Continental’s Harold Hamm testifies at Senate Finance committee

Harold Hamm, founder and CEO of Oklahoma City’s Continental Resources Inc., is testifying this morning before the U.S. Senate Finance committee in Washington, D.C. The hearing is about energy tax policy. Chris Casteel in our Washington bureau is covering the hearing and will have a story later. (Update: Here’s Casteel’s story.)

Hamm also serves as chairman of GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s energy policy committee. Hamm has been an outspoken critic of President Barack Obama’s energy policies, saying they are favoring renewable, green energy projects to the detriment of oil and natural gas producers. Obama has backed the elimination of several tax credits long enjoyed by oil and gas producers.

Also testifying at the hearing is former Oklahoma Sen. Don Nickles, who is now a lobbyist for several energy companies, including ExxonMobil Corp. and Anadarko Petroleum Corp. Nickles is a board member at embattled Chesapeake Energy Corp., which anticipates several changes in its board makeup by June 22.

Thank you for joining our conversation on Power Play. We encourage your discussion but ask that you stay within the bounds of our commenting and posting policy.