API President and CEO Highlights America’s Energy Advantage Ahead of Election

SANTA FE, NM, October 7, 2024 — American Petroleum Institute (API) President and CEO Mike Sommers addressed the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association today to discuss how the next administration faces important decisions to secure America’s energy advantage at a time of rising geopolitical volatility around the world. Sommers referenced new polling conducted by Morning Consult that found nine in 10 voters in key battleground states are looking for details from the presidential candidates on energy issues. Four in five voters support leveraging America’s domestic resources rather than relying on other regions of the world.  

“We look around the world today, and ongoing conflicts remind us that secure, reliable access to energy is at the core of our nation’s security – as well as the security of America’s allies,” Sommers said. “But our energy security should never be taken for granted, and we need policies that ensure we can meet our energy needs tomorrow, not just today."

With escalating tensions in the Middle East and Putin’s war in Ukraine approaching its third year, Sommers emphasized the commanding presence of American oil and natural in the global market and the energy security benefits it provides. 

“With wars in multiple energy-producing regions and threats to shipping in places like the Red Sea, the stakes are high.” Sommers said. “It has never been more important for America to emerge as the runaway top supplier of both crude oil and natural gas. It’s thanks to places like Lea County, New Mexico, which produces more oil than five OPEC nations combined.”

Sommers discussed how hydraulic fracturing has transformed U.S. energy production and the need for policies like those outlined in Five-Point Policy Roadmap to secure American energy leadership and help reduce inflation. 

“‘Fracking’ has become a litmus test for candidates—no one can win the presidency without supporting this critical breakthrough technology,” Sommers said. “It’s not just about getting product out of the ground. … The next administration must focus on protecting consumer choice, fixing our broken permitting system, restoring permits for LNG exports, expanding access to our vast energy resources and advancing sensible tax policy.”

Read Sommers’ full remarks here.

API represents all segments of America’s natural gas and oil industry, which supports nearly 11 million U.S. jobs and is backed by a growing grassroots movement of millions of Americans. Our approximately 600 members produce, process and distribute the majority of the nation’s energy, and participate in API Energy Excellence®, which is accelerating environmental and safety progress by fostering new technologies and transparent reporting. API was formed in 1919 as a standards-setting organization and has developed more than 800 standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency and sustainability.

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