Western Energy Alliance‘s (WEA) board of directors has selected Tim Wigley to be the trade association’s new president. Wigley comes to WEA from PAC/WEST, where he managed the firm’s Washington, DC, operations. From 1998-2002 Wigley served as president of the Oregon Forest Industries Council, an organization dedicated to protecting and promoting the interests of industrial forestland owners. WEA represents 400 companies engaged in all aspects of environmentally responsible exploration and production of oil and natural gas in the West.

Pennsylvania state Sen. Mary Jo White recently said she will not seek reelection this year after 14 years in office. The Republican from Venango County in northwestern Pennsylvania has chaired the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for the past 12 years, placing her in the middle of the current debate over Marcellus Shale legislation. Under her watch, the committee crafted an impact fee on unconventional natural gas drilling (see NGI, June 20, 2011) and increased coordination between gas drilling and coal mining. Before running for office, White served as a public defender in Venango and worked as the vice president of environmental and governmental affairs for Quaker State Corp.

©Copyright 2012Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. The preceding news reportmay not be republished or redistributed, in whole or in part, in anyform, without prior written consent of Intelligence Press, Inc.