Title: Energy Independence Charter
Original CoS Document (slug): energy-independence-charter
Login Required to view? No
Attached File: Texas_Energy_Independence_Coalition_(v1.2).pdf
Created: 2022-06-11 17:40:21
Updated: 2023-06-11 23:00:00
Published: 2022-07-27 01:00:00
Converted: 2025-04-14T20:04:29.376130654
(v1.2) 4/10/22
1
DRAFT CHARTER
Energy Independence Coalition (EIC) Leadership Team
PURPOSE
To serve as the catalyst for development of balanced energy independence within
Texas by establishing a networking infrastructure that can drive smart common-sense energy
initiatives within the public and private sectors.
FOCUS
Strategies and implementation using trained Coalition Volunteer Activists (VAs) with guidance from
outside energy advisors to drive COS outcomes in the following areas:
1. Comprehensive plan for energy security and environmental responsibility
2. Communication package focused developing energy literacy in America
3. Comprehensive energy policy consistent with COS values
TEAM SPONSOR
State Director
TEAM LEADER
Energy Independence Coalition Director
TEAM MEMBERS
• Energy Industry Liaison Coordinator
• Energy Security Coordinator
• Energy Literacy Coordinator
• Energy Policy Coordinator
• Energy Communications Coordinator
KEY ACTIVITIES / DELIVERABLES
Team Building
• Energy Independence Coalition Director will:
o Develop a comprehensive communication package that effectively outlines the EIC
mission and Call to Action to motivate COS VAs to participate in the Coalition.
o Identify the technical skillsets needed for each Coordinator position.
o Onboard Coalition VAs from Texas HDs
o Work with DCs within those HDs to turn Volunteer Interests (VIs) into VAs to participate
in the Coalition
(v1.2) 4/10/22
2
Energy Industry Liaison
• Energy Industry Liaison Team to identify, contact and onboard key Texas energy industry
groups/companies to serve on the COS EIC Energy Advisory Board.
o Maintain frequent contact with board members.
o Set up periodic meetings with the board to review Coalition work products and seek
advice.
o Serve as the industry conduit through which new ideas and critical information flows to
the Coalition.
Energy Security
• Energy Security Group to develop a comprehensive energy security and environmental
responsibility plan for the state of Texas drawing heavily upon input from the EIC Energy
Advisory Board and other key industry and private sources leading to:
o A set of linked industry peer-reviewed white papers that provides a blueprint for Texas
legislative and industry officials to follow.
o Key issues covered in these white papers may include (among other topics):
§
Improving the resilience of the State Energy Sector against natural and man-
made disasters.
§
How to optimize (energy balance) energy sources for Texas.
§
Levelized cost of energy (LCOE) analysis for power plants in Texas.
§
How ERCOT can better protect and harden the Texas power grid.
§
Hardening the electronic security perimeter in the power generation, chemical
and oil refining industries.
§
Economic argument for maintaining energy independence in Texas
§
How to achieve the balance between energy independence and the
environment.
§
How new/emerging technology, such as battery energy storage, must play a
role in maintaining energy independence in Texas
§
How Texas can profit from its balanced approach to energy independence
o High-level position paper drawn from the set of white papers that presents a
comprehensive Texas strategy with recommendations for energy independence that
will serve as an exemplar to the other states.
Energy Literacy
• Energy Literacy Group to develop a powerful Energy Literacy Plan drawing in-part on the
papers developed by the Energy Security Group but targeting all segments of the population
and employing all methods of communication including, white papers, pamphlets, books, social
media, news media, personal presentations, interviews, etc.
• Educational/training material will be developed for maximum understanding and impact for the
following groups (or subgroups):
o School children (K-12)
o College students
o Working adults
o Retired adults
o Industry professionals
o Legislators
o Others as identified
(v1.2) 4/10/22
3
Energy Policy
• Energy Policy Group will draw from the materials developed by the Energy Security/
Energy Literacy Groups to draft these ideas to a cohesive Texas Energy Initiative that
addresses needed changes in both Texas and Federal energy policy. This document will
be further enhanced and molded into a set of actionable legislative bills, by the COS
Legislative Liaison Group, TPPF and the EIC Energy Advisory Board.
• Energy Policy Group will assist State legislators introduce these bills into the Texas State
Legislature.
Energy Communications
• The Energy Communications Group will:
o Assist all groups in both internal and external communications including drafting white
papers, presentations, policy documentation.
o Develop a literacy roll-out schedule that focuses on obtaining maximum near-term
influence from the developed materials and will implement the Energy Literacy Plan
using both COS Coalition VAs and external resources committed to the message.
