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Consumer Energy Alliance Welcomes New Member: Poten & Partners

HOUSTON – Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is pleased to welcome Poten & Partners as its newest affiliate member.

With more than 75 years in the energy and shipping sectors, Poten & Partners has a global team of experienced brokers, commercial and technical consultants and business intelligence professionals. Poten has extensive experience in and deep knowledge of the global LNG and natural gas business, LPG and natural gas liquids and petroleum and tanker markets.

In LNG, Poten provides brokerage, consulting and commercial advisory services across the entire value LNG chain; from gas supply, pipelines and liquefaction plants to shipping, terminals, trading and gas marketing.

Supported by extensive in-house analysis and databases, Poten also provide reliable, actionable business intelligence publications for the LNG, LPG and asphalt markets.

“We are excited by our partnership with the CEA and look forward to supporting the organizations objectives and to sharing our expertise with CEA members,” said Jason Feer, Global Head of Business Intelligence at Poten & Partners.

“Poten & Partners has years of experience and excellent insights on global energy and transportation markets,” said CEA EVP Jack Belcher. “We are thrilled to have them as a CEA affiliate.”

For more information on Poten & Partners, visit their website.

For more information on Consumer Energy Alliance, please visit ConsumerEnergyAlliance.org or contact Amelie Fredland at (713) 337-8833, afredland@consmerenergyalliance.org.

 

CEA Holds Offshore Energy Forum in Atlanta

Today, Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) hosted the 2015 Atlantic Energy Forum in Atlanta, Georgia featuring Abigail Ross Hopper, Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, state officials, and members of the business and environmental community.

The event is the third of a four part series that gathers industry stakeholders from various trade associations, companies, environmental groups, and government agencies to share their perspectives on potential future offshore energy development off the Atlantic coast.  The forum focused on responsible offshore wind and oil & gas development.

In addition to Director Hopper, panelists included Georgia State Representative Jason Spencer; Georgia Chamber of Commerce advisor Doug Miell; Georgia Petroleum Council Executive Director Hunter Hopkins; and Southern Environmental Law Center senior attorney Bill Sapp.

As a part of his remarks, Michael Whatley, Executive Vice President of CEA, said that “The benefits to Georgia from developing offshore wind, oil and natural gas resources are broad and vital to the Peach State. From creating jobs and economic growth to generating much needed electricity and government revenues, the potential for responsible offshore energy development presents an important opportunity to help drive Georgia’s economy forward.

BOEM Director Hopper discussed the role of her agency in the development of the 2017-2022 offshore oil and gas leasing program and the importance of receiving input from states, communities, industry, citizens, and others.  In doing so, she stated that “it is on our national interest to have domestic energy sources, and oil and gas is clearly one of those,” adding that “We are accustomed to a very specific standard of living here in the United States.  We have habits and demands that we require of our energy.  We require it to be there all the time, to be very reliable, and to be very affordable.  As we think about how we are going to meet that need in the decades to come, all of these technologies — oil and gas, offshore wind, and a whole host of others — will continue to be part of our energy mix.” 

Rep. Spencer highlighted the benefits that Atlantic offshore development could mean for local economic development and jobs in areas such as Camden County along Georgia’s southeast coast.  “You open up waters off the coast of Georgia for energy exploration, that could really bring power into the state’s economy for decades to come and put a lot of locals back to work,” adding that “Georgia has what it takes to become an energy powerhouse.”

In discussing the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s support for including the Mid- and South Atlantic in the 2017-2022 oil and gas leasing program, Mr. Miell noted “this is a long overdue initiative to explore this potentially valuable resource that is located right in our own backyard.”  He added that “it is critical that we continue to explore options that may identify new sources of supply and build our energy security.”

Mr. Hopkins highlighted the importance of conducting seismic surveys using modern technology to update decades-old estimates of Atlantic oil and gas resources, and the contribution of oil and gas to meeting our energy needs.  “Experts say that our world population is about to increase to about 9 billion people in the next 20 to 30 years.  As our population continues to grow in that manner, we’re expecting energy consumption to expand by about 50%, which means as more and more people are here on Earth, we’ve got to have more energy for them to be able to enjoy the everyday aspects of life.”  Hopkins added, ”Going into the future, fossil fuels are going to be the backbone of our energy consumption.”

