EWC Senior Fellow Fereidun Fesharaki Appointed to National Petroleum Council

HONOLULU (Dec. 23) – East-West Center Senior Fellow Fereidun Fesharaki has been appointed by U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman to serve on the National Petroleum Council (NPC). The Council is a self-funded advisory body to the Secretary of Energy whose members represent all sectors of the oil and natural gas industries and related interests.  

“The incoming Administration has stated a desire to move away from fossil fuels; however, this process will take many decades and the U.S. will remain heavily dependent on oil for years to come,” said Fesharaki.  “The NPC can show the new Secretary of Energy the realistic options ahead. I aim to bring a fresh perspective from the Asia Pacific region to the U.S. energy policy dialogue.”  Fesharaki is co-editor of the recent East-West Center publication “Asia’s Energy Future:  Regional Dynamics and Global Implications.”

Created by President Truman in 1946 to continue cooperation between industry and government that began during World War II, the Council provides essential advice, information, and recommendations on matters related to oil and gas and their industries. NPC membership includes representation from all segments of the oil and gas industries, all sections of the country, and from large and small companies. The Council also has members from academic, financial, research, Native American, and public interest organizations and institutions.

The NPC does not concern itself with trade practices, nor does it engage in trade association activities.  Individual members serve without compensation as representatives of their industry or associated interests as a whole, not as representatives of their particular companies or affiliations.

The NPC conducts studies in response to requests from the Secretary of Energy and submits its recommendations to the government as a public service. The NPC's latest report, Facing the Hard Truths About Energy, issued in 2007, is a comprehensive global energy study forecasting the industry’s future until 2030.

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The EAST-WEST CENTER is an education and research organization established by the U.S. Congress in 1960 to strengthen relations and understanding among the peoples and nations of Asia, the Pacific, and the United States. The Center contributes to a peaceful, prosperous and just Asia Pacific community by serving as a vigorous hub for cooperative research, education and dialogue on critical issues of common concern to the Asia Pacific region and the United States. Funding for the Center comes from the U.S. government, with additional support provided by private agencies, individuals, foundations, corporations, and the governments of the region.