards, site review and baseline water sampling. There are currently no national rules in those areas, only state regulations and standards recommended by industry groups. And their suggestion in EPA documents does not mean that they would appear in the final guidance, due sometime after autumn.
But creating any kind of standard for drilling and fracturing -- even a specific, rare practice -- sets a marker against which other standards can be measured.
Secretary of Energy Advisory Board Natural Gas Subcommittee PUBLIC MEETING
Posted on June 10, 2011
Purpose of the Meeting: The purpose of this meeting is to allow Subcommittee
members to hear directly from natural gas stakeholders.
Tentative Agenda: The meeting will start at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 13, 2011.
The tentative meeting agenda includes a technical presentation on long-lateral hydraulic fracturing. From approximately 7:15 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the Subcommittee will hear comments from members of the public. The meeting will conclude at 9:00 p.m.
Washington Jefferson College
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