Mr. Sapp shared his perspective on the potential implications of Atlantic oil and gas development for local communities.  In doing so, he observed that even if oil derricks are over the horizon and out of sight from the coast, “there will be ships and helicopters going to and from those derricks, there will be pipelines built under the ocean and on the land, there will be trucks rumbling through the streets of Savannah carrying materials for the derricks, and there will be warehouses built to house those materials.” 

The panel made it clear that the future of potential energy development offshore Georgia will have important implications for the region’s economic well-being and quality of life, and that an updated assessment of the region’s resources will play an important role in the decision-making process.

U.S. House Moves Keystone Pipeline Forward

pipeline staging yard

The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation to build the Keystone XL pipeline. That’s good news for millions of American consumers yearning to keep more of their hard-earned dollars in their pockets, says Michael Whatley, executive vice president of Consumer Energy Alliance, in a story published by WOWT in Omaha, Neb.

By a large margin, that included a significant number of Democrats, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill for the construction of the Keystone Pipeline. The vote was 266 to 153.

The passage comes despite a veto threat from President Obama who has blocked the project since first taking office.

All three members of the U.S. House who represent parts of the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metro — Democrat Brad Ashford and Republicans Jeff Fotenberry and David Young — all voted yes.

“Today I was proud to join with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass the Keystone bill,” said Ashford in a statement to WOWT 6 News. “While serving in the Nebraska Legislature, I worked closely with my colleagues to ensure that the route was moved to avoid the most environmentally sensitive areas and had higher safety requirements. The bill that I supported today protects Nebraska’s interests. And this bill will lead to good-paying jobs.”

The Keystone bill is one of the first pieces of legislation considered by the Republican-controlled Congress. It was the 10th vote the House had taken since July 2011 to advance the $7 billion project, which will carry oil from Canada to Gulf Coast refineries.

The Senate has a test vote on Monday with enough support to pass an identical bill.

Just hours before the House vote, Nebraska’s highest court tossed out a lawsuit challenging the pipeline’s route. This is important because the White House had used that lawsuit as a reason for additional delay. The White House veto threat was based partly on the unfinished Nebraska case.

Opponents of the pipeline believe the President may be their best ally.

“The primary thing is to say to President Obama,” said Ken Winston with the Nebraska Sierra Club, “Veto any legislation that’s related to the pipeline and deny the permit…It threatens vital Nebraska resources like the Ogallala Aquifer and we don’t think that’s worth the risk. And we also don’t think it’s in our national interest to run a pipeline through the middle of America that will only benefit people from foreign counties.”

Supporters believe this leaves the President no choice but to approve the plan. “People are getting the sense of what a lower gasoline price economy means for America,” said Michael Whatley with the Consumer Energy Alliance. “Look over the holidays, and Americans had thousands of dollars they could spend — not on gas — but on Christmas presents.”

CEA Statement on Obama’s Keystone XL Pipeline Rejection

In response to today’s announcement by President Barack Obama rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline, Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) Executive Vice President Michael Whatley issued the following statement:

“Consumer Energy Alliance joins American energy consumers across the nation in expressing their deep disappointment in President Obama’s decision to reject the Keystone XL pipeline. In doing so, he has thumbed his nose at more than two-thirds of Americans who support reducing energy imports from unfriendly nations; who support job creation; who support friendly relations with our Canadian neighbors; who support regulatory decisions based on science, not politics; and who support big ideas and big achievements.

“This decision clearly flies in the face of volumes of scientific evidence that shows the Keystone XL pipeline would be safe, enhance environmental standards, and be a more cost-effective alternative to importing oil from overseas. It also disregards the work done by the Department of State, Department of Energy and PHMSA which have collectively concluded that Keystone XL would be the safest pipeline ever built in the United States, reduce gasoline and diesel prices and reduce carbon emissions associated moving oil into American refineries.”

