Energy panel meets in Tucson with little attention

What happens if you hold a national energy forum in Tucson but don't tell anyone about it?

Yesterday, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords held a panel discussion at the University of Arizona on national and international energy issues and policy.

Don't look for news about in the papers or on tv. The only thing I can find is an after-the-fact press release from UA and a short announcement from Channel 4 put out a few hours before the forum.

There was consensus that the U.S. is behind on finding solutions to energy policy issues.

[right, the panel of experts included, left to right, former regional geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey Wesley Ward, UA Eller College of Management Dean Paul R. Portney, and Joaquin Ruiz, dean of the UA's College of Science.]

Panelists were:

Paul R. Portney, dean of the UA’s Eller College of Management. Portney is also the college’s Halle Chair in Leadership and is a professor of economics.

Stewart L. Udall, the former U.S. Secretary of the Interior and who is credited with helping to pass legislation that expanded and supported the nation’s federally designated parks.

Matthew R. Simmons, president of Simmons & Company International. Simmons’ independent investment bank helps energy companies with financial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and public offerings.

Reginal Spiller, executive vice president for exploration and production at the Houston-based Frontera Resources. Spiller also served as the U.S. Department of Energy’s deputy assistant secretary for gas and petroleum technologies.

Wesley Ward formerly served as chief scientist for the U.S. Geological Survey’s astrogeology program, which is supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. He is currently the United States Geological Survey’s regional executive for geology in the western region.