Governors Coalition for Energy Security (GCES)

Background

The Governors Coalition for Energy Security (GCES) launched in September 2024, initially called the Governors’ Coalition for Energy Choice, with the stated goals of “focusing on preserving all energy options” to “foster innovation, reduce regulatory barriers and attract business investment.”¹ ²

According to the GEC website, Governor Jeff Landry (LA) and Governor Chris Sununu (NH) founded the Governors Coalition for Energy Security “to address the rising costs of energy impacting families, businesses, and communities across the United States.”³

As part of a Freedom of Information Act request release package, a September 18, 2024 email from HBW Resources president Meghan M. Thacker summarized that the “The Governors Coalition for Energy Choice was formed in response to efforts by some progressive environmental organizations to ‘ban natural gas’ as a source of baseload power and fuel and efforts related to banning natural gas appliances.”⁴

GCES, Consumer Energy Alliance, and HBW Resources

A 2025 FOIA release included a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the GCES, then listed as the Governors Coalition for Energy Choice and the Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), a group founded by Republican lobbyist Michael Whatley of HBW Resources. ⁵

The MOU outlined the following role for CEA:

Roles and Responsibilities: Consumer Energy Alliance

Consumer Energy Alliance does not maintain the right to vote nor can be classified as a member of the Coalition.
Consumer Energy Alliance is designated the role of volunteer staff for the Coalition, which includes the following responsibilities:
- Responding to queries from and maintaining frequent conversation with the Chairman’s designated staff to ensure all responsibilities are met in a timely fashion.
- At the direction of the Coalition, designing, scheduling and executing all future meetings of the Coalition, including face-to-face meetings of the governors and/or their staff, and teleconferences as well as Coalition participation at non-Coalition events (e.g. congressional hearings, media engagements, etc.).
- At the direction of the Coalition, executing all day-to-day administrative, writing and research needs of the Coalition as dictated and overseen by the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Coalition, including issue briefs, meeting minutes, and website content.
- Assisting the Coalition, at its direction, in the conceptualization and execution of all internal and external communication and media engagement of the Coalition.
- At the direction of the Coalition, developing and managing a website and other electronic communications for the Coalition (e.g. regular newsletter).
- Coordinating with the members of the Coalition to expand the membership to other eligible members or states who seek observer status within the Coalition.
- Assisting in other appropriate means as stipulated by the Chairman.

In the U.S., the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) requires certain agents of “foreign principals who are engaged in political activities or other activities specified under the statute” to make public disclosures on their relationships.

In this case, HBW Resources filed FARA registrations outlining how they facilitated work with the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan—GCES lists Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe as members—with their membership and work with GCES.⁶

“[T]he public deserves to know that the CEA … is entirely a front group crafted by a Houston-based consulting firm called HBW Resources,” The Public Accountability Initiative, broadly known as LittleSis, reported in 2017. “HBW management have longtime ties to the oil and gas industry and get millions of dollars channeled to them as ‘independent contractors’ from the non-profit CEA,” LittleSis reported.⁷

LittleSis also reported five other key executives and employees at HBW resources that had key roles at CEA in addition to CEA president David Holt.⁸

In 2014, The Center for Public Integrity reported that HBW Resources and CEA worked closely with another governors coalition, this one titled the Outer Continental Shelf Governors Coalition, whose goal was to “improve ‘regulatory certainty’ for energy companies operating rigs off the coasts” during the Obama administration.⁹

Stance on Climate Change

GCES dos not appear to have released any official statements on climate change.

Funding

GCES does not publicly list its funding sources.

FOIA Releases

FARA Filings

Key People

GCES listed the following people on its website as of April 2026.¹⁰

Category	Name	Location	Position
Governors	Bill Lee	Tennessee
Governors	Brian P. Kemp	Georgia
Governors	Danielle Smith	Alberta
Governors	Doug Ford	Ontario
Governors	J. Kevin Stitt	Oklahoma
Governors	Jeff Landry	Louisiana	Chair
Governors	Kay Ivey	Alabama
Governors	Kelly Ayotte	New Hampshire
Governors	Larry Rhoden	South Dakota
Governors	Mark Gordon	Wyoming
Governors	Sarah Huckabee Sanders	Arkansas
Governors	Scott Moe	Saskatchewan
Governors	Tate Reeves	Mississippi
Past Governors	Christopher T. Sununu	New Hampshire
Past Governors	Eric J. Holcomb	Indiana
Past Governors	Glenn Youngkin	Virginia
Past Governors	Kristi Noem*	South Dakota