Consumer Energy Alliance Welcomes New Member: Methanol Institute

HOUSTON – Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is pleased to welcome Methanol Institute as its newest affiliate member.

The Methanol Institute (MI) serves as the global trade association for one of the world’s most vibrant and innovative industries. Founded in 1989 to lobby the U.S. Congress in support of methanol fuel markets, MI now serves its members in every corner of the globe from our offices in Singapore, Washington, D.C., Brussels and Beijing.

“Methanol is employed around the globe in a number of innovative applications to meet our growing demands for energy.  Methanol is a clean energy option that can be produced from natural gas, coal and a number of renewable resources including biomass and CO2,” said MI CEO Greg Dolan. “MI is pleased to join CEA and to have this opportunity to highlight methanol’s advantages as an emerging energy resource.”

“CEA is pleased to have the Methanol Institute as its newest member,” said CEA Chief Operating Office Andrew Browning. “The resurgence in North American methanol production well illustrates the link between our manufacturing renaissance and newly realized shale gas production. With CEA’s ‘all-of-the-above’ energy approach, we look forward to working with MI and its member companies to educate the public on methanol’s energy potential as well as its importance to key sectors of our economy.”

For more information on Methanol Institute, visit their website.

For more information on Consumer Energy Alliance, please visit ConsumerEnergyAlliance.org or contact Amelie Fredland at (713) 337-8833, afredland@consmerenergyalliance.org.

 

Back to School- Looking for a Career and Education Path that Pays and Will Stay? Think STEM.

Children going back to school on a bus

America’s record-breaking energy resurgence has catapulted us to No. 1 in oil and natural gas production, much thanks to an array of technological innovations and advancements that have allowed us to tap resources previously deemed unreachable.

No doubt, it’s been a win-win for American consumers.

But none of this would have happened without the machinists, engineers, technicians and scientists who design, manufacture and operate our wind turbines and solar panels, operate the drill bits on our oilrigs, and perform a multitude of other functions that help keep our energy sector the new envy of the world.

With our kids going back to school, it’s a good time to think again about the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education. It’s STEM related education and jobs that have made the energy sector the powerhouse that it is. But none of it will continue to happen unless we keep this STEM talent pipeline flowing.

Therein lies the problem – the pipeline is running close to empty now. Here’s why: Energy jobs, like other technical professions like those in manufacturing, require proficiency in STEM education – and not many people have that.

In fact, hundreds of thousands of jobs across the nation remain vacant because of this widespread skills gap, and according to recent studies, approximately 2 million STEM-related jobs could go unfulfilled by 2025, a problem compounded by accelerating retirement rates of current workers and the anticipated growth of energy and manufacturing over the next several years.

What can we do to stem the tide and save our energy future?

Fortunately, there are programs in place that only need to be emulated to ensure that Americans benefit from this economic activity. Across the nation, there is a variety of initiatives underway to help bolster technical and vocational training at community colleges and high schools and increase the number of STEM-savvy students graduating from our nation’s universities.

Programs at the post-secondary level have also produced wonderful successes, but far more is needed to capture – and keep – students’ interest in the sciences at a younger age, particularly since studies say that interest in math and science wane after students reach high school.

And it’s going to require a team effort.

That means we need more help from:

  • Elected leaders, who must proactively highlight the abundant opportunities associated with vocational education programs and the higher-than-average salaries they traditionally lead to down the road.
  • Educators, who must make sure they get the certifications they need to educate tomorrow’s fleet of energy workers.
  • Parents, who must take the necessary steps we need to make sure their children– America’s future workforce – are equipped with the knowledge needed to compete for long-lasting, high-paying STEM jobs in a global economy.

Here are some of the ways you can help:

  1. Help teach your teachers

Volunteer to help get STEM teaching grants for school educators. The Robert Noyse Teacher Scholarship Program, for instance, gives grants to institutions to enable them to provide scholarship and stipends to those who are seeking to improve their knowledge in STEM-related fields. It also helps support the development of Master Teachers who are experts in STEM education. There are also state level grants available.

