Energy Tomorrow Blog
SOAE 2020: This is Las Cruces
economic growth new mexico oil and natural gas development
Mark Green
Posted January 17, 2020
API’s State of American Energy report is focused on the growth and empowerment that natural gas and oil provide to communities across the United States. Las Cruces, New Mexico, is one of them. Thanks to abundant, affordable energy, cities and towns like Las Cruces are on the move, with opportunity expanding before them.
Family Budgets, Home Heating and the Environmental Benefit of Natural Gas
natural gas heat consumers renewable energy
John D. Siciliano
Posted January 16, 2020
Natural gas can’t be beat when it comes to its superior performance in heating a home, especially when compared to heat pumps and other appliances that rely solely on electricity.
Natural gas-powered appliances are both more cost-effective and environmentally friendly for homeowners when compared to their all-electric counterparts, according to consumer studies and government reports.
So, why are some groups campaigning to ban homeowners from using natural gas in favor of these more expensive alternatives?
Affordable Natural Gas & U.S. Emissions Reductions
natural gas emission reductions electricity coal
Sam Winstel
Posted January 15, 2020
Over the past decade, coal-to-natural gas switching in power generation has driven domestic emissions reductions, positioning America at the leading edge of climate and air quality progress. And last year, U.S. greenhouse gas emissions fell by 2.1% – almost entirely due to a decline in coal consumption, according to new analysis from the Rhodium Group.
The increase of cleaner-burning natural gas in electricity production accounts for much of this positive development, as natural gas emits about half the carbon compared to coal combustion. In 2019, coal-fired power generation fell by an estimated 18%, the largest year-on-year decline on record, and related emissions dropped by 190 million metric tons – equivalent to the amount of carbon sequestered by nearly 250 million acres of U.S. forests in one year.
SOAE 2020: This is Moon Township
pennsylvania american energy oil and natural gas development
Sam Winstel
Posted January 14, 2020
America’s natural gas and oil revolution has benefitted cities across the nation by fueling manufacturing, boosting agriculture and growing local economies. Case in point: Moon Township – located northwest of Pittsburgh – which was highlighted in API’s annual State of American Energy report for its thriving small business community.
Energy development in the Marcellus Shale has restored the economy of Western Pennsylvania, creating good-paying jobs that helped residents weather the recession during the first decade of the 21st century.
Pushing Back Against the 'American Recession Platform'
hydraullic fracturing fracking economic losses oil and natural gas production
Dean Foreman
Posted January 10, 2020
API’s new State of American Energy report illustrates how abundant U.S. natural gas and oil is empowering economic growth and opportunity across the country – and the potential harm to these benefits if fracking is banned, as some presidential candidates have promised to do.
The Washington Post’s Dino Grandoni has an analysis taking exception to the latter point, that banning hydraulic fracturing – the technology most responsible for launching the U.S. energy revolution – would seriously damage the U.S. economy, raise energy costs for American consumers and could likely trigger a recession at home and harm the global economy.
As an economist I would argue that an economic study isn’t needed to validate API’s point about a fracking ban. History shows what would happen if natural gas and oil production from the world’s leading producer was undercut by a fracking ban. According to independent studies, a sudden and enduring return to oil with triple-digit prices is the likely risk.
SOAE 2020: This is Virginia Beach
virginia american energy oil and natural gas development
Sam Winstel
Posted January 10, 2020
The economic benefits of the nation’s energy revolution – empowering broad sector growth and opportunity – are tangible all across the United States, and are illustrated in API’s new annual report, “This is Energy Progress.”
Virginia’s Hampton Roads region is just one example, where households, businesses and military installations are helped by abundant domestic natural gas and oil. While Virginia isn’t a top producing state, plentiful and low-cost energy resources empower the shipping and tourism economy and strengthen the armed forces that are so visible locally.
NEPA Reform Provides Foundation for Energy Progress
environmental review infrastructure pipeline expansion
Sam Winstel
Posted January 9, 2020
Today, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) proposed reforms to regulations that implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which stand to improve the permitting and approval processes for energy and other infrastructure projects across the U.S. By streamlining federal regulations, businesses and government agencies can develop new infrastructure that generates good-paying jobs, spurs economic growth and protects the environment.
America’s robust, state-of-the-art energy infrastructure allows natural gas and oil producers to safely and seamlessly deliver affordable fuels to consumers. The nation’s complex and extensive network of pipelines, roads, railways, ports and export terminals is fundamental to our energy and environmental progress. Expanding and upgrading this system ensures that abundant, homegrown energy will continue to reach American households, businesses and trading partners – but unnecessary, expensive and time-consuming regulations have delayed this critical build-out.
State of American Energy 2020
american energy climate oil and natural gas development
Sam Winstel
Posted January 8, 2020
The U.S. is the global leader in energy production, carbon emissions reductions and environmental performance. In 2020, the State of American Energy is one of leadership in natural gas and oil development and ongoing progress toward global climate solutions.
For decades, U.S. energy policy has focused on reducing our dependence on foreign natural gas and oil – the outlook was often defined by scarcity, rather than abundance. Each of our last seven presidents understood that clean, affordable and reliable American energy is essential to both economic growth and national security. And today, our nation has achieved this hard-fought, bipartisan goal.
U.S. Energy – For Progress in 2020 and Beyond
Mark Green
Posted January 7, 2020
Energy empowers the United States – economic growth, national security and our ability to address risks posed by climate change. Energy is essential to the progress that makes Americans’ lives and our country better.
We call this “Energy For Progress” – the theme at today’s State of American Energy event in Washington, D.C. (details at www.api.org).
Energy Gains in 2019 Set Stage for 2020
global markets energy exports production trade
Dean Foreman
Posted December 19, 2019
In this year-end edition of API’s Industry Outlook and Monthly Statistical Report (MSR) for December 2019, we make a toast to the natural gas and oil industry’s year of achievement and look forward to what appears to matter the most to U.S. energy consumers, producers and markets.
Record U.S. natural gas and oil production, demand and exports – coupled with low prices – and regional economic growth have been supported by new resource and infrastructure developments. Real domestic West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil prices in 2019 have remained at about half of what they were 2011-2014, but with more than double the amount of home-grown oil production in 2019 compared with 2011. This has been an unabashed win for consumers, and it also has rejuvenated investments in resource development, processing, transportation, manufacturing and petrochemicals, as we discussed here.