Georgia Petroleum Council: Offshore exploration is critical for Georgia’s communities, good paying jobs, increased investments and state revenue

ATLANTA, February 28, 2018 – Georgia Petroleum Council Executive Director Hunter Hopkins emphasized the importance of offshore energy to Georgia’s communities and economy prior to today’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management public hearing on the Interior Department’s proposed five-year offshore natural gas and oil leasing plan.

“The Interior’s five-year offshore leasing plan will be the cornerstone for Georgia’s energy and economic future. Many of our communities could benefit greatly from offshore energy exploration and production, which can lead to jobs that pay well-above the state average and millions of dollars in state revenue that can help advance and update our public school systems and infrastructure,” said Hopkins. “These hearings are a part of the open and public regulatory process to inform the best public policy outcomes.”

“This is a turning point for Georgia – and we don’t know what our energy potential is or what resources lay off the coast, as the last analysis of the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf was over thirty years ago and we are working with obsolete data. Our industry has worked hard to develop cutting-edge technologies, so that we can safely and accurately determine what energy resources exist off our coast. These steps are important for our energy future, jobs and a stronger national security.”

”The natural gas and oil industry supported 142,700 jobs in Georgia and contributed $13.65 billion to the state’s economy in 2015. This is an opportunity to continue to add more highly skilled and better paying jobs, as well as increased investments that will benefit other industries like tourism, which could really support our younger and more rural communities across the state.” 

Georgia Petroleum Council is a division of API, which represents all segments of America’s oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 625 members produce, process, and distribute most of the nation’s energy. The industry also supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy. Learn more at www.api.org.

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