*Note that Kristi Noem is not officially listed as a past governor, however her name still appears in the source code for the website within a “hidden” element:

Actions

April 2026

A GCES Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) document from 2026 revealed Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario’s energy promotion efforts in the U.S.¹¹

Filed by HBW on behalf of the Government of Alberta in April 2026, ¹²the GCES release proposes deregulatory and pro-expansion policies for fossil fuels under the banner of “North American energy dominance.”¹³

Specific proposals included having agencies “treat NEPA Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) as practical decision-support tools rather than procedural formalities,” that “Permitting for new refineries should be a top priority and expedited,” and to “Expand state authority in [Endangered Species Act] ESA designations.” It also suggested “Judicial reform to clarify litigation timelines, standing, and repeated challenges to the same projects or permits.”¹⁴

Another proposal was “Significant changes to Clean Water Act (CWA) Sections 404 and 401”. The document added, “These reforms specifically limit state and tribal authority to water quality issues rather than allowing project shutdowns based on broader environmental or policy concerns”.¹⁵

2025

According to FARA documents HBW Resources filed, HBW Resources facilitated the Government of Alberta and Saskatchewan’s memberships and work with GCES.

For the government of Alberta, HBW described the nature of the activities it “engages in or proposes to engage in on behalf of the above foreign principal” as “Guidance and information gathering and presentation; facilitation of introductions and meetings” in a February 13, 2025 FARA filing.¹⁶

Another FARA document HBW filed, responding to whether the registrant was “engaging
now in activity or rendering services on its own behalf which benefits any or all of its foreign principals,” listed following activities or services: “Information gathering and reporting; facilitation of introductions to discuss ways Alberta Premier office and US states such as Louisiana can benefit from favorable energy policies.”¹⁷

SCHEDULE A

Services

Support provided for membership in Governors Coalition for Energy Security, including:
Support Governors Outreach & Education

Monthly calls with Principal staff of GCES

In-person meeting with member Governors in 2025 (potential end of February 2025 in
Washington, DC)

Facilitate relationship with Governor Landry and Governors Coalition for Energy Security

Includes tracking of federal issues and positioning/messaging of coalition on national and global
energy issues

Fly-in/Visit to Louisiana state capitol, potential program:

Meeting with state legislature leadership (Committee Chairs, Senate President and House
Speaker)

Roundtable meeting with industry representatives and Governor Landry

Address Parish Presidents, Parish Councils, and Police Juries re: Carbon Capture

potential site visit

potential formal address to Louisiana legislature

Facilitate GCES Governors visit to Alberta Stampede in July 2024
Support during CERA Week

SCHEDULE B

Fees

The Province shall pay the Contractor one thousand dollars in United States funds
(USD$1,000) per month, for the period commencing on February 10, 2025, and ending on July
31, 2025.

This amount includes any expenses incurred by the Contractor in performing the Services
under the Contract.

For the Government of Saskatchewan, HBW named its activities as “General information sharing”, and said it would engage in the following political activities: “Advocacy to ensure affordable, reliable, and diverse energy options for American families and businesses.”¹⁸

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe sent Governor Jeff Landry the following letter, attached in the FARA filing:

February 5, 2025

The Honorable Jeff Landry
Governor of the State of Louisiana
Chairman of the Governors’ Coalition for Energy Security
Office of the Governor
PO Box 94004
BATON ROUGE LA 70804
USA

Dear Governor Landry:

I am writing to express the Government of Saskatchewan’s interest in joining the Governors’
Coalition for Energy Security (GCES), alongside our neighbouring province of Alberta.

Energy security for families and businesses is of critical importance to both Canada and the
United States. The Government of Saskatchewan shares the goals established by the GCES to
address this challenge by enhancing energy security, reliability and affordability for both
Americans and Canadians.

Saskatchewan is proud to stand as a major producer of North American energy, with nearly
70 per cent of our oil production being exported to the United States. Saskatchewan’s total
production in 2024 included 164 million barrels of oil and approximately 6 million tonnes of
coal. Saskatchewan is also home to the world’s largest, highest grade uranium deposit and
produced 32 million pounds of uranium in 2024. The strength of this trading relationship and
our integrated energy sectors is foundational to the ongoing mutual success of our economies.

At your earliest convenience, I would like to request a phone call to discuss this matter. Further,
I will be in Washington the week of February 9th to 13th, and returning on the 24th to 27th and,
if your schedule allows, I would be happy to meet in person as well. To arrange this meeting
please connect with our Deputy Minister of Trade and Export Development, Jodi Banks, at
[email protected] or +1 (306) 787-0306.

