Energy Tomorrow Blog
The Common Ground of Emissions Reduction
emission reductions carbon dioxide emissions methane emissions the-environmental-partnership cera

Mark Green
Posted March 5, 2021
We don’t yet know the full extent of the Biden administration’s strategy for U.S. energy. As API President and CEO Mike Sommers has said repeatedly since the election, our industry is ready to work with the administration for a better economy, cleaner environment and progress toward climate goals. Based on remarks by former Secretary of State John Kerry at the CERAWeek conference, there’s important common ground for a cooperative relationship.
“I don’t object per se to fossil fuel," said the president's special envoy for climate. "I object to the byproduct of fossil fuel, which is the carbon. That’s the problem, and the methane, that's another major problem emerging. So, we have to be able to abate. It’s the debate between unabated and abated production.”
Common ground: The natural gas and oil industry also is for abating carbon emissions – and has been working to reduce carbon and capture methane, through innovation and technology, for some time.
Industry investment, innovation and problem-solving on emissions came up so often during CERAWeek, it was hard to track them all. If, as Kerry said, the administration sees carbon and methane emissions as the targets – and not the energy from natural gas and oil – industry not only is a willing partner, it’s one that’s tackling those challenges head on.
CERAWeek: Sommers Talks Cooperation, Jobs and Energy Security
jobs us energy security climate cera

Mark Green
Posted March 2, 2021
The natural gas and oil industry is foundational to the U.S. economy and security today and will be for decades to come. That’s reality – and a welcome one, given U.S. world leadership in natural gas and oil production. Natural gas and oil frame the issues of energy and environmental progress – the priorities of safely producing the affordable reliable energy Americans use every day and boosting the economy, while also reducing emissions and our industry’s environmental footprint. We can do both, together.
API President and CEO Mike Sommers underscored these themes at this week’s CERAWeek energy conference – virtual this year because of the pandemic. Sommers’ key points: The natural gas and oil industry will work with the Biden administration as much as possible to achieve progress on climate goals – including technology and regulation; natural gas and oil are fundamental to U.S. security and world leadership; and natural gas and oil is supporting U.S. and world growth, as well as the high-paying jobs of millions of Americans.
CERAWeek Update: Natural Gas and Power Generation

Mark Green
Posted March 8, 2018
The CERAWeek conference turned its attention to the nation’s electricity system, with lots of talk about renewables, power storage, wholesale markets and the like. Most interesting was Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner Rob Powelson’s calling out of states that have adopted or are considering anti-natural gas policies. Check it out in my latest CERAWeek update.
CERAWeek Update: Natural Gas, Infrastructure Take the Stage
cera natural gas infrastructure

Mark Green
Posted March 7, 2018
U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry has, well, energy. Lots of it.
The secretary kicked off natural gas day at the CERAWeek conference with a robust affirmation of the benefits of the American energy renaissance before a room filled with people largely responsible for bringing it about.
CERAWeek Update: The Case for Petroleum
petroleum social-license-to-operate cera

Mark Green
Posted March 6, 2018
On Oil Day at the IHS CERAWeek conference, some big names affirmed the relevancy of natural gas and oil, to the United States and the world, for the foreseeable future – with the president and CEO of Saudi Aramco pushing back a little against those who argue that the world should abandon oil and natural gas for alternative energies.
CERAWeek Update: Day 1

Mark Green
Posted March 5, 2018
Highlights from the IHS CERAWeek conference in Houston that kicked off on Monday (infrastructure, trade)
‘The American Energy Moment’
Jack Gerard cera infrastructure keystone xl pipeline oil and gas industry ozone standards renewable fuel standard regulations

Mark Green
Posted April 23, 2015
Safety and Accountability in Offshore Development
center for offshore safety offshore development cera safety standards gulf of mexico oil spill bp macondo well

Mark Green
Posted April 22, 2015
Just a few minutes after BP Group Chief Executive Robert Dudley addressed a CERAWeek luncheon crowd on post-Macondo efforts that have seen the company spend more than $44 billion on Gulf response and cleanup, I talked with Center for Offshore Safety Executive Director Charlie Williams about the center’s work to increase the safety culture in offshore energy development. Williams, who was named to his position in March 2012, talked about systems approaches to safety and what the center has learned about offshore safety in its first annual performance report, issued earlier this month. Highlights of the conversation below.
Energy Abundance and Global Energy Leadership
oil and natural gas production keystone xl pipeline fuels refineries greenhouse gas emissions ozone regulations renewable fuel standard cera

Jack Gerard
Posted April 22, 2015
Today, the United States leads in petroleum products, refining and natural gas production, and we’re on track to lead in the production of crude oil; facts reinforced by last week’s EIA Annual Energy Outlook.
The report confirmed that our nation is more energy secure than ever before. And it said in part that domestic production of natural gas is projected to grow through 2040 eventually reaching 35.45 tcf; and domestic oil production is projected to exceed 10 mbd in a few years and remain at that level through 2030. Keeping pace with our nation’s increased development of our energy resources are the 139 operating refineries that produce more fuel than ever before and support roughly 540,000 good paying jobs and 1.9 percent of our nation’s economy.
U.S. Energy’s ‘Turning Point’
cera exports exxonmobil horizontal drilling hydraulic fracturing oil and natural gas industry refineries access oil sands

Mark Green
Posted April 21, 2015
The theme of this year’s CERAWeek mega-conference in Houston is “Turning Point: Energy’s New World.” It is a new world, with the United States producing more energy from oil and natural gas – the lead fuels of the U.S. and the world’s economies – than any other country. Just a decade ago few could have imagined the possibilities.