The Oklahoma Secretary of Energy is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate

Oklahoma Senate

The Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of Senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution....

, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Secretary serves as the chief advisor to the Governor on energy policy development and implementation.

The 6th and current Secretary is Mike Ming

Mike Ming

Mike Ming is an American energy industry executive who is currently serving as the Oklahoma Secretary of Energy under Governor of Oklahoma Mary Fallin.-Biography:...

, who was appointed by Governor Mary Fallin

Mary Fallin

Mary Fallin is the 27th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. She was a U.S. Representative for from 2007 until 2011....

 on January 10, 2011.

History

The Office of the Secretary of the Environment was established in 1986 to provide greater oversight and coordination to the energy activities of the State government. The Office was established, along with the Oklahoma State Cabinet

Oklahoma State Cabinet

The Cabinet of the Governor of Oklahoma is a body of the most senior appointed officials of the executive branch of the government of Oklahoma. Originally an informal meeting between the Governor of Oklahoma and various government officials, the Governor's Cabinet has evolved into a major part of...

, by the Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986

Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986

The Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986 is an Oklahoma state law that requires the Governor of Oklahoma to organize the various departments, agencies, boards, commissions and other entities of the state's executive branch into a cabinet system.The Executive Branch Reform Act was signed into law by...

. The Act directed the Secretary of Energy to advise the Governor on energy policy and advise the state energy agencies on new policy as directed by the Governor.

Oklahoma state law always for Cabinet Secretaries to serve concurrently as the head of a State agency in addition to their duties as a Cabinet Secretary. Historically, the Secretary of Energy has not served in any such dual position.

Responsibilities

The Secretary of Energy serves as the principal state government entity that is responsible for regulating and promoting the existing energy industry in the State. The Secretary is responsible for overseeing energy conservation

Energy conservation

Energy conservation refers to efforts made to reduce energy consumption. Energy conservation can be achieved through increased efficient energy use, in conjunction with decreased energy consumption and/or reduced consumption from conventional energy sources...

, energy-related research, energy production, and alternative and renewable energy development. The Energy Secretary is also one of three Cabinet Secretaries that serves on the Executive Environmental Committee of the Governor's Cabinet, along with the Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture

Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture

The Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor...

 and the Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment

Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment

The Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor...

.

The Secretary serves ex officio as the Governor's representative of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. As the Governor's official representative, the Secretary represents the State on the Commission and advocates for the conservation of oil and gas resources.

As of fiscal year 2011

2011 Oklahoma state budget

The Oklahoma State Budget for Fiscal Year 2011, is a spending request by Governor Brad Henry to fund government operations for July 1, 2010–June 30, 2011. Governor Henry and legislative leader approved the budget in May 2010...

, the Secretary of Energy oversees 969 full time employees and is responsible for annual budget of over $641 million.

Office of the Secretary

The Secretary heads the Office of the Secretary of Energy, which is a state agency.

Mission and goals

The mission statement of the office is:

The goals of the Oklahoma Secretary of Energy are to support current energy industries, facilitate the development of alternative and renewable energies, and to foster the growth and economic development of the state through strategic diversity.

The stated goals of the office are:

• Prioritize the use of Oklahoma Resources when developing plans to meet the State's energy needs for transportation fuels and power generation
• Support Oklahoma's existing oil and natural gas industry
• Ensure stability and supply of electricity at a reasonable cost to Oklahoma homes and businesses through ample electricity generation and a robust transmission grid
• Increase research, development and demonstration projects for biofuels to complement petroleum for transportation fuels and for alternative energy including wind, hydro and solar to generate electricity
• Help Oklahomans understand the need for conservation and help reduce consumption and manage demand

Staff

The staff of the Office serves as the immediate staff to the Secretary. The Office has a very limited staff: three full-time employees including the Secretary. As of 2010, the following are the authorized positions within the Office:

• Secretary of Energy
• Deputy Secretary of Energy
• Special Assistant and Legislative Liaison

Budget

For fiscal year 2011, with three employees, the office has an annual budget of just under $1 million. All of that budget is dedicated to employee compensation and operating expenses.

Salary

The annual salary of the Secretary of Energy is set by law at $70,000. Despite this law, if the Secretary serves as the head of a state agency, the Secretary receives the higher of the two salaries. Since incumbent Secretary Bobby Wegener

Bobby Wegener

Robert "Bobby" Wegener served as Oklahoma's Secretary of Energy from 2008-2011, having been appointed by Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry in 2008. He was Governor Henry's second Secretary of Energy, succeeding David Fleischaker...

 also serves as the governor's representative to the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, he receives the salary allowed for that position. As of 2010, the annual salary of that position is set at $90,000.