I am optimistic about the opportunity to work with you and the other governors and premiers
who are aligned with the GCES, to positively manage energy resources, strengthen the
productivity of our energy sectors, and maintain the strong economic relationships held
between our jurisdictions.

Sincerely,

Scott Moe
Premier

CC:

Honourable Colleen Young, Minister of Energy and Resources
Jodi Banks, Deputy Minister, Trade and Export Development
Meghan Thacker, Vice President of Federal and State Affairs, HBW Resources

HBW Resources, LLC

HBW Resources registered FARA documents to work with “foreign principals” as “the ‘Contractor'” for the Province of Alberta¹⁹ and the Province of Saskatchewan, with services that included “membership in Governors Coalition for Energy Security.²⁰

GCES does not appear to be active on social media.

Other Resources

Geoff Dembicki. “How Big Oil and Canada Thwarted US Carbon Standards,” The Tyee, December 15, 2011. Archived November 2, 2018.

Resources

1
Mary Stuart. “Danielle Smith Working With Trump Official Who Wants to Annex Greenland,” DeSmog, January 14, 2026. ↩︎
2
(Press Release). “Province of Alberta Joins Renamed Governors’ Coalition for Energy Security, Gov. Landry Announces,” Louisiana Office of the Governor, November 14, 2024. Archived April 14, 2026. ↩︎
3
“About Us,” Governors Coalition for Energy Security. Archived January 7, 2026. ↩︎
4
24-180, GCES FOIA release. Page 192. archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. ↩︎
5
24-180, GCES FOIA release. Page 64. archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. ↩︎
6
“Exhibit A to Registration Statement: Registration Number 754,” FARA.gov, March 10, 2025. Name of Foreign principal: Province of Alberta. Archived pdf on file at DeSmog. ↩︎
7
Derek Seidman. “Oil & Gas Industry-Backed Astroturf Firm Cherry Picks Poll Results on Support for Pipelines in Northeast,” LittleSis, August 8, 2017. Archived April 14, 2026. ↩︎
8
Derek Seidman. “Oil & Gas Industry-Backed Astroturf Firm Cherry Picks Poll Results on Support for Pipelines in Northeast,” LittleSis, August 8, 2017. Archived April 14, 2026. ↩︎
9
Nicholas Kusnetz. “Governors and oil industry work hand in hand in offshore drilling group,” The Center for Public Integrity, November 24, 2014. Archived April 14, 2026. ↩︎
10
“CURRENT GOVERNORS,” Governors Coalition for Energy Security. Archived April 9, 2026. ↩︎
11
“Cover Page: Governors Coalition for Energy Security: Policy Issues and Solutions,” Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/01/2026. Retried from FARA.gov. ↩︎
12
“Supplemental Statement
Washington, DC 20530 Pursuant to the Foreign Agents Registration Act of
1938, as amended,” FARA.gov, April 1, 2026. Name of Foreign principal: Province of Alberta. Archived pdf on file at DeSmog. ↩︎
13
“Cover Page: Governors Coalition for Energy Security: Policy Issues and Solutions,” Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/01/2026. Retried from FARA.gov. ↩︎
14
“Cover Page: Governors Coalition for Energy Security: Policy Issues and Solutions,” Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/01/2026. Retried from FARA.gov. ↩︎
15
“Cover Page: Governors Coalition for Energy Security: Policy Issues and Solutions,” Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 04/01/2026. Retried from FARA.gov. ↩︎
16
“Exhibit A to Registration Statement: Registration Number 754,” FARA.gov, March 10, 2025. Name of Foreign principal: Province of Alberta. Archived pdf on file at DeSmog. ↩︎
17
7540-Registration-Statement-20250213-1.pdf. February 13, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. ↩︎
18
“Exhibit A to Registration Statement: Registration Number 754,” FARA.gov, March 10, 2025. Name of Foreign principal: Province of Saskatchewan. Archived pdf on file at DeSmog. ↩︎
19
“Exhibit A to Registration Statement: Registration Number 754,” FARA.gov, March 10, 2025. Name of Foreign principal: Province of Alberta. Archived pdf on file at DeSmog. ↩︎
20
“Exhibit A to Registration Statement: Registration Number 754,” FARA.gov, March 10, 2025. Name of Foreign principal: Province of Saskatchewan. Archived pdf on file at DeSmog. ↩︎

DeSmog

DeSmog

Governors Coalition for Energy Security

Governors Coalition for Energy Security (GCES)

Background

GCES, Consumer Energy Alliance, and HBW Resources

Stance on Climate Change