Senate committee favorably recommends four nominees to Utah Board of Oil, Gas and Mining

SALT LAKE CITY — The Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Confirmation Committee on Feb. 10, 2025, voted to favorably recommend four nominees for the Utah Board of Oil, Gas and Mining and forwarded the nominations to the full Senate for confirmation.

The nominations move a panel that advises the Division of Oil, Gas and Mining and helps set policy for the state’s oil, gas and mining industries. The committee’s actions were unanimous; members indicated “aye” on each motion and the chair ruled each passage approved.

Alan Walker, reappointed as a member knowledgeable in oil and gas matters, described his 30-plus years in the energy industry and his work at the Energy and Geoscience Institute at the University of Utah. “I would like to continue as a subject matter expert in oil and gas and continue as the vice chairman through March of 2026,” Walker said. He told the committee he would press for “evidence-based rules” on issues including bonding, directional drilling and geothermal development. A member of the public,…