Senate Bipartisan Climate Caucus a Promising Addition to U.S. Conversation
Mark Green
Posted November 13, 2019
Our industry is committed to creating climate solutions now and for the future. As energy producers, natural gas and oil companies are essential to a credible, national climate conversation – since this often is focused on energy production and use.
It’s also real and practical. We’re innovating new technologies and procedures for real-world results – to continue reducing emissions while also supplying the natural gas and oil our nation needs to be growing, prosperous and secure.
That’s why initiatives such as the U.S. Senate’s new bipartisan climate caucus are needed to help spur a solutions-centered discussion at the highest levels in Washington, so we can pragmatically and effectively see progress – both on climate and our country’s fundamental energy needs. API’s Ben Marter:
“Our industry is committed to meeting the challenge head-on, investing billions in low- and no-carbon technologies, cleaner fuels, and driving emissions to their lowest level in a generation, all while delivering the energy that American families rely on every day. We look forward to working with the caucus to develop policy solutions that balance environmental protection with economic growth.”
There really can’t be much of a climate discussion without talking about energy. We want climate results; we also want to continue to enjoy the game-changing benefits natural gas and oil provide – from powering vehicles and fueling electricity generation to an uncountable number of products that largely define a modern, 21st-century standard of living.
Industry is doing its part. As mentioned above, we’re investing in technologies and research to improve the environmental performance of our operations and products.
Record-breaking production of natural gas and its increased use nationwide in power generation already has made the U.S. a leader in reducing carbon dioxide, an important greenhouse gas.
At the same time, operators are working harder than ever to capture as much methane as possible during production and transmission. It’s our business, but it’s also our responsibility. Industry-led initiatives such as The Environmental Partnership reflect this commitment, providing avenues for companies to share information, experiences and technologies that are working to keep emissions from getting into the air.
We hope the Senate’s climate caucus will see these advances and adopt them as the foundation for its discussions. "My expectation is that we will start by listening," Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, one of the Congressional Climate Solutions Caucus’ founders, told CBS. He’s joined by Republican Sens. Mike Braun of Indiana, Mitt Romney of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Marco Rubio of Florida, as well as Democrat Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Michael Bennet of Colorado and Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine.
That’s the wisest place to start – listening and seeing what already is working, while resisting the Washington tendency to declare solutions as a first order. “The risks of climate change are real, and the solutions must be equally real,” API’s Marter said.
The Senate’s bipartisan climate caucus looks like a promising development on this critically important issue.
About The Author
Mark Green joined API after a career in newspaper journalism, including 16 years as national editorial writer for The Oklahoman in the paper’s Washington bureau. Previously, Mark was a reporter, copy editor and sports editor at an assortment of newspapers. He earned his journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma and master’s in journalism and public affairs from American University. He and his wife Pamela have two grown children and six grandchildren.