Bobby Wegener Explained

Bobby Wegener
Residence:Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Office:Oklahoma Secretary of Energy
Governor:Brad Henry
Term Start:2008
Term End:2011
Predecessor:David Fleischaker
Successor:Mike Ming
Occupation:Lawyer
Office2:Oklahoma Deputy Secretary of Energy
Governor2:Brad Henry
Term Start2:2005
Term End2:2008

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. Wegener had previously served as Henry's Deputy Secretary of Energy from 2005 to 2008.[1] [2]

Personal life and education

A graduate of Texas A&M University and the University of Oklahoma College of Law, Wegener came to state service from the Oklahoma City law firm, Clark, Stakem, Wood & Patten. Secretary Wegener’s general litigation practice included work on oil and gas, public utilities, and education law. He published regular articles in “Better Schools,” the newspaper for the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administrators.[3]

In 2005, Governor Brad Henry appointed Wegener as his Deputy Secretary of Energy to serve under Henry's first Energy Secretary David Fleischaker. As Deputy Secretary, Wegener represented Oklahoma in Azerbaijan to help initiate economic and educational partnerships between Oklahoma and the former Soviet Republic.

Secretary of Energy

In 2008, Governor Henry appointed Wegener as his second Secretary of Energy following Fleischaker's resignation to become the President and CEO of Jolen Operating Company. As Secretary of Energy, Wegener is responsible for overseeing various agencies of the executive branch, including the Oklahoma Bioenergy Center, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, the Grand River Dam Authority and the Oklahoma Department of Mines.

Since taking office, Secretary Wegener's office focused on growing Oklahoma's extensive energy sector by furthering the success of the state's oil and natural gas industries while developing renewable and sustainable energy resources for the state. Wegener has supported continuing efforts to promote the Oklahoma Bioenergy Center (which promotes the development of a biofuels industry in Oklahoma) and development and expansion of wind power. Secretary Wegener has also promoted demand side management policies at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, the state's electric utility regulatory agency.[4]

Wegener is Co-founder and Partner of Next Energy Partners.[5] [6]

Wegener in the news

See also

References

  1. Web site: Unavailable . 2009-11-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120225035411/http://www.ok.gov/governor/display_article.php?article_id=1169&article_type=1 . 2012-02-25 .
  2. Web site: Oklahoma Governor Names New Energy Secretary. 29 December 2008.
  3. Web site: Presenters - Oklahoma Wind Energy Conference . 2009-11-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091031002856/http://www.okwindrevolution.com/presenters . 2009-10-31 .
  4. Walton, Rod. Energy official pushes alternatives, Tulsa World, February 12, 2009. (accessed April 30, 2013 on Newsok.com website)
  5. http://newsok.com/plugging-in/article/3545756 PLUGGING IN
  6. http://www.oipa.com/custom/shownewsmulti.php?action=detail&id=302 Ming named energy secretary
  7. Web site: High-voltage transmission line may unlock Oklahoma's potential. 29 November 2009.
  8. Web site: Experts say wind energy key to Oklahoma economy. 24 June 2009.
  9. Web site: Clean-energy jobs in Oklahoma climbing, Pew study shows. 11 June 2009.
  10. Web site: Tulsa conference extols the value of all fuels. 22 May 2009.
  11. Web site: Economic diversity grows in state. 26 April 2009.