panies can invest, innovate, and deliver energy at scale with confidence.
This is what makes American energy the envy of the world. In uncertain times, the real test isn’ t based on short-term market signals— it’ s whether energy systems can perform under pressure and keep delivering when it matters most. Production and resilience. Performance with endurance. In 2025, this strength was reinforced by a decisive reset of the policy landscape. EV mandates were lifted. LNG permitting restarted. Responsible oil and gas leasing onshore and offshore was restored— because meeting demand requires building, not blocking. But the work isn’ t finished. In 2026, our focus will be on three critical areas: infrastructure, access, and international competitiveness.
Infrastructure— This is the hinge point of the Demand Decade. And it must be the top energy policy priority of 2026. Right now, America has energy in the ground— and demand on the grid— but too often the connection between the two is blocked by red tape, delay and endless lawsuits. America knows how to produce energy. The real question is whether we’ re willing to build the infrastructure to move it— at the speed, scale, and reliability the Demand Decade requires.
The Mountain Valley Pipeline tells the story. This pipeline took longer to permit and build than the entire Apollo space program— and it took an act of Congress to finish this job. A system that requires an act of Congress to build a pipeline is a system that’ s broken. That’ s why permitting reform isn’ t optional. It’ s essential. It’ s the difference between meeting demand— or not. And API is all in until it becomes the law of the land— because when America builds, America wins.
Second is access— America is back open for energy investment. Now we must lock it in— by finalizing the five-year offshore leasing program and stopping state actions that would block responsible development.
Number three is international competitiveness— The United States is the world’ s energy superpower— but that status isn’ t guaranteed. Federal policy has caught up to this reality— but real challenges remain, both abroad and here at home. In Europe, regulatory proposals would allow European bureaucrats to reach beyond their borders, dictate rules for U. S. energy producers and disrupt global energy supply chains. Here at home, punitive state proposals and extreme lawsuits would retroactively punish energy producers for meeting consumer demand— driving up costs and discouraging the investment needed to meet rising energy needs.
Infrastructure. Access. International Competitiveness. Across all three, the priority is the same: durable policy that outlasts political cycles and supports longterm investment, reliability, and growth.
As we head into this midterm election year, we are looking at a national shift. Americans are embracing energy realism. Americans spent years being told they should do less, build less, produce less and pay more. We’ re done with that. The mainstream has moved decisively toward abundance, affordability, and growth. We want leaders who will meet rising demand, not run from it. Leaders who live in reality.
Now, a small fringe is stuck in the past. They oppose growth, expansion and new infrastructure. They’ re against new jobs, against higher living standards. They resist the energy required to power modern life. They offer no vision for the future— only a defense of a status quo that no longer works. And the rest of the country has moved on. Voters across the political spectrum are saying it. Leaders on both sides of the aisle are responding to it. States are revisiting unrealistic targets. Energy realism— with a critical role for oil and gas— is winning the argument. This is the clearest public consensus we’ ve seen in a decade.
The future belongs to those willing to meet demand, to deliver growth, and to lead with realism. Those who cling to scarcity and stagnation will be left behind. This year we mark America’ s 250th birthday. Since the beginning, our great nation has accepted no limits on what it can achieve. That spirit has defined our energy story. In 1859, The Drake Well— America’ s first commercial oil well— struck oil in Northwest Pennsylvania. This breakthrough helped launch a new era of prosperity. It was a reminder then, as it is now, that American leadership has never been accidental, it is built by those who make a choice: To look at the world through clear eyes, and to innovate, to move forward. That choice is before us once again today. And we’ ve seen what happens— as it did in Venezuela— when leaders choose ideology instead of reality. Will we embrace innovation, growth and prosperity? Or slide backward— denying facts, delaying progress, and ignoring the realities of rising demand? That’ s the choice. And the American people have made up their mind. We choose energy success, not surrender. We choose energy realism, not retreat. We choose record production of reliable, affordable oil and natural gas— energy that powers prosperity at home, strengthens allies abroad, and anchors energy security around the world. American energy is the future— and America is ready to lead.
This keynote address, reprinted from the website of the American Petroleum Institute( www. api. org) has been slightly edited for clarity and length. l FON
14 FEBRUARY 2026 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www. fueloilnews. com