Energy Tomorrow Blog
Sommers: Fracking Helps Consumers, Environment
fracking hydraulic fracturing jobs economic growth
Mark Green
Posted February 25, 2020
Listen to API President and CEO Mike Sommers make the case for safe hydraulic fracturing – the chief reason the U.S. is the world’s leading natural gas and oil producer – during an interview with CNBC.
Sommers makes the affirmative argument for fracking because some presidential candidates are talking about banning it – as well as federal natural gas and oil leasing. Sommers said millions of good-paying American jobs, U.S. security and significant environmental progress could be at risk if those advocating a ban on fracking get their way.
The CNBC appearance was among interviews Sommers gave while in New York City last week. In each of them Sommers underscored the vast benefits to the U.S. from modern fracking technology.
SOAE 2020: This is Lansing
economic growth michigan state of american energy oil and natural gas development
Mark Green
Posted February 11, 2020
Lansing, Michigan, has come a long way since the days of high unemployment and general malaise, when people joked that the last person to leave Michigan should turn out the lights. Today, Lansing is on the rise – one of many communities across the country that have been helped by the empowering nature of abundant U.S. natural gas and oil (see API’s 2020 State of American Energy report).
Lansing is home to new auto manufacturing plants, and the municipal utility, Lansing Board of Water & Light (BWL), is replacing the last of its coal-fired generation facilities with a $500 million natural gas-fueled power plant.EIA’s Outlook: Natural Gas and Oil Remain Integral to U.S.
eia forecast economic growth oil and natural gas production us energy security
Mark Green
Posted February 5, 2020
The federal government’s latest energy projections are out, and they portray a U.S. energy future that continues to be driven by natural gas and oil.
It’s a future noteworthy for continued production growth, greater efficiency, the U.S. as a net energy exporter and emissions progress. All are connected in various ways to shale reserves and safe, modern hydraulic fracturing – and at risk if fracking were banned as some have advocated.
Americans understand how far the United States has come in the past decade and a half, thanks to shale and hydraulic fracturing, helping advance the goal voiced by U.S. presidents since Jimmy Carter of seeing this country end its reliance on foreign energy. Indeed, in December the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) confirmed the United States as a net exporter of energy in total for the first time since the 1950s. This is an historic sign of new U.S. global energy leadership, and it shouldn’t be thrown away with foolish policy choices.
SOAE 2020: This is Eau Claire
state of american energy oil and natural gas development wisconsin economic growth
Mark Green
Posted February 3, 2020
Energy – essential for growth and opportunity – is America’s strong suit, thanks to abundant domestic natural gas and oil. It’s a key driver in the national economy and also local economies, in places like Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
This is Energy Progress, the theme of API’s State of American Energy report. They’re living it in Eau Claire.
America’s Energy Future Can Unite Us All
us energy oil and natural gas us energy security economic growth
Mike Sommers
Posted January 24, 2020
Remarks delivered Jan. 23 at the U.S. Energy Association’s “State of the Energy Industry” forum.
From President Carter to President Trump, 40-plus years packs in plenty of different ideologies, but all seven leaders shared a common goal: energy security for America. Each of those presidents knew that clean, affordable, and reliable American energy is essential to both economic growth and national security.
For decades, U.S. energy policy has focused on reducing our dependence on foreign natural gas and oil. The outlook was often pessimistic, defined by scarcity rather than surplus. Times have changed, thanks to a U.S. energy revolution that’s full speed ahead.
SOAE 2020: This is Aurora
colorado economic growth oil and natural gas development
Mark Green
Posted January 24, 2020
There might not be a better example of the broad, empowering effects of abundant U.S. natural gas and oil than Aurora, Colorado. The city has emerged from Denver’s shadow on the strength of more than a dozen thriving business sectors – with energy underlying growth. It’s why API’s 2020 State of American Energy report profiled Aurora and six other communities to show how natural gas and oil are fundamental to economic expansion, job creation and rising opportunity across the U.S.
Kevin Hougen, Aurora Chamber of Commerce president, describes the city as diverse culturally and in industry, which is attracting new people from a range of career paths, from bio-science and healthcare to cybersecurity, aerospace and the military.
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.
Here’s How to Devastate U.S. Energy and the World Economy: Ban Fracking
hydraulic fracturing fracking democrats consumers economic growth
Mark Green
Posted November 14, 2019
Calls for a ban on hydraulic fracturing by some of the Democratic presidential candidates continue to make for discussion on the campaign trail – and boy, that is a discussion everyone should be paying attention to. The stakes are sky-high.
Recently, we highlighted this Michael Lynch analysis warning that a fracking ban could devastate the U.S. economy. Now the Manhattan Institute’s Mark P. Mills has a piece on Real Clear Energy asserting that in the most serious scenarios, banning U.S. fracking could put the global economy in recession – entirely plausible, given that the United States is the leading producer of natural gas and oil, the two energy sources that supply 54% of the globe’s fuel. In all, Mills notes in this report, fossil fuels supply 84% of the world’s energy.
Those are the stakes when candidates kick around the notion of banning hydraulic fracturing, which is used for 95% of new U.S. wells today. Ban fracking and you pull the rug out from under U.S. production – and with it, energy security, global energy leadership and, yes, environmental progress – considering increased U.S. use of natural gas has lowered energy-related carbon dioxide emissions to their lowest levels in a generation.
Offshore Energy Funds Conservation, Strengthens U.S. Economy
offshore energy revenues conservation economic growth
Mike Sommers
Posted November 7, 2019
Safe and responsible energy development drives economic growth and environmental progress, and by expanding exploration on federal lands and along the Outer Continental Shelf, the U.S. stands to generate billions of dollars in funding for infrastructure, education and conservation.
USMCA Approval Essential to Economic Progress, Energy Security
trade economic growth consumers canada mexico
Mike Sommers
Posted October 23, 2019
Given bipartisan consensus on the importance of trade to America and our allies, finalization and approval of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in Congress is long overdue. Because North American markets are highly interdependent, maintaining the tariff-free, intracontinental flow of natural gas, oil and refined products will help ensure that American families have continued access to affordable and reliable energy, and to our export markets in Canada and Mexico.
When it comes to the U.S. economy, the advantages of the USMCA are clear. Trade with Canada and Mexico supports 12 million American jobs across every state, according to the Business Roundtable, and totaled nearly $1.3 trillion in 2017. A U.S. International Trade Commission report estimates that approving USMCA could raise real GDP by $68.2 billion and create 176,000 jobs, relative to a baseline, six years after the trade deal enters into force.