Article from February 2020
The State of American Energy
We are relentless in finding and producing affordable energy, and just as persistent in reducing our environmental footprint, improving safety technology, and decreasing emission rates. It’ s a record to be proud of, but we’ re not finished. API and this industry will continue to lead far and wide.
Today, U. S. energy development is safer than it’ s ever been, in part thanks to API’ s world-class standards. From foundational offshore safety to pipeline leak detection, API standards drive safety, environmental protection, and sustainability – not only here in the U. S., but around the world.
In fact, setting standards for natural gas and oil operations has been a core API mission since its inception. And, in our first 100 years, we’ ve developed more than 700 standards. In 2019 alone, API released 90 standards and we introduced our best-in-class practices to the developing natural gas and oil markets in both Guyana and Nigeria. We also signed agreements with our counterparts in India, Saudi Arabia, and Russia so that producers and government agencies in these regions can rely on our standards and programs to drive safe operations.
Shortly, you’ ll hear from a panel about just how far our efforts reach, even in regions that don’ t produce natural gas or oil. It’ s a reminder that our impact extends far beyond those of any single industry or group. Every citizen stands to gain when energy is more affordable and produced cleaner here in the United States.
Our energy future can unite Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike. And that is the spirit of everything we do at API. It’ s clear that these issues won’ t be solved on social media, in floor speeches, or with political pledges that promise a lot but deliver little. It takes hard work to develop affordable solutions to meet demand for cleaner energy while addressing the risks of climate change. But together we can do it.
Wherever the future of energy is at stake, whenever people doubt the value of natural gas and oil in our daily lives, wherever our commitment to worker and environmental safety is questioned, you’ re going to see API making our case. We’ re ready to work together. We may not agree on every detail, but on the big issues, we have far more in common than you may think.
Like our nation, this industry finds itself at a defining moment— one where energy demands have never been higher, and the focus on a cleaner planet never greater. We’ re eager to accelerate our work together to tackle both challenges, and we intend to spend the next 100 years continuing to innovate to create a brighter future for all. Our industry’ s mission is society’ s mission. That’ s energy for progress. l FON
Editor’ s note: API President and CEO Mike Sommers delivered these remarks on Jan. 7, 2020, at The Anthem, a venue and auditorium in Washington, D. C. www. fueloilnews. com | FUEL OIL NEWS | RETIREMENT / JUNE 2026 15