Energy Tomorrow Blog
New Mexico's Leasing Concerns Should Concern Us All
new mexico federal leases jobs us energy security
Mark Green
Posted March 18, 2021
It’s not surprising that New Mexico’s governor, both U.S. senators and other elected officials are concerned with the Biden administration’s halt in new federal natural gas and oil leasing. In 2020, New Mexico was the nation’s No. 3 crude oil producer and No. 8 natural gas producer, and the administration’s policy could affect billions of dollars in state revenues and thousands of jobs.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, penned a letter to President Biden earlier this week cautioning that potential lost revenues as a result of the policy could mean significant hardship for her state. New Mexico receives more than 40% of its total revenue – nearly $4 billion annually – from taxes and royalties paid by the natural gas and oil industry.
Expanding Educational Opportunity For a More Diverse Workforce
industry standards workforce jobs
Lem Smith
Posted March 4, 2021
The natural gas and oil industry is preparing for the future by investing in the next generation of engineers, scientists and problem solvers. We’re committed to attracting and retaining a diverse, inclusive and resilient workforce of men and women ready to tackle the world’s energy and climate challenges.
Expanding access to educational opportunities is essential in this endeavor.
To this end, the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association (LMOGA) are excited to announce two new additions to the industry’s Minority Serving Institution (MSI) initiative.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.
API, Historically Black Colleges and Universities Partner on Access to Industry Standards
industry standards workforce jobs
Debra Phillips
Posted February 23, 2021
American Petroleum Institute (API) recently announced the first three participants in its new higher education initiative which makes all 700+ API standards accessible, free of charge, to students at accredited Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs).
Prairie View A&M University, Southern University and A&M College and Grambling University are the program’s first participants and as we mark Black History Month – celebrating diversity and the contributions of Black Americans – this news is especially timely.
API’s new program is a natural follow-on to last October’s Facebook conversation between Dr. Benjamin Chavis, National Newspaper Publishers Association president and CEO, and Mike Sommers, API President and CEO, in which they discussed career opportunities for African Americans in the natural gas and oil industry.
When Energy Policy is at Odds with Policy Goals
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Mark Green
Posted January 28, 2021
We’ve talked about the potential harm to economic recovery and U.S. energy security in the Biden administration’s early, misguided policy actions – killing the Keystone XL pipeline and halting new natural gas and oil leasing on federal lands and waters, the apparent first step toward banning federal development altogether.
Taking a closer look at the flurry of executive orders from the White House, the president’s energy actions also run counter to his own objectives, including these three:
Advancing “Made in America” concepts; conservation and environmental protection and improving the U.S. government’s relationships with Native Americans.
Early Missteps on Energy are Blows to Economy, Security
white house keystone xl pipeline federal leases economic growth jobs us energy security
Mark Green
Posted January 25, 2021
It’s unfortunate that the Biden administration’s first couple of energy decisions – effectively canceling the Keystone XL pipeline and signaling it will halt new federal natural gas and oil leasing – work against economic growth and could undermine the nation’s energy security.
With the U.S. economy struggling to recover from the pandemic, there could hardly be a worse time for actions that kill jobs, potentially increase energy costs and cause the U.S. to import more oil.
Sure, the president promised these things during the campaign. Yet, it’s disappointing nonetheless that thousands of U.S. workers associated with building the Keystone XL are now without jobs and that a federal leasing ban could start a new era of increasing U.S. energy dependence. Coincidentally, the administration just unveiled its “Buy American” initiative. What about energy? How about “Buy American Energy”?
Ready For Recovery: Four Reasons to Invest in Natural Gas and Oil Infrastructure
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Mike Sommers
Posted January 5, 2021
As we begin the new year, it’s worth recognizing that the challenges facing our lawmakers are immense. But with consensus-driven approaches, we believe the public and private sectors can partner to deliver post-pandemic recovery and long-term economic growth for America.
Of course, rebuilding the nation’s economy will require realistic and workable energy solutions – ones that prioritize resource development and infrastructure expansion. Here’s why investing in modern energy infrastructure can build pathways for economic and environmental progress.
Federal Leasing Ban Would Add to Wyoming's Pain
wyoming federal leases economic losses jobs
Mark Green
Posted November 17, 2020
If President-elect Joe Biden follows makes good on his campaign promise to ban new natural gas and oil leasing on federal lands and waters, a recent OnLocation analysis sees the U.S. weakened on the world stage – forced to import more foreign oil – with crippling jobs and economic impacts as well.
Losses at the state level would touch Americans where they live. We’ve looked at New Mexico and Louisiana.
In Wyoming, another producing state, the impacts would be especially devastating. The federal government controls nearly half of the acreage in Wyoming, and the state’s energy economy has been rocked by pandemic-related forces, losing about 20% of its energy-related jobs through the second quarter, according to this NBC News report. Banning new federal leasing and development would have dire effects, OnLocation’s analysis projected.
Build Back Better ... Now
keystone xl pipelines jobs canada
Mark Green
Posted November 6, 2020
Building new pipelines means jobs. Good jobs. That’s the takeaway from a recent announcement that $1.6 billion in contracts have been awarded to six U.S. union contractors to build 800 miles of the Keystone XL pipeline in three states.
TC Energy, the pipeline’s builder, said the awards represent more than 7,000 union jobs in 2021, with additional 2021 contracts to be announced that will push the jobs number north of 8,000. ... This is good work for American workers who value employment associated with the natural gas and oil industry.
From Presidential Debate No. 1 – Climate, Energy, Jobs
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Mark Green
Posted September 30, 2020
Sifting through what was a rollicking presidential debate Tuesday night, searching for important takeaways … Let’s look at the discussion near the end of the event that focused on climate, energy policy and energy jobs – in which safe and responsible natural gas and oil production here at home is a critical player.
As was accurately noted during the debate, U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector are at their lowest levels in a generation – primarily because of growing use of natural gas to fuel electricity generation. Natural gas is the leading fuel for U.S. power generation and is projected to continue leading for decades to come.