Houston – Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) President David Holt today hosted U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Ryan Zinke at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) to discuss the importance of America’s offshore energy potential and sign several secretarial orders to implement directives laid out by President Trump in last week’s offshore executive action. Following Friday’s action, Zinke on Monday reiterated the administration’s desire to implement offshore energy policies that will foster America’s energy security, stir job growth and renew economic growth in regions that depend on or benefit from offshore energy development.
The discussion included the current and future potential contributions of the nation’s offshore resources, non-technical factors, including policy and market considerations, that could potentially affect their development, and steps that can be taken to ensure that the country benefits from these resources to the maximum extent possible.
Zinke closed the session by issuing secretarial orders to initiate the review of the prior administration’s five-year leasing plan, regulations such as well control and offshore air, and analyses on opportunity costs and budgetary impacts that affect offshore development. All of these orders will require a more expedited review process.
“We were very privileged to not only be a part of, but witness Secretary Zinke signing these secretarial orders, which will be catalysts to reinvigorate our domestic offshore development and expedite processes in the future that have been hampered by delays,” Holt said. “By setting in motion the directives given by President Trump, Secretary Zinke is ensuring we don’t mix emotional rhetoric with crafting good policies that will benefit families and businesses across our country.”
Highlights from today’s OTC discussion:
Ryan Zinke, Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior:
“Following through on the leadership established by President Trump, today’s orders will help cement our Nation’s position as a global energy leader and foster energy independence and security for the benefit of the American people, while ensuring that this development is safe and environmentally responsible. We will conduct a thorough review of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) for oil and gas exploration and listen to state and local stakeholders. We also will conduct a thorough review of regulations that were created with good intentions but have had harmful impacts on America’s energy security.”
“We’re going to look at everything and make sure the policies are appropriate for each local community, rather than force a Washington-driven one-size-fits-all plan. There’s no predetermined map of development, but if there are areas that are acceptable, that have resources, and states and local communities support offshore development, we could include those areas in the next 5-Year Program.”
David Holt, President, Consumer Energy Alliance:
“It is important to recognize how critical this offshore decision is for families and businesses all across the nation. From personal security to energy and national security, this vital order helps ensure we meet our energy needs with energy developed here at home. Some groups continue to pursue destructive dialogue that attempts to pit energy development against environmental protection, as if it is a zero-sum game; it’s not, and the consequences of failing to meet our energy needs are of great consequence to working class Americans, people living on fixed incomes, our military and small business everywhere. CEA applauds President Trump and Secretary Zinke for taking steps to open our offshore resources and for recognizing that energy is one of the main drivers for every aspect of the U.S. economy.”
You can watch Secretary Zinke’s full remarks below:
