More than 97 percent of stock in U.S. oil and natural gas companies is held by the public, including many Americans who depend on these earnings to secure their retirements through investments in IRAs, 401(k)s and pension funds. So when oil and natural gas company earnings are strong, it’s good news for retirees. In fact, we conducted a study showing that public pension funds benefit greatly through investments in oil and natural gas industry stocks.

A follow-on recent study showed some of America’s most important institutions – its colleges and universities – realize a significant economic benefit as owners of oil and natural gas companies.

Over the last decade America’s colleges and universities have enjoyed strong returns from their investments in the industry, which have outpe... more »

I'm here in Tampa because we have a tremendous opportunity to make America stronger by developing more of our own energy.  Our Vote4Energy campaign is about getting voters and candidates to have that conversation.  What path do we want to take to our energy future?  The United States is been described as the next Middle East.  We have vast oil and natural gas reserves that if developed could spur millions of new jobs and billions in additional government revenue while also reducing imports.  As the nation grows and the economy recovers we'll need this oil and natural gas even as renewable energy expands.  The question we want people at both conventions to be addressing is this.  How can we ens... more »

It's hard to overstate the impact of the shale energy revolution in this country, spurred by fracturing technology and innovations in horizontal drilling. It's a revolution marked by dynamic economic growth, job creation and, of course the energy to drive our country's future.

The evidence is apparent. In Pennsylvania alone, development of the Marcellus shale created 72,000 new jobs from late 2009 to early 2011. We're seeing similar results in other states as well.

Yet, no revolution occurs in a vacuum. Unlocking this game-changing energy has raised some legitimate questions, especially in local communities -- questions about safety, environmental protection and every-day concerns about traffic, noise, housing and more. Our industry has heard these concerns and is responding. This revoluti... more »

Our industry's longstanding commitment to safe operations was questioned by some after last year's tragic spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Today, we have more than 20 industry groups working concurrently on improving spill prevention and response. Oil companies are committing resources in the form of dollars, time and expertise to ensure that these improvements are implemented.

In March, we announced the creation of the Center for Offshore Safety. It will bring our best minds and expertise together to help operators strive for and maintain the highest levels of safety performance across the entire industry.

We have worked hard to meet the requirements for resuming operations in the Gulf. That's important because we need those energy resources, both today and in the future. Oil and natural gas... more »

The future is going to require a lot of energy, of all kinds. World energy consumption is projected to grow nearly 50 percent by 2035. Renewable energy is projected to increase by nearly 200 percent by 2035 over 2008, thanks to leadership and investment from our own industry and others.

As energy needs grow, our energy supplies will need to grow with them. That will include a robust renewable energy sector. But the Energy Information Administration projections show that renewables will meet only about 13 percent of the nation's energy needs in 2035, with oil and natural gas supplying about 55 percent. For the sake of our future, we need renewable energy technology to grow. But, for the sake of our economy, oil and natural gas will remain a key part of our energy sector for decades to come.... more »