WorldWide Drilling Resource

A Bold and Strategic Energy Plan for the U.S. Adapted from Information Provided by the The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Since the Institute for 21st Century Energy issued its first Blueprint for Securing America’s Energy Future in 2008, the U.S. energy landscape has transformed from an era of energy scarci- ty to one of undeniable abundance. In today’s economy, energy production is one of America’s most promising sec- tors. Energy opportunities available to the U.S. are unprecedented in scale and importance and can potentially revital- ize the nation’s economy and standing in the world. However, harnessing these opportunities poses a challenge when national energy policy does not keep pace with 21st Century energy realities, and actively works against it in some cases. In an effort to help America catch up to today’s energy marketplace, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy unveiled its comprehensive Energy Works for US report earlier this year reflecting the new reality of America’s energy revolution. Energy Works for US contains 64 specific, proactive recommendations in nine key areas. The plan lays the foun- dation for the Chamber’s stance on ener- gy advocacy across the nation in 2014 and beyond. The nine key areas for sound U.S. energy policy include: 1. Removing barriers to increase domestic oil and natural gas explo- ration, as well as production and fuel manufacturing. 2. Maintaining coal’s vital part of a diverse energy portfolio. 3. Expanding nuclear energy use and committing to a nuclear waste solution. 4. Enhancing the competitiveness of renewable sources of energy. 5. Promoting 21st Century energy efficiency and advanced technolo- gies. 6. Modernizing the permitting pro- cess for the country’s infrastructure. 7. Protecting America’s energy infra- structure from physical disruptions and cyber attacks. 8. Reforming the regulatory process for balance, predictability, and trans- parency. 9. Ensuring a competitive energy workforce. “The Energy Works for US platform will create millions of jobs, billions of dollars in revenue, and trillions of dol- lars in private investment,” said Tom Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “America now has the opportunity to become an energy superpower, but our national en- ergy policy is stuck in the past. The plat- form wi l l al low us to real ize our ful l potential.” The new platform provides a com- plete update to the Blueprint for Securing America’s Energy Future and reflects the current energy and economic out- looks which are much different than they were in 2008. 61 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® JUNE 2014 +0 .5 .&((&*$ -1&,)"*0 ' 3 ** 0.""0 (5,% *0 ##& " ("/ 7 " %*& ( 1,,+.0 7 4 7 ) &( .+0 .5!.&((&*$"-1&,)"*0 $) &( +) 10%+.&6"! *!2&' &/0.& 10+. ".2&*$ 0%" .+1*!3 0". *!1/0.5 “Whi le there is great cause for optimism, the reality is that our energy revolution is largely occurring in spite of government policies, not because of them,” said Karen Harbert, president and CEO of the Chamber’s Institute for 21st Century Energy. “Poorly designed policies that limit access to resources and regulatory overreach have created uncertainty that threatens to hold back U.S. energy production and the invest- ment and jobs that go with it. Energy Works for US shows policymakers and theAmerican public how we can embrace our energy opportunities and overcome our energy challenges to transform our economic and geopolitical future.” The entire Energy Works for US report is available at: www.energyxxi.org/energyworksforus “Life as I see it is not a location, but a journey. Life flows.” h Henry Ford