  1. Get your school STEM certified

There are many ways to get this done. Project Lead the Way (PLTW) is one common avenue. The national non-profit offers STEM curriculum and professional development to educators by linking teachers and schools from across the country and enabling them to provide high quality STEM education to students in their school. PLTW offers a K-12 model that has been successfully integrated into a variety of schools: private, public, charter, urban, rural, and suburban. Work with your schools administration to implement PLTW’s curriculum into science and technology classes.

  1. Join a coalition

Consider getting your school or booster organization involved in an organization that pushes for STEM-related public policy. Groups like the STEM Education Coalition work to advance policies that support STEM education at the federal level.

Adding your voice to the debate on STEM education is also a powerful way to influence the debate and raise awareness of the need for more STEM education in schools. There are several activist organizations where you can get involved.

Also, you can join Consumer Energy Alliance to receive updates on news, petitions, and other opportunities to support the development of STEM education. Be a sponsor or volunteer at Energy Day, a fun-filled annual festival by CEA that highlights the importance of STEM education in our everyday lives.

CEA Continues Atlantic Energy Forum Series

Today, Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) hosted the 2015 Atlantic Energy Forum in Columbia, South Carolina, featuring Abigail Ross Hopper, Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, among other distinguished panelists.

The event is the second of a four part series that gathers industry stakeholders from various trade associations, companies, environmental groups, and government agencies to discuss the importance of reasonable, responsible, and environmentally friendly offshore energy development off the Atlantic coast.  The forum focused on responsible offshore wind and oil & gas development.

In addition to Director Hopper, panelists included South Carolina State Representative Stephen Goldfinch, Jr.; South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance President & CEO Lewis Gossett,; Coastal Conservation League Energy & Climate Director Hamilton Davis; Palmetto Agribusiness Council Executive Director Cathy Novinger; and Atlantic Energy Alliance President Bill Crowther.

As a part of his remarks, Michael Whatley, Executive Vice President of CEA, said that “The benefits to South Carolina from developing offshore wind, oil and natural gas resources are broad and vital to the Palmetto State. From creating jobs and economic growth to generating much needed electricity and government revenues, the potential for responsible offshore energy development presents an important opportunity to help drive South Carolina’s economy forward.

BOEM Director Abigail Hopper added, “Our statutory mandate is to find the balance between developing our natural resources and protecting the marine environment – it will reflected in our five year [oil and gas leasing] plan and in the Environmental Impact Statement – the goal is to thread the needle as carefully as possible to ensure that our nation gets the energy it needs and that our environment is protected.”

Lewis Gossett captured the mind of the manufacturing industry by discussing the importance of offshore development when he said “If we are going to provide jobs to people that maintain quality of life. If we are going to solve economic issues, we have to bring jobs to where people live. And to do that we have to have energy.”

Cathy Novinger represented the voice of the agriculture industry by saying that “When you look at the basic components of producing food, they require energy, and quite frankly a lot of it. It has got to be affordable, and it has got to be available. If you are growing rice, it can be up to 40% percent of the production cost.”

Of bringing offshore oil & gas development to South Carolina, Bill Crowther said, “This could make a big impact on the quality of life for the people of Georgetown County, it can bring good jobs to the people that need them the most.”

Representative Stephen Goldfinch added that his “position is very simply, that we have to investigate all of the evidence [regarding potential offshore oil and gas resources], which starts with seismic – we cannot know what is off our coast without looking.

The panel made it clear that the future of potential energy development offshore South Carolina will have important implications for the region’s economic well-being and quality of life, and that an updated assessment of the region’s resources will play a critical role in the decision making process.

Consumer Energy Alliance 2015 Annual Report

RECAP: Bipartisan Panel Highlights Need for Sound Policies to Keep the Energy Renaissance Moving

Two former U.S. Senate leaders emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation on energy policies that can keep America’s Energy Renaissance on track and how U.S. energy policy now impacts the entire world, during an energy policy forum in Houston.

