API Executive Vice President Louis Finkel said the Obama administration鈥檚 Quadrennial Energy Review (QER) highlights the need to invest in US infrastructure, which will create jobs, enhance energy security and enable a cleaner energy future.
鈥淭he QER reflects the Department of Energy鈥檚 own prediction that by 2040 Americans will still need oil and natural gas to meet more than 60% of their energy needs,鈥� said Finkel. 鈥淚f the president wants to achieve our nation鈥檚 full energy potential and play a key role in this equation, he should put this industry to work. Essential infrastructure improvements in just the oil and natural gas area could, over the next decade, attract as much as US$1.15 trillion in new private capital investment, support 1.15 million new jobs, and add US$120 billion on average per year to our nation鈥檚 GDP.
鈥淢ore and more people now recognise that America is leading the world in reducing greenhouse gasses, with carbon emissions near 20 year lows thanks to abundant natural gas development and investments by our industry in zero- and low-emissions technologies. These investments are larger than those of the federal government and nearly as big as all other industries combined.
鈥淣ot only are we fuelling a cleaner economy, we are becoming an energy superpower and creating millions of new jobs here at home. Low cost energy is also creating a manufacturing renaissance and an opportunity economy that will benefit all Americans."API is the only national trade association representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry, which supports 9.8 million US jobs and 8% of the US economy. API鈥檚 more than 625 members include large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms. They provide most of the nation鈥檚 energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 25 million Americans.
Adapted from press release by