Mar 6, 2024 What IPAA Would Like to Hear From President Biden in State of the Union
Posted at 08:46h
in Press Releases
WASHINGTON – Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) President & CEO Jeff Eshelman issued the following statement ahead of President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address on Thursday, March 7 on what the association would like to hear from the president in his remarks including the facts on energy prices, emissions reductions, permitting, commitment to our global allies and energy development on federal lands.
“As President Biden prepares to give his annual report on the state of the nation, here are a few things we as America’s independent oil and natural gas producers would like to hear from our nation’s leader:
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Consumers are paying less for energy because of American oil and natural gas producers – not in spite of them. America’s oil and natural gas producers are innovating to produce more oil and natural gas than ever before, and this helps stabilize prices.
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U.S. oil and natural gas producers are leading the way in emissions reductions as they bring energy to Americans and the world. Data from the Environmental Protection Agency showed stunning drops in total methane emissions across the board in oil and natural gas producing basins the United States. The Arkoma Basin (AR and OK) had a 77% decrease over the past five years, Anadarko (OK, TX, KS) a 44% decrease, and the Permian (TX and NM) had 32% less emissions. All showing that even with record production, U.S. operators continue to produce oil and gas responsibly and with an eye toward methane reduction. And voluntary efforts like The Environmental Partnership that have resulted in significant emissions reductions across the oil and gas value chain.
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Energy infrastructure and permitting reform is something we should all get behind. Policies that stall energy production through delayed permitting, infrastructure or regulatory barriers diminish producers’ ability to operate. President Joe Biden has previously said he would sign any bipartisan permitting deal that came to his desk – members of Congress should work to pass permitting legislation.
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The United States is committed to our allies. American supply of Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) allowed the European Union’s economies and population to survive as Russian natural gas was turned off following the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine. Sending signals that the U.S. is slowing down exports emboldens our adversaries. Worldwide energy demand only increases and our domestic industry that produces the cleanest oil and natural gas in the world is hamstrung while less environmentally responsible producers are allowed to fill the void in the market.
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Federal lands and waters are open for responsible energy development. Energy producers that operate on federal lands and waters are held to strictest environmental and safety standards. The Bureau of Land Management has a multiple-use mission for the public lands it manages – conservation, recreation, farming and ranching, and energy production can exist in tandem. In the Gulf of Mexico, offshore production provides the lowest carbon barrels of oil, generates millions of dollars in funding for parks and recreation programs, and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs.
“The bottom line is a thriving American oil and natural gas industry means increased energy and economic security at home and abroad and progress toward global emission reduction goals. Our members, U.S. oil and natural gas producers, will continue to produce record-setting, responsible oil and natural gas. We have asked for and continue to encourage this administration to meet with us to discuss how we can address domestic and global challenges, instead of them rushing to add new regulatory challenges that threaten the United States’ energy future.”