The need to address the critical issues that impact America’s energy future were discussed at a policy forum held by Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) and Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) in Houston on October 28. The forum, “Changing Geopolitics of Energy: Impacts on the Nation, Houston, and Washington, D.C.,” featured BPC Senior Fellows former U.S. Senators Byron Dorgan and Trent Lott, BPC President Jason Grumet, and CEA President David Holt.

Critical issues, from oil exports legislation, to citing of transmission lines and pipelines, to technological innovation and its role in conventional and renewable energy production, were all part of a lively discussion at the breakfast event. Panelists collectively recognized a need for a focused energy policy in Washington D.C. and bipartisan cooperation to support domestic energy supply, national security, and economic growth.

CEA President David Holt emphasized the importance of the Energy Renaissance that is occurring in America, from both oil and gas production, renewables, and efficiency and conservation, and its positive impact on the U.S. economy, energy security, and geopolitics. “We have a unique opportunity here that can better the lives of all Americans. But we need the right policies in place to ensure it continues.”

“The world has changed and in a good way,” Senator Byron Dorgan, who is former chairman of the Democratic Policy Committee, emphasizing the significance of America’s emerging ability to produce the majority of its own energy.  Dorgan described the positive impacts the Bakken Shale Play has had on his home state of North Dakota, but also stressed the need to develop multiple energy sources, stating “fuel diversity makes our country stronger.”

Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott drew upon his experience in the Senate to underscore the need for bipartisan cooperation in crafting the policies that can help America deliver abundant supplies of energy for generations to come “We need to listen to each other and reach consensus,” Lott said, emphasizing the need for statesmanship when it comes to energy policy.

Congress has shown some signs of returning to a more accommodating approach, said BPC President Jason Grumet, who noted that the Senate is functioning more cooperatively. An opportunity for Congress to show it can act in a bipartisan way on energy could emerge later this year with the potential for a compromise energy package that might include language to lift the ban on oil exports. Grumet spoke about the importance of infrastructure development in meeting the nation’s future energy goals and growing the economy. “We have a shared national interest in our infrastructure.”

For more information on BPC’s Energy Project, visit here.

For additional information on upcoming CEA events, please contact KVanKeppel@consumerenergyalliance.org.

Football: A continuous game of power

Since the early 2000s, there have been numerous rule changes to what has quickly become America’s most-watched professional sporting event – football. Changes of note include the infamous “tuck rule” and its repeal, moving kick-offs up to the 35-yard-line, and moving the extra-point back, making what used to be a near sure-thing into a far more challenging 33-yard attempt.

But there have also been significant changes off the field, too – especially in how teams utilize state-of-the-art technology to power their stadiums and keep the lights on for four quarters or more of hard-hitting gridiron action.

Starting in 2008 the National Football League (NFL) began putting an emphasis on the power and sustainability by “greening” NFL events.

According to USA Today, of the 126 professional sports teams in the five major sports, 38 use renewable energy technology for at least some of their power-generating needs, and 68 have energy-efficiency programs.

Here is a sampling of the creative ways that NFL teams have made their game-days more energy efficient and sustainable:

  • 14 wind-turbines and 11,000 solar panels generate 30 percent of the total energy at Lincoln Financial Field, in Philadelphia
  • Using energy efficient lighting and low-E coating on windows has reduced the energy imprint at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium by 30 percent compared to its predecessor, Giants Stadium, despite being twice as large in square footage
  • Seattle’s CenturyLink Field installed point-of-use lighting in concession stands, restrooms, and other public areas, resulting in a 21 percent cut in energy consumption
  • Soldier Field, in Chicago, is the only NFL stadium to receive the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, following its 2003 renovation
  • In Atlanta, the Georgia Dome’s automated control system regulates the building’s HVAC system more efficiently by using less energy on climate control

In addition to these stadium’s energy-friendly initiatives, there are also many ways that you, the fan, can reduce the impact of your tailgate or game-day party, from using propane to fuel your grill to ensuring that unused appliances are turned off during game time. Small individual efforts like these, combined with the aforementioned large “greening” initiatives of the NFL, will ensure that the game’s electric atmosphere, on the field and around it, remains energy-friendly, this season and beyond.

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