That's how Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal characterized various sectors of the energy industry: fighting each other over government incentives to produce clean power.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the Energy Council, a consortium of energy producing states and Canadian provinces, Freudenthal encouraged attendees to protect the public interest by keeping an open mind as state and federal energy policy is being developed:

If we as public leaders get tricked into being proxy for one technology we are going to be doing a disservice to the public and the future. These are going to be difficult years and we need to make sure we do things right.

Noting that natural gas companies lobby against coal-fired power plants and wind and solar companies lobby against each other for tax credits, Freudenthal added:

This is going to be a high stakes poker game and we are going to get lobbied and lobbied hard.

Indeed, the jockeying for position and high-pressure lobbying is well underway. Open mindedness is all too often shortchanged in favor of political contributions from special interest groups.

It's refreshing to read Gov. Dave's comments, and realize that here's a guy whose decisions are made with his eyes wide open.

The Wyoming Governor's speech was covered in the Jackson Hole News & Guide.

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