The American Petroleum Institute (API) Jan. 13 hosted its annual State of American Energy address, where it outlined actions the natural gas and oil industry is taking to support the nation’s economic recovery and a vision for an affordable, reliable, and cleaner energy future. API president and CEO Mike Sommers headlined the event that drew more than 2000 virtual attendees and featured young professionals and local energy leaders, including a New Mexico teacher and Pennsylvania-based union trade leader.

“President Biden will lead our nation at a time of abundant American energy development, strengthened security, lower household energy costs, and record performance on emissions reductions,” Sommers said. “We stand ready to work together with lawmakers and the administration to usher in policies that accelerate U.S. investment and American job creation, deliver reliable energy and fewer emissions, and support America’s economic recovery.”

“No nation anywhere has reduced annual greenhouse gas emissions more than we have in the United States,” Sommers said. “Over the last decade, our nation achieved the largest-ever decline in energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. Change is in motion, and it’s a long arc as the majority of the world’s energy needs are projected to come from natural gas and oil far into the future.”

In addition to the API president and CEO and API executive vice president and COO Amanda Eversole, the event featured Barbara Burger, vice president of innovation and president of technology ventures at Chevron Corp.; National Newspaper Publishers Association president and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.; Steamfitters Local 420 Business Manager Jim Snell; Ashley Niman, a 4th grade teacher in Sandoval County, N.M.; and young professionals from natural gas and oil companies, including Apache, EagleClaw Midstream, Phillips 66, Siemens, and TC Energy.

During the event, Sommers announced the launch of API Energy Excellence, which establishes benchmarks on safety, security, and environmental protection that every API member will be expected to pursue and reach. It defines superior and ever-improving performance that will unify the industry’s future progress. Core elements range from safety culture and community engagement to employee training and equipment design and are aimed at accelerating safety and environmental progress through sharing best practices and new technologies as well as through annual progress reporting.
“With this new program, we’re creating a roadmap for accelerating performance across all segments of our industry,” Sommers said. “For nearly a century API’s standards have supported the safe and environmentally responsible development, production, and transportation of natural gas and oil operations. API Energy Excellence is the next big step.”

Source: The Weekly Propane Newsletter, January 21, 2021. Weekly Propane Newsletter subscribers receive all the latest posted and spot prices from major terminals and refineries around the U.S. delivered to inboxes every week. Receive a center spread of posted prices with hundreds of postings updated each week, along with market analysis, insightful commentary, and much more not found elsewhere.