KEY INTERFACES
• State Director
• State Coalitions Director/Advisor
• HD District Captains
• HD Integrative Systems Coordinators
• EIC Coalition Coordinators
• EIC Coalition VAs
• COS State Legislative Liaison Team
• COS State Communications Coordinator
• State Grassroots Coordinators
• EIC Energy Advisory Board
• Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF)
• Texas Oil & Gas Association
• Texas Railroad Commission
PERFORMANCE (Early Stage)
All coalition members will have shared goals with respect to advancing the purpose stated in the
EIC charter. A working leadership team with the five operational Coordinators to be
fully functioning, developing plans, securing training resources and adding Coalition VAs in this early
stage.
MEASURES (Early Stage – First Four Months)
Team Building
• EIC Coalition Director to identify and onboard the five operational Coalition VAs to serve as
Coordinators within the Leadership Team within the first three months of startup.
• A communication tool aimed at educating HDs, onboarding VAs, and turning VIs into VAs in
support of the EIC Coordinators to be developed and rolled out within the first three months of
startup.
• Onboard two VAs per Coordinator (or as may be required) within the first five months of startup.
(v1.2) 4/10/22
4
Energy Industry Liaison
• Energy Industry Liaison Coordinator to identify and onboard at least three key members of an
EIC Advisory Board within the first three months of assignment.
Energy Security
• Energy Security Coordinator to identify the key areas to be addressed in the series of white
papers and onboard VAs and outside resources including EIC Energy Advisory Board members
required to do the research draft manuscripts within the first three months of assignment.
Energy Literacy
• Energy Literacy Coordinator to onboard VAs to support the group, produce a rough outline an
Energy Literacy Plan and identify target groups for energy literacy within the first four months of
assignment.
Energy Policy
• Energy Policy Coordinator to onboard VAs to support the group and assist in the Energy
Security Coordinator until sufficient information has been developed to commence work on the
Texas Energy Initiative within the first four month of assignment.
Energy Communication
• Energy Communications Coordinator will actively assist the Energy Industry Liaison, Security
and Literacy groups with the communications efforts including EIC Advisory Board
communications, white paper development, presentations, and development of the Energy
Literacy Plan.
WORK PROCESSES
The Energy Independence Coalition will require a group of five VA Coordinators with extraordinary
skillsets if Coalition goals are to be achieved. They must be chosen carefully and ideally have held
executive or key managerial roles in one or more of the following industries:
1. Power generation/transmission
2. Downstream oil refining
3. Upstream oil production
4. Gas production
5. Alternate energy
6. Nuclear
7. Mining/Coal/Shale
8. Space-based solar power (SBSP, SSP)
9. Board memberships in an energy industry
10. Energy economic think tanks
11. Pipeline transmission
12. Legal/legislative activity in an energy industry
It is essential that the Energy Security, Literacy, Policy Coordinators work closely with one another
assisted by the Energy Communications Coordinator because the work product of one depends
upon the other. Priority should be given to assembling a powerful EIC Energy Advisory Board early
in the formation of the Coalition along with staffing of the Energy Security group. The Energy Security
Group is the driver for the Coalition. All other groups will be using the work product from the Energy
Security group to perform their own functions.
(v1.2) 4/10/22
5
Furthermore, all the work done within this Coalition on behalf of Texas will necessarily need to be
ported into other states and eventually the nation. Texas cannot achieve its full objective of total
energy independence without interstate commerce. Oil, gas, and power are fungible products
bought and sold on the open market and subject to controls beyond Texas. But Texas can control
how it responds to the energy challenges by legislating and then implementing the optimal blend of
energy sources and environmental stewardship to secure the best possible outcome for Texas
residents and the most profitable outcome for the state and for the private corporations that take
much of the risk.
MEETINGS
The EIC Leadership Team will meet bi-monthly via a dedicated EIC Slack Channel, Zoom or other
communication means to review progress within each Coordinator’s area, share learnings and
improvement opportunities and develop/revise plans for the next three rolling months. Weekly
communication will occur among Coordinators, VAs and other Key Interfaces via phone, Slack,
ZOOM and email. The team will lean heavily on input from its EIC Energy Advisory Board and
establish fixed meeting times and agendas with them.
APPROVED____________________
Date_________________
State Coalitions Director/Advisor
APPROVED____________________ _
Date_________________
State Director
(v1.2) 4/10/22
6
ABBREVIATIONS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
EIC – Energy Independence Coalition (COS Coalition)
VAs – Volunteer Activists (COS active volunteers)
HDs – House Districts (COS District Captain districts)
VIs – Volunteer Interest (COS petition signers who showed interest in volunteering)
ERCOT – Electric Reliability Council of Texas
(v1.2) 4/10/22
7