WASHINGTON – Last week, U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, welcomed Paul Ulrich, vice president of Jonah Energy and member of Wyoming Energy Authority Board of Directors, to the committee. Mr. Ulrich testified before the committee at a legislative hearing to examine opportunities for Congress to reform the permitting process for energy and mineral projects.
Barrasso introduced Ulrich to the committee prior to his testimony. 

“Paul – thank you for traveling from Pinedale, Wyoming, to be with us here in our nation’s Capitol,” said Barrasso.

The Wyoming Energy Authority leads the state’s energy strategy; Ulrich recently stepped down as president. He is also vice president of government and regulatory affairs at Jonah Energy, one of the largest natural gas producers in Wyoming. He has worked in the oil and natural gas sector for almost 25 years. Barrasso called him an expert on operating on federal lands.

Ulrich highlighted how permitting reform can help increase energy production.

“Jonah Energy strongly believes in the role of natural gas in meeting current and future global energy demand and providing clean, reliable domestic energy. We further believe this can be accomplished while continuing to reduce emissions to address climate goals. Jonah and the State of Wyoming also support a diverse energy mix with continued measures to reduce all energy impacts. All energy sources have environmental impacts and permitting reform is necessary to help us all achieve the full potential of a cleaner energy future,” said Ulrich.

Ulrich also highlighted not just oil and gas production is impacted by permitting delays.

“Clean natural gas projects, wind projects, CO2 sequestration pipelines and even wildlife conservation efforts are severely limited by unacceptably long review timeframes, endless litigation and ever-changing regulations. Today, Congress has the opportunity to lead our nation into a cleaner and low carbon economy through meaningful permitting reform,” said Ulrich.
For more information, go to https://www.energy.senate.gov/hearings/2023/.