Energy Tomorrow Blog
Celebrating STEM Education, Empowering Solution Seekers
stem education workforce energy industry
Sam Winstel
Posted November 6, 2019
To mark National STEM Day this Friday, API and a group of partners are launching the STEM Careers Coalition that focuses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in the K-12 grades, with an emphasis on equity and access.
API, Discovery Education, Chevron, Boeing, Best Buy, The Manufacturing Institute, and Microsoft are committed to advancing the future of education through 2025 and beyond. The goal is to improve the learning experience for 10 million students in 5,000 schools nationwide – through direct investments in classrooms, connecting industry employees and students and creating an easily accessible career portal. Ultimately, the coalition will work to bridge the STEM workforce skills gap – which may leave 2.4 million positions unfilled between 2018-2028, according to the Manufacturing Institute.
Recognizing the Workforce this National Energy Awareness Month
workforce diversity stem energy industry
Sam Winstel
Posted October 15, 2019
Since 1991, October has served as National Energy Awareness Month, recognizing the importance of sustainable resource management and the dedication of the people who enable our energy economy. More recently, this also has highlighted the remarkable role of American resource abundance in strengthening the domestic economy and reducing our dependence on imported energy.
Given that the U.S. is the world’s leading natural gas and oil producer, and is expected to become a net exporter of total energy this year, the story of National Energy Awareness Month is now one of energy security and economic progress – powered, in large part, by innovation and an industrious and tech-savvy workforce.
Energy, Women and the Opportunity to Lead
women in energy industry oil and natural gas jobs
Megan Bloomgren
Posted March 9, 2019
To mark International Women’s Day, we have a new video featuring leading women from the natural gas and oil industry, including Susan Dio, chairman and president of BP America; Gretchen Watkins, president and U.S. country chair for Shell; and Stacey Nachbaur, Hess senior operations manager for upstream assets. Of course, the things these women say about the natural gas and oil industry are true every day of the year.
Our industry is high tech and critically important to the economy and powering modern life. Natural gas and oil are center stage in most geopolitical discussions, and natural gas is leading the way in reducing greenhouse emissions.
The Women of Industry: Continuing Positive Momentum
women in energy industry jobs workforce
Mark Green
Posted March 29, 2018
Women continue to advance in the natural gas and oil industry. Yes, there’s more progress to be made – and it will be made – yet, it’s clear the old narrative that our industry remains the realm of men is just so yesterday – yesteryear, really.
This week Royal Dutch Shell announced former Maersk Oil CEO Gretchen Watkins will become president of its North American operations. Last week, Susan Dio was named chairwoman and president of BP America. There are other recent examples, including Julie Robertson, president and CEO of Noble Corporation and Vicki Hollub, president and CEO of Occidental Petroleum.
Industry Leaders #PressforProgress on International Women’s Day
Tracee Bentley
Posted March 7, 2018
What if I told you that this year’s International Women’s Day theme, #PressforProgress, fits perfectly with the gains that women have made in the natural gas and oil industry? While it’s true that too often I am one of a few women in the room at industry events, that paradigm is shifting.
Here’s the good news: Nearly half of women employed in the industry work in management and professional jobs, a number that is expected to grow through 2035. The growing numbers of women in natural gas and oil are encouraging, but it’s not enough.
According to a recent API study, the industry must do more to raise awareness of industry opportunities for women and minorities, who are expected to fill nearly 40 percent of the 1.9 million natural gas and oil job opportunities through 2035. This isn’t just a feel-good sentiment, our industry’s ability to continue to grow and innovate depends on our ability to attract women and minorities to our ranks.
‘Women in Energy’ Reception Highlights Industry Career Opportunity
Mark Green
Posted March 6, 2018
API started hosting its “Women in Energy” reception at the IHS CERAWeek conference a few years ago to highlight the contributions of women in our industry, as well as the opportunities for future careers.
Sustaining America’s Energy Momentum
power-past-impossible us energy industry offshore energy trade oil and natural gas spill
Mark Green
Posted January 19, 2018
The past week or so we’ve talked a lot about how natural gas and oil help Americans power past the impossible – meeting the challenges of today and building a path to a better future. See API’s 2018 annual report, check out our keynote video and listen to API President and CEO Jack Gerard’s State of American Energy remarks. All point to the positive momentum for our nation provided by secure, abundant energy. Now, how do we keep it going? Gerard, speaking at the U.S. Energy Association’s State of the Energy Industry Forum, focused on three critical points for sustaining America’s energy renaissance.
Video: Hopes, Dreams and a Career in Energy
analysis oil and natural gas jobs workforce women in energy industry american petroleum institute Jack Gerard
Mark Green
Posted June 10, 2015
The video below was featured during last week’s Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) National Conference in Philadelphia, which highlighted the organization’s efforts to mentor at-risk youth. Take a look. “Darryl’s Story” is a compelling example of the positive effects of adult role-modeling – the good that can result when kids learn to dream big and then to work on their dreams. The energy connection: For Darryl, the journey took him to the oil and natural gas industry.
As an industry that’s creating opportunities that can be the realization of aspirations for fulfilling, well-paying careers, API is proud to partner with BBBS. The great news is that the oil and natural gas industry needs more Darryls, more young men and women who want to be geologists, engineers, chemists and the other specialties that comprise our modern workforce.
‘Women in Power’ Highlights Industry Career Opportunities
analysis women in energy industry workforce colorado american petroleum institute oil and natural gas development
Mark Green
Posted June 4, 2015
A big event in Denver this week, highlighting the career opportunities for women in the oil and natural gas industry. “Women in Power” was attended by about 150 of Denver’s most influential female leaders and launched a larger Colorado initiative designed to help attract women to the industry and to retain them for life-long careers.
The Denver event was keynoted by Democratic strategist Celinda Lake and Republican strategist Linda DiVall, co-authors of a study released earlier this year that found the chief factor in increasing female representation in the oil and natural gas industry workforce is making them aware of the benefits of industry employment – including pay and security benefits and the chance for career advancement.
The Impact of Impact Fees
analysis pennsylvania energy industry severance tax natural gas development economic impacts
Mark Green
Posted May 18, 2015
Sometimes, amid the back and forth of discussions over energy policy, it’s helpful to talk about the real-world impacts of various policy choices.
Right now in Pennsylvania, a proposed natural gas severance tax that would supersede the state’s existing impact fee is being debated vigorous – chiefly because the current impact fee has been good for the commonwealth, very good.
It’s been so good that some question the wisdom of swapping the current system for a severance tax – especially given a recent study showing that the net effect likely would be less energy development, resulting in billions in economic losses and nearly 18,000 fewer jobs supported by 2025. We’ve likened it to the proverbial folly of killing the golden egg-laying goose.
So, if the current impact fee has been good for Pennsylvania, can we be more specific? Yes.