COLUMBUS, Ohio — A popular misquote of Mark Twain reads, “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”
Twain reportedly was responding to rumors he was dying. Today, perhaps the quote pertains more aptly to the country’s oil and gas industry.
Over the past 20 years politicians, pundits, and provocateurs have been predicting without success or substance that the age of oil and gas is dead. During this year’s State of the Union Address, President Biden declared that the era of oil and gas would end within a decade.
The facts haven’t matched this narrative in the past, nor do they match this narrative in the future.
Rob Brundrett is president of the Ohio Oil and Gas Association. The Ohio Oil and Gas Association’s mission is to protect, promote, foster and advance the common interest of those engaged in all aspects of the Ohio crude oil and natural gas producing industry.
American energy consumption is expected to increase an additional 15% by 2050. Global energy demand will also continue to grow, spurred by developing nations.
Where is the energy coming from in the United States?
In 2021 natural gas and oil made up 68% of the country’s energy mix. Thankfully, we have enough oil and gas to continue powering the country into the future, no matter how much we try to talk ourselves into catastrophe.
While pundits debate the merits of wind and solar, left out of the discussion is the ability to provide for the everyday necessities of modern life. Simply stated, oil and gas remain the essential building blocks that allow for modern technology, comfort, and convenience.
Oil and gas-based products are found in every Prius and Tesla. The same is true for cell phones, computers, and just about every other convenience in society, including our clothes, safety equipment, homes and the thousands of other products that require oil and natural gas.
Ohio, long a national leader in extraction and processing, is key to both the United States’ and the world’s energy future. Appalachia is home to one of the most important natural gas fields in the world and is well positioned in future energy solutions at home and abroad if our country’s leadership makes bold decisions now.
Ohio’s leadership is already making these decisions.
Last month the state finalized rules for leasing state lands for oil and gas development. The online leasing portal went live just after Memorial Day.
Critics of this change have been vocal, incorrect and disingenuous. They point to a variety of hypothetical and unrealistic doomsday scenarios. They fail to acknowledge the more than 2,000 mostly conventional oil and gas wells currently on public lands, including state parks in Ohio.
Opponents of oil and natural gas loudly criticize the industry over methane emissions yet are oddly quiet when questioned about agriculture, a much larger source of methane than either oil or natural gas. Nor do they acknowledge the oil and gas industry’s contributions to carbon emissions reductions with increased natural gas power generation.
Ohio and its leadership should be applauded for looking out for Ohioans. The world is crazy and dangerous enough, so as a first step let us at the very least ensure Ohio has the energy it needs to keep our elderly cool in summer, families warm in winter, and our businesses connected to the entire world through technology.
While the industry’s death might be greatly exaggerated today, we ought not talk ourselves into this reality unless as a society we are prepared to give up the standard of modern living and the safety oil and gas provides for our everyday lives.
Rob Brundrett is president of the Ohio Oil and Gas Association. The Ohio Oil and Gas Association’s mission is to protect, promote, foster and advance the common interest of those engaged in all aspects of the Ohio crude oil and natural gas producing industry.
