FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, July 11, 2011  
CONTACT: Leah Mohr, deputy executive director, South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, (605) 773-3201 or (605) 280-4327  

PUC Chairman Hanson addresses transmission issues at forum

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Chairman Gary Hanson was a featured presenter last week at the Aspen Energy Policy Forum in Colorado. Hanson was invited to address electric transmission issues affecting the Midwest.

The Energy Policy Forum is hosted by The Aspen Institute, a think-tank-academic organization that promotes knowledge and action on critical national issues. The policy forum included national and international experts from the private and public sector that spoke about challenges and opportunities facing the electricity industry. Hanson's remarks were part of a session that focused on renewable energy and transmission. 

Hanson declared that, "The most important issue facing our country, other than the deficit, is to develop a national energy policy. A comprehensive long-range national energy policy is crucial to our country's economic future and the health and security of our nation." 

Other topics addressed at the forum included clean energy legislation, aging generation and transmission infrastructure, electric vehicles, nuclear power and global energy markets.

Hanson is in his second term on the PUC. He serves on the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners' Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment and is on the steering committee of the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative.

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