Energy Tomorrow Blog
American Energy and the Biden-Putin Summit
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Frank Macchiarola
Posted June 16, 2021
Here are three things to consider as President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin have their first in-person meeting today in Geneva, Switzerland: Energy is at the heart of Russia's influence and power; new U.S. policies put American energy leadership at risk; and U.S. oil and natural gas should be strengthened, not weakened. ...
There is no question the U.S. relationship with Russia is complicated and will be difficult for years to come. The last thing the U.S. needs is to try to deal with Russia while it is at the same time actively weakening its own energy position. It is an unforced error, an opening that cannot be handed over to formidable adversaries such as Mr. Putin.
Nation's Need for Secure, Accessible Energy at Stake in Policy Debate
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Dean Foreman
Posted June 10, 2021
Throughout the 2021 economic recovery, API’s data have demonstrated the intertwined relationship between the nation’s recovering economy and affordable, reliable energy. Leading economic indicators have continued to rise, and along with them so has oil demand – even as domestic oil drilling and supply have fallen.
According to the current Bloomberg consensus of economic forecasters, U.S. real GDP growth could average 6.6% in 2021 compared with 2020 -- its strongest expansion since 1984, when the real price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil was just over $70 per barrel. Coincidentally, recent oil prices have been at similar levels, and the key question now is whether we have the energy supply to support such a torrid pace of growth.
In that context, actions by the Biden administration that negatively impact or could impact domestic oil and natural gas production appear detached from the nation’s critical need for secure, accessible energy.
Mr. Putin’s Energy Bet
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Mark Green
Posted June 9, 2021
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s negative comments last week about fracking – “truly a catastrophic type of production” – and U.S. natural gas are hardly surprising.
Putin has disparaged U.S. hydraulic fracturing before, and we get it: Few heads of state are as threatened by U.S. global energy leadership, built by the fracking/horizontal drilling revolution. Putin’s newest remarks come as Russia nears completion of a new natural gas pipeline, Nord Stream 2, to Germany that will vie with exported U.S. natural gas. It’s all in the marketing, right?
More seriously, the Russian leader’s comments are one among many reminders that energy markets are global, that there’s rigorous competition between energy-producing nations to meet global demand and that domestic natural gas and oil production and the infrastructure to transport it are critically important to our economy, security and way of life.
The Energy Infrastructure Opportunity
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Mark Green
Posted June 1, 2021
U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm continues voicing support for our nation’s pipeline network, which is critically important to Americans’ everyday lives, the economy, national security and environmental progress.
Granholm last month said pipelines are “the best way to go” to deliver fuels after a cyberattack disrupted service on the Colonial fuels pipeline. Last week she said her department wants to build more pipes, particularly to transport low-carbon fuels.Summer Driving Season – Questions and Answers
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Mark Green
Posted May 27, 2021
Colonial Pipeline Attack Emphasizes Energy Infrastructure Needs
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Mark Green
Posted May 14, 2021
You can read the latest here on Colonial Pipeline’s restoring service on its 5,500-mile line that delivers million of gallons of fuel products every day from the Gulf Coast to New York. The company says the entire pipeline system has been safely restarted and was delivering product to all served markets.
U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said most areas should return to normal this weekend. On its website, Colonial said some markets may experience, or continue to experience, intermittent service interruptions and that “Colonial will move as much gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel as is safely possible and will continue to do so until markets return to normal.” The service station tracker on GasBuddy.com provides updates to specific locations.
While the cyber attack on the pipeline interrupted supplies at numerous retail outlets along the East Coast this week, the incident and response by our industry and associated sectors showed the multifaceted fuel supply system is resilient and works quickly to restore supplies during difficult circumstances – as it has following hurricanes and other unusual events.
Poll: U.S. Voters Recognize Future Role of Natural Gas and Oil
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Mark Green
Posted April 21, 2021
Soon after the 2020 election we noted that results showed U.S. voters are mostly moderate and practical and want sensible solutions to key issues facing the nation, which Democratic pollster Mark Penn wrote is driven by common sense over ideology. Americans’ views on energy certainly fit that construct.
New polling by Morning Consult on behalf of API underscores the point and provides important context for Washington policymakers as they debate the twin issues of energy and climate.
Let’s Modernize ALL Our Nation’s Infrastructure
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Bill Koetzle
Posted April 13, 2021
The Biden Administration’s goal of modernizing the nation’s infrastructure – including roads, bridges, rail and ports – is something that all Americans can support. At API we have long touted the compounding benefits of upgrading our nation’s infrastructure. The positives go well beyond material enhancements to include creating new jobs, helping communities nationwide, improving efficiencies throughout the economy by reducing congestion and delay, and – in the case of pipelines – bolstering safety and environmental performance.
Early outlines of the Administration’s plan include ambitious goals and many strengths. But it’s important to note that it misses an opportunity to take an across-the-board approach to addressing all our country’s current and future infrastructure needs, including modernizing the pipelines that power our modern lives.
Our Essential Energy Relationship With Canada Underscored by New Study
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Mark Green
Posted April 8, 2021
When President Biden killed the Keystone XL pipeline in January, it was more than just canceling an important piece of energy infrastructure. It was a setback for the U.S.-Canada energy and trade relationship that has benefited both countries economically and in terms of their security in the world.
A new ICF study assessing U.S.-Canada cross-border petroleum trade finds that there is growing integration of North American energy markets, which in turn leads to lower costs for consumers and increased energy security for both countries. Frank Macchiarola, API senior vice president of Policy, Economics and Regulatory Affairs, talked about the study’s findings during a virtual conference hosted by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
Administration's Federal Leasing Policy Continues to Raise Flags
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Olivia Culver
Posted April 6, 2021
The Biden administration’s pause in new natural gas and oil leasing on federal lands and waters continues to look like a hard sell, not only in energy-producing states but also with traditional Democratic allies in organized labor.
We’ve talked about potential negative effects of the administration’s policy on leasing and have warned against even greater impacts to the economy and American energy security if the pause becomes a permanent ban on federal leasing and development (see here, here and here). Projected impacts from a full-on ban on leasing and development in an analysis by OnLocation include approximately 1 million jobs could be lost – nearly 120,000 in Texas, more than 62,000 in New Mexico and more than 48,000 in Louisiana – foreign oil imports could increase 2 million barrels per day; and carbon dioxide emissions could increase 5.5%
Similar concerns surfaced as the U.S. Interior Department (DOI) held a forum on the federal oil and gas program. At the public session, Frank Macchiarola, API senior vice president of Policy, Economics and Regulatory Affairs, noted that federal lands and waters account for 22% of U.S. oil and 12% of U.S. natural gas production and urged DOI leaders to recognize the importance of this production to U.S. energy security, economic growth and continued environmental progress.