Energy Tomorrow Blog
Rigorous Science to Protect Public Health and Safety
public health safe operations science
Uni Blake
Posted September 4, 2019
The natural gas and oil industry cares about the health and safety of the communities where it operates. These are our homes and communities, too – places where we’re raising our families. Getting health and safety right is more than just business. It’s a major focus of our industry’s engagement with communities, as we earn and sustain the permission to safely develop natural gas and oil.
As part of this engagement, industry is mindful of the safety, health and welfare of surrounding communities, to ensure careful decision-making related to our health and safety responsibilities. We’re guided by high-quality science. We employ and work with scientists, including toxicologists and epidemiologists, so that our analyses are well-founded.
As a scientist myself, let me be clear: We must rely on real science as a basis for sound decision-making so that as we operate the public and the environment are protected. Unscientific material – such as opinion pieces, unfinished studies and misinformation campaigns – isn’t helpful to this process, creates false narratives and can skew public perceptions.
Mice, Sound Science and Working to Protect Public Health
public health safe operations hydraulic fracturing science
Uni Blake
Posted February 14, 2018
The natural gas and oil industry is continually evaluating the safety of its operations and products while developing research projects, technologies and practices that are designed to protect people and the environment. We acknowledge and appreciate that experts from the regulatory and scientific communities are also conducting studies with the same goals.
A recently published paper that associated endocrine disruption to chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing fluid generated some press attention. Yet, as we compare that study’s findings to other scientific literature, there’s a need for caution when interpreting “what if?” study findings.
'Sound Science' Should Halt Misguided Delaware Basin Fracking Ban
hydraulic fracturing science safe operations industry standards groundwater protection delaware
Mark Green
Posted January 23, 2018
As the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) considers its proposal to ban hydraulic fracturing in the four-state watershed it oversees, the commission should base its final decision on “sound science.” Those aren’t the natural gas and oil industry’s words; they’re the commission’s – found in its own Vision Statement.
Advancing our Society with STEM
stem education Oil and Gas science social-license-to-operate
Kate Lowery
Posted November 29, 2017
Vote For STEM - Vote4Energy
education Energy 101 science us energy vote4energy everything social-license-to-operate
Kate Lowery
Posted August 4, 2016
Part of industry’s commitment to the country and its future growth and prosperity is supporting the educational needs of the next-generation workforce that will bring that future to life.
With experts saying much of that growth and prosperity – as well as the accompanying careers – will be built on a foundation of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, a major part of industry’s outreach is focused on developing students’ interest in these topics as early as possible.
On Ozone, the Science and Impacts of Regulation Speak Loudly
analysis ozone standards epa regulation air quality science economic impacts american petroleum institute
Mark Green
Posted May 27, 2015
With national ozone levels falling, some activists argue for stricter federal standards the best way they can – by pointing to the relatively few areas in the United States where ozone levels remain above the current standard of 75 parts per billion (ppb).
Yet, think about that. If an urban area like Los Angeles or Houston currently is out of attainment with the standard set at 75 ppb, how will lowering the national standard to 65 or 60 ppb – which EPA is considering – make a difference in those and other non-compliant areas? Good question.
The fact remains that the current standards are working. EPA data shows ozone levels declined 18 percent between 2008 and 2013.
EPA vs. EPA – Keystone XL Round
epa keystone xl pipeline politics science oil markets renewable fuel standard
Bob Greco
Posted February 5, 2015
Two of the Environmental Protection Agency’s seven statements of purpose reference “best available scientific information” and “accurate information.” These also happen to be two things that many in Washington, D.C., feel that EPA is setting aside in the pursuit of political goals. Yesterday the agency released comments on the Keystone XL pipeline that gave plenty of credence to its critics.
It is somewhat of a shame, because EPA’s comments did make many good points. It acknowledged the comprehensiveness of the State Departments review of the project, the usefulness of mitigation measures the project will take to reduce environmental impact and the reduction of risks associated with spills and leaks from the pipeline. And then we begin to drift from accurate information into political calculation.
Education for the Jobs of Tomorrow
oil and natural gas jobs education science technology engineers energy
Mark Green
Posted April 25, 2014
A couple of the main points in API President and CEO Jack Gerard’s speech to the STEM Solutions National Leadership Conference in Washington this week:
- America’s oil and natural gas industry offers the careers to attract motivated science, technology, engineering and math graduates – and it needs them.
- Industry’s dynamic job-creating ability must be sustained through strategies and policies that allow it to continue to be a global energy leader.
Kudos to U.S. News & World Report for hosting the conference that attracted so many bright young people – including one of the youngest people to visit the North and South Pole and a teen-ager who developed an early detection test for pancreatic cancer. Gerard used the opportunity to underscore the oil and natural gas industry’s need for science and technology workers.
Energy Today – June 19, 2013
Economy science engineers hydraulic fracturing keystone xl manufacturing
Mary Schaper
Posted June 19, 2013
Free Enterprise – Energizing Manufacturing
Current North American energy abundance is the result of innovation and private-sector investment, writes FE. “Government policies that restrict development or prevent the market from working effectively may reduce the benefits this energy competitive advantage offers to Americans and to our manufacturing industries.”
Project Syndicate – Frack to the Future
Harvard professor and former Clinton administration economic advisor Jeffrey Frankel argues the environmental benefits of increased natural gas use, noting that “one can virtually prove that shale gas is the major factor behind the fall in US emissions.”