2026 Drake Dialogues
Energy Affordability & The New Economic Geography
Ener
Experts, Practitioners & Local Leaders Discuss Future of Energy and Environmental Security
October 19-20, 2026
Oil Region National Heritage Area, Northwest Pennsylvania
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Community Seminar & Tours
October 19, 2026
The conference's inaugural day features presentations on community transition projects, heritage and recreational tours. Open to conference attendees and the public with prior registration and subject to availability. The program is designed to facilitate interactions and spark new conversations between local leaders and conference attendees concerning future opportunities and lesson learned from the region's 167-year and counting experience with - and environmental recovery from - the early oil and gas Industry.
Multiple Venues
Throughout the Oil Region National Heritage Area between Oil City and Titusville, Pennsylvania
Drake Dialogues
October 20, 2026
In the spirit of Edwin Drake's tenacity and creativity, which produced America's first oil discovery in 1859, global and local experts, practitioners, and leaders will gather to discuss and debate the future of energy security and the environment. This includes hybrid interactive presentations with panelists giving introductory arguments followed by a free-flowing dialogue followed by questions and answers. By invitation only.
The Venue
Drake Well Museum & Park commemorates Edwin Drake's drilling of America's first oil well In 1859. The museum and surrounding grounds chronicle the birth and development of Pennsylvania's petroleum and gas industry and its evolution into today's global enterprise.
Join The Conversation!
Mid-October in Western Pennsylvania features some of the world's most breathtaking autumn foliage, the annual gift from the varied deciduous forest that took the area back from the brink of environmental destruction following the early oil boom.
Who Should Attend?
Experts, practitioners, officials and those interested in how America and the World can practically balance their energy and enviromental goals.
What to Expect?
A full two days of in-depth dialogues, debates and presentations on energy and environmental security Issues now facing the United States and the World - as well as a lot of history, great food and even a bit of local moonshine!
For more information, please email info@drakeenergysecurity.org
Select 2026 Participants
Hon. Kyle Haustveit
Under Secretary
U.S. Department of Energy
Mike Sommers
President & CEO
American Petroleum Institute
Daniel Yergin
Vice Chairman
S&P Global
Maryann Mannen
President, CEO & Chairman
Marathon Petroleum
Brenda Shaffer
Professor
Naval Postgraduate School
Khazar Ibrahim
Ambassador
Republic of Azerbaijan
Steven C. Rockefeller, Jr.
Chairman & CEO
Rose Rock Group
Sarah Fenton
Vice President, Upstream
EQT Corporation
Francesco Maria Graziani
Energy and Climate Counselor Delegation of the European Union to the United States
Kevin Book
Managing Director, Research, ClearView Energy Partners
Raad Alkadiri
Managing Partner
3TEN32 Associates
Asim Haque
Executive Vice President
PJM Interconnection
Andrew J. Tabler
Author and former Director, National Security Council and Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of State
Ken Moriyasu
Senior Fellow
Hudson Institute
Don Houser
Government Affairs
BHE GT&S,
Berkshire Hathaway Energy
Will Polen
Senior Director
United States Energy Association
Dan Weaver
President
Pennsylvania Independent OIl & Gas Association
Julie Murphy
Counsel
Jewell Jimmerson Natural Resources Law
Alexis Harmon
Associate Director
Global Energy Center
Atlantic Council
Elizabeth Stelle
Vice President for Policy
Commonwealth Foundation
Past Dialogues
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