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.
API Reports: Economy, Petroleum Demand Have Gained Momentum
monthly-stats-report oil demand economic recovery
Dean Foreman
Posted March 18, 2021
API’s latest industry outlook affirms the extent of recoveries in the U.S. and global economies, as well as rising demand for oil and natural gas.
For the past two quarters, API’s data and analysis have indicated these comebacks were underway, and this is visible in the March Monthly Statistical Report (MSR™), based on February data, and API’s quarterly Industry Outlook.
The recoveries come on the tailwind provided by nearly $20 trillion of economic stimulus around the world. We could be poised for the largest two-year oil demand increase (9.2 million barrels per day, mb/d) on record since 1950 and new record highs of demand (102.4 mb/d) by the fourth quarter of 2022.
We Can't Take Our Energy Security for Granted
us energy security saudi arabia domestic oil production consumers
Dean Foreman
Posted March 17, 2021
One of the great benefits of increased U.S. oil production over the past decade and a half is strengthened U.S. energy security – decreased reliance on foreign oil suppliers and insulation for American consumers against sudden price increases due to geopolitical events, such as the recent attacks on Persian Gulf oil facilities.
Years ago, an episode like that could’ve caused serious alarm in the United States and globally. Yet, the apparent lack of significant or enduring oil price movement following last weekend’s attack shows the tremendous influence U.S. oil production has had on global markets. The same was true after missile attacks on Saudi facilities in 2019 (see here), which substantially reduced Saudi Arabia’s oil exports for a short period. Both events and their aftermath indicate that U.S. domestic production has largely mitigated the price volatility historically associated with serious geopolitical events.
Still, some cautions are in order. First, U.S. energy security can’t be assumed. It takes long-range planning and investments, safe access to domestic resources, the ability to expand pipeline and export facility infrastructure, and a policy-level approach that anticipates unforeseen events that could affect global energy supply and have dire impacts on U.S. security, economic growth, and consumers.
Working with Biden Administration, Industry is Poised to Accelerate Progress
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Lem Smith
Posted March 16, 2021
The natural gas and oil industry is committed to working with America’s energy stakeholders, including U.S. government regulators, to deliver affordable, reliable fuels and shape a lower-carbon future.
The Biden administration has taken office at a time when the U.S. leads the world in energy production and emissions reductions. The President’s nominees to oversee the Department of Energy, Department of the Interior and Environmental Protection Agency – Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Secretary Debra Haaland and Administrator Michael Regan, respectively – have signaled readiness to tackle the dual challenge of strengthening U.S. energy security and addressing the risks of climate change.
Proposed Severance Tax is Bad News for All Pennsylvanians
pa severance tax economic impacts natural gas
Stephanie Catarino Wissman
Posted March 16, 2021
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf is again proposing a severance tax on the commonwealth’s natural gas industry – the seventh such tax proposal in as many years. Like the others before it, this is a bad idea that could harm the benefits of energy production to the state and nation.
Wolf has teed up his latest tax proposal as a “commonsense” solution to the state’s economic recovery efforts. But it’s really a tax-and-spend scheme that could have negative consequences for all Pennsylvanians.
The fact is the effects of a natural gas severance tax would extend beyond industry. Because natural gas production boosts the commonwealth’s broader economy and supports technical education, infrastructure and many other public services, everyone would be impacted.
Celebrating Leadership, Resilience this Women’s History Month
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Olivia Culver
Posted March 10, 2021
Every March, Women’s History Month celebrates the countless women who have changed the course of history through social movements and technological innovations. In the natural gas and oil space, women scientists, educators and other leaders have pioneered advancements that have helped drive economic growth, increased energy security and furthered environmental progress.
For example, the late MIT Professor Mildred Dresselhaus – dubbed the “Queen of Carbon Science” – was renowned for her work in carbon-nanotechnology, which has since improved the industry’s exploration and oil recovery operations.
Today, women play key roles across the industry, empowering their colleagues and preparing for a better, brighter energy future. During remarks at CERAWeek’s Women in Energy Reception, Amanda Eversole, API executive vice president and chief operating officer, highlighted the forward-looking, problem-solving approach women have brought to industry.
The Common Ground of Emissions Reduction
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Mark Green
Posted March 5, 2021
We don’t yet know the full extent of the Biden administration’s strategy for U.S. energy. As API President and CEO Mike Sommers has said repeatedly since the election, our industry is ready to work with the administration for a better economy, cleaner environment and progress toward climate goals. Based on remarks by former Secretary of State John Kerry at the CERAWeek conference, there’s important common ground for a cooperative relationship.
“I don’t object per se to fossil fuel," said the president's special envoy for climate. "I object to the byproduct of fossil fuel, which is the carbon. That’s the problem, and the methane, that's another major problem emerging. So, we have to be able to abate. It’s the debate between unabated and abated production.”
Common ground: The natural gas and oil industry also is for abating carbon emissions – and has been working to reduce carbon and capture methane, through innovation and technology, for some time.
Industry investment, innovation and problem-solving on emissions came up so often during CERAWeek, it was hard to track them all. If, as Kerry said, the administration sees carbon and methane emissions as the targets – and not the energy from natural gas and oil – industry not only is a willing partner, it’s one that’s tackling those challenges head on.
Expanding Educational Opportunity For a More Diverse Workforce
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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
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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.
Federal Legislation Supports CCUS as Economy-Wide Climate Solution
ccs technology carbon capture carbon dioxide emissions economic benefits
John D. Siciliano
Posted March 1, 2021
The COVID-19 relief and government spending bill passed by Congress in December, the Energy Act of 2020, included an important boost for carbon-capture utilization and storage (CCUS) technology – a must-have as an economy-wide way to address the risks of climate change. ...
The natural gas and oil industry, along with groups representing a broad range of industry sectors, have demonstrated continued and growing support for CCUS, and believe the Energy Act of 2020 lends critical support for key research and innovation to reduce the nation’s carbon footprint.