Agencies Overseen

The Secretary of Energy oversees the following State entities:

• Oklahoma Corporation Commission
  Oklahoma Corporation Commission
  The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is the public utilities commission of the state of Oklahoma run by three state-wide elected Commissioners, assisted by over 400 employees...
  
  
• Oklahoma Department of Mines
  Oklahoma Department of Mines
  The Oklahoma Department of Mines is a department of the government of Oklahoma responsible for overseeing and regulating all surface and sub-surface mining activities in the State. The Department is also responsible for the reclamation of land disturbed by mining operations...
  
  
• Oklahoma Energy Resources Board
  Oklahoma Energy Resources Board
  The Oklahoma Energy Resources Board is an agency of the state of Oklahoma. Funded voluntarily by Oklahoma's oil and natural gas producers and royalty owners, OERB conducts environmental restoration of orphaned and abandoned well sites, encourages the wise and efficient use of energy, and promotes...
  
  
• Oklahoma Marginal Wells Commission
  Oklahoma Marginal Wells Commission
  The Oklahoma Commission on Marginally Producing Oil and Gas Well, commonly known as the Oklahoma Marginal Wells Commission, is an agency of the government of Oklahoma unde the Oklahoma Secretary of Energy. Commission is responsible for identifying and evaluating the economic and operational factors...
  
  
• Oklahoma Bioenergy Center
• Clean Energy Independence Commission

The Secretary is also responsible for reprenting the Governor before the following entities:

• Southwest Power Pool
• Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission
• Western Governors' Association
• Grand River Dam Authority
  Grand River Dam Authority
  The Grand River Dam Authority is an Oklahoma agency created to control, develop, and maintain the Grand River waterway. It was created by the Oklahoma state legislature in 1935, and is headquartered in Vinita, Oklahoma. It operates three hydroelectric facilities and two reservoirs, Grand Lake...
  
  

List of Secretaries

#	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Governor Governor of Oklahoma The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...  served under
1	Charles Nesbitt Charles Nesbitt Charles R. Nesbitt was an Oklahoma attorney and politician. Nesbitt held several political positions in the Oklahoma state government, having served as the 9th Attorney General of Oklahoma , a member of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission , and as Oklahoma Secretary of Energy under Governor David...	1991	1995	David Walters David Walters David Lee Walters was the 24th Governor of Oklahoma from 1991 to 1995.-Biography:Walters was born near Canute, Oklahoma. He graduated as valedictorian from Canute High School in 1969. He later graduated from University of Oklahoma in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering...
2	Carl Michael Smith Carl Michael Smith Carl Michael "Mike" Smith is an American businessman, energy expert, and politician from Oklahoma. Smith is currently serving as the Executive Director of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission...	1995	2002	Frank Keating Frank Keating Francis Anthony "Frank" Keating is an American politician from Oklahoma. Keating served as the 25th Governor of Oklahoma. His first term began in 1995 and ended in 1999...
3	Robert J. Sullivan, Jr. Robert J. Sullivan, Jr. Robert J. "Bob" Sullivan, Jr. is an American politician from Oklahoma and a Republican candidate in the 2006 Oklahoma gubernatorial election. Sullivan had previously served as the Oklahoma Secretary of Energy under Governor of Oklahoma Frank Keating from 2002 to 2003.Sullivan lost in the July 25,...	2002	2003
4	David Fleischaker David Fleischaker David Fleischaker is an American businessman and lawyer who served as the Oklahoma Secretary of Energy under Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry from 2003 to 2008. Fleischaker has served as the President and CEO of Jolen Operating Company, a privately held independent oil and gas exploration and...	2003	2008	Brad Henry Brad Henry Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...
5	Bobby Wegener Bobby Wegener Robert "Bobby" Wegener served as Oklahoma's Secretary of Energy from 2008-2011, having been appointed by Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry in 2008. He was Governor Henry's second Secretary of Energy, succeeding David Fleischaker...	2008	2011
6	Mike Ming Mike Ming Mike Ming is an American energy industry executive who is currently serving as the Oklahoma Secretary of Energy under Governor of Oklahoma Mary Fallin.-Biography:...	January 10, 2011	Present	Mary Fallin Mary Fallin Mary Fallin is the 27th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. She was a U.S. Representative for from 2007 until 2011....

External links

• Office of the Secretary of Energy website