My paper concentrates on methodological questions that intersect Russia studies, environmental politics, geography and analytics of power. I describe a methodological tool that suits well to study Russian energy and environmental policies on the local/regional level. The semi-authoritative political context, coupled with many practices dating from the totalitarian Soviet rule, of today’s Russia is very interesting when looking at interconnectedness of local/regional energy and environmental policies, especially in the resource rich regions of Russia. The fact that Russian actors and institutions in and around the energy sector have to be more open about what they do and reflect their undertakings opens new perspectives in studying (societal) power in a post-totalitarian context. The geographical perspective, adding to the analysis connections between the local/regional environment and cultural-political practices, is fruitful in bringing forth how power is exercised in a post-totalitarian and resource and energy rich state.