API welcomes Senate support for U.S. offshore energy development
WASHINGTON, July 26, 2017 – API welcomed a letter sent today by 36 U.S. Senators to Interior Secretary Zinke in support of the safe and environmentally responsible development of our nation’s offshore energy resources as the administration begins developing a new five-year offshore oil and natural gas leasing program.
“We welcome the Senate’s support for an offshore leasing plan that will fully embrace our nation’s energy potential and provide enormous benefits to American consumers and businesses,” said API Upstream Director Erik Milito. “Developing our abundant offshore energy resources is a critical part of continuing the U.S. energy renaissance, and we will continue working with Congress and the administration on policies to help keep energy affordable for consumers.
“The U.S. oil and natural gas industry’s commitment to safe operations has helped strengthen U.S. energy security and contributed significantly to our nation’s economy. With eighty percent of American voters supporting increased domestic oil and natural gas production, it’s important that the next five-year plan includes the ability to explore our resources in the Arctic, Atlantic, and the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. This would spur additional investment and economic activity, create thousands of jobs, provide billions in government revenue, and strengthen our national security.”
The Senate letter was led by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and can be viewed here.
API is the only national trade association representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry, which supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy. API’s more than 625 members include large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms. Our members provide most of the nation’s energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 40 million Americans.
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