IPAA: America Needs A Robust Offshore Energy Program for the Future

IPAA: America Needs A Robust Offshore Energy Program for the Future

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), representing thousands of America’s independent oil and natural gas companies and the service and supply companies that support their efforts, joined the American Petroleum Institute (API), the National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA), and six other energy trade associations in submitting joint comments urging the Obama Administration not to take additional unwarranted steps to further reduce the areas included in its proposed offshore oil and gas leasing program for 2017-2022.

Dan Naatz, IPAA senior vice president of government relations and political affairs, issued the following statement today after the comments were submitted:

“The United States has undergone an energy renaissance that has created millions of well-paying American jobs, strengthened our national energy security, generated billions of dollars in much-needed revenue to fund local, state, and federal economies, and has allowed consumers to enjoy the positive benefits of affordable, reliable American energy. The Obama Administration’s latest decision to take vital energy resources off the table is shortsighted and will reverse the tremendous progress of hardworking men and women over the last several years. America needs a robust offshore energy program that best utilizes the energy-rich resources we have right here at home, balancing thoughtful environmental protections and the tremendous economic and consumer benefits that come along with it. Why keep these plentiful resources, which are still needed for years to come, off limits? We strongly urge the president to keep all areas of the offshore available for future consideration.

“Recently, the independent Energy Information Administration announced that the United States is the world’s largest oil and natural gas producer. We have become an energy superpower. The administration’s proposed offshore plan threatens this progress.”

America’s independent producers account for 61 percent of U.S. offshore energy production, support more than 200,000 jobs, and, each year, send more than $10 billion in additional revenue to the United States Treasury. Industry’s joint comments are available on IPAA’s website.

About the Independent Petroleum Association of America
The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) is a national upstream trade association representing thousands of independent oil and natural gas producers and service companies across the United States. Independent producers develop 90 percent of the nation’s oil and natural gas wells. These companies account for 54 percent of America’s oil production, 85 percent of its natural gas production, and support over 2.1 million American jobs. Learn more about IPAA by visiting www.ipaa.org and following @IPAAaccess on Twitter.

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