Mike Sommers, president and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute (API), recently presented the agency’s annual report on the State of Energy in America. In addition to an overview of where we stand with production, Mike offered strong suggestions as to what needs to be done to take advantage of what we do best and how to better get our product to market during these times of economic and global uncertainty.
During the event held on Jan. 11 we also heard from U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar and Lizzie Fletcher, both of Texas, Rep. Mary Peltola of Alaska, and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers from Washington, who serves as the House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair. API’s executive VP and chief advocacy officer Amanda Eversole, also spoke at the event.
“The state of American energy is strong and resilient,” Mike said in his keynote address “But we need policies to enhance the American energy supply chain and not hinder it.” He called on the members of the 118th Congress to work together to overcome the rhetoric of the current administration by creating and enacting policies that encourage investment and enable development.
Mike outlined API’s approach under three key initiatives: Make, Move, and Improve. He proposed that lifting restrictions on development of energy on federal waters and lands would increase investment in the U.S. Economy through gains in domestic energy production.
Permitting badly needed pipeline infrastructure in the Northeast would dramatically increase the availability of natural gas in that region and further encourage investment. We know that America is leading the charge for emission reductions, but new legislators need to better understand that natural gas is the logical bridge to a lower-carbon future.
“The need for sound energy policy has never been more critical,” Mike maintained, noting that American energy is vital to our own economic stability, which assures our security in a world currently fighting that battle on so many fronts. “A global energy crisis, driven by surging post-pandemic demand outstripping supply and exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has shown that the world needs more natural gas and oil, not less.”
API is 600 members strong and represents all segments of America’s natural gas and oil industry, supporting more than 11 million domestic jobs. With the additional support of a growing number of grassroots movements involving millions of Americans, Mike Sommers expressed confidence that the transition to renewable energies has never been more achievable.
“We know the solution is here. Government policy must reflect our resource abundance, our ability to build, and our willingness to get better every step of the way,” he stated in his closing remarks. “API and our industry are here for it and ready to do the work.”
