Florida Petroleum Council: Offshore energy executive action will bring jobs, economic growth to Florida

TALLAHASSEE, April 28, 2017 – Florida Petroleum Council Executive Director David Mica today welcomed the Trump administration’s executive action to advance offshore domestic energy production, bringing jobs and economic growth to the state. 

"This administration’s action to prioritize responsible U.S. energy development is welcome news for the consumers and businesses of Florida,” said Mica. “Developing our abundant offshore energy resources in the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico is a critical part of a robust, forward-looking energy policy that will secure our energy future, while also boosting important local industries like tourism. Expanded access to the Atlantic could create hundreds of thousands of jobs, generate billions of dollars in government revenue, and add over a million barrels of oil equivalent per day. 

“We also must look to and embrace the future development of domestic sources of oil and natural gas in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. The Eastern Gulf is in close proximity to existing production and infrastructure, and opening it would most quickly spur investment and economic activity, which could create thousands of jobs and provide billions of dollars in additional government revenue.

“The U.S. oil and natural gas industry has a long history of safe operations, and 80 percent of American voters support increased domestic oil and natural gas production. Developing our offshore resources will strengthen the U.S. energy renaissance and help meet the energy needs of the consumers and businesses of Florida."

The Florida Petroleum Council is a division of API, which represents all segments of America’s oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 625 members produce, process, and distribute most of the nation’s energy. The industry also supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy.