partnerships around the globe. that way we can prove to our innovators, to our men and women in uniforms that we are 100% behind them. our confidence in ai development and i commend the work the commission and its partners are doing today. thank you for allowing me a few moments to share some thoughts with you. i appreciate all the great work that you are doing and look forward to spending more time with you in the future as we continue to work through the many challenges in ai. thank you all very much for being here today and i look forward to many of the interesting partnerships yet to come. thank you very much for your time. [ applause ] >> leaders in the natural gas and oil industry will talk about their priorities this year including on climate change and

growing energy demand, you are watching live coverage on c-span 3. >> we are proud to announce that doubled the tenants of last year. i welcome hundreds more joining us live. i will also give you a sneak peek of the program and share some reminders. first, in the spirit of the natural gas and oil industries, commit to safety because api sets the starpndards for the highest operations around the world, we'll begin our event today. there are no plans of emergency drills during the anthem today. please treat the announcement is a real thing. it is a good idea to be prepared. the best exit is the one from which you enter back here to my right and additional exits to my left right up front and the back of the room. i would like to extend a warm

welcome to our distinguished guests including members of congress, administration officials, industry leaders and trade association executives and other partners and allies. you will see some others on the screen behind me and thank you for holding your applause until the end. we welcome congresswoman lizzie fletcher. we welcome senior officials from the department of energy, labor, environmental protection agency d the federal energy regulatory commission, we welcome senior officials from the senate committee from agriculture and energy and natural resources and environment and public works and finance and small business and entrepreneurship. we well those from energy and customers and foreign affairs and natural resources and small business and science space and

technology and transportation and infrastructure and the select committee on the climate crisis. with us today, a representative from the senate and house leadership offices, thanks for being here and the embassy of canada and norway, we welcome industry leaders including peer ban pierre bank. brian hoffman, the president and ceo of motiva enterprises. kevin nichols, ryan flynn from the new mexico association. we welcome labor leaders and other industry allies. also, our philadelphia leader, lonnie stevenson, international president of the international brotherhood of electrical

workers. eric dean, terry o' sullivan who'll also be on our panel shortly. paula glover, president and ceo of the american association of black energy. jo jose perez, chairman and ceo of hispanics association. finally, our celebrity guest today, mike rowe, tv host, narrator and author who'll take part in our panel discussion today. thank you all for being here and many trade association as and executives you saw behind me. as of here today, american energy is delivering progress and energy producing and non producing regions alike. we are happy to have with us

special guests over here, from these communities and their profile ng the report that are on your seat when you come in. please rise to be recognized, from wisconsin, terry hayden, president of the wisconsin pipe trade, from lansing michigan, jennifer van dyke, from pennsylvania, sam dimarco, from butler county, jeff hunter, president and ceo of hunter truck whose company bet on this country needing a heck of a lot of trucks in western pennsylvania and that's a bet that paid off. see page 11 from your report. don a donny mills. near by, virginia beach, executive director of citizens

of energy. >> alex cortek. thank you all for taking your time out of your busy schedule to come to washington today. you may have seen some snow. before i retreat, i have three quick requests and reminder. can everybody take out your cell phone which i am sure very close to you. open up twitter and we invite everyone to follow @apienergy or tweet or retweet using the #hoae 2020 and energy for process. on your table are some question cards. take a moment now to write a policy related question or question about the future of energy for our panelists. we'll have a number of folks coming around and collecting shows before and during that panel discussion. finally, in a few moment, take a

look at these video monitors which are kind of hard to miss, you will see a sneak peek of the seven communities that make us proud to tell you about energy for progress today. so with that, thank you and please enjoy your lunch. [ applause ] with american nerenergy, development is easier. growth is happening here, nancy is in the driver's seat. this is natural gas and oil, this is energy progress.

this is terry, a lifelong citizen of o' claire, he's the president of pipe trade association. he sees the benefits of natural gas and oils across all of wisconsin, bringing good paying jobs and fulfilling careers to 9,000 statewide workers. local pride goes further here. ontario is living it out. this is natural gas and oil. this is energy progress. >> this is anne, a student, a journey woman powering big time projects from hospitals to school and office buildings and jobs and the thousands of men and women who are facing a downturn and thank to natural gas and oil. jobs are happening right here to help people like anne thrive. this is natural gas and oil.

this is energy progress. this is jim, a director of red new shoes a company that's providing shoes to citizens and soldiers and everyone in between since 1905. jim is using natural gas and oil to preserve a local brand with global scale. international impact is happening here and jim is leaving his footprint. this is natural gas and oil, this is energy progress. >> this is sue, construction contractor here at las cruces, natural gas and oil is helping new business and value

experience. progress is happening here and sue is part of the team. this is natural gas and oil. this is energy progress. this is jim, president of virginia natural gas, he's focused on using clean energy to power virginia beach, reducing electricity rates while reducing jobs and manufacturing to the community and helping make our emissions lower and air cleaner. these days are happening here, jim is working to ensure you are here to stay. this is natural gas and oil. this is energy progress. this is brian, he works at ex traction oil and gas, a company permitted to responsible of energy development in the community, thanks for their supportive food bank, monthly

trips for the food bank is possible, all supporting the 232,000 jobs in colorado. community businesses are thriving here and, this is energy progress. this is natural gas and oil. >> this is ismael. he's a community organizer with a lot of his own energy. helping his community leaders and small businesses understand what natural gas and oil make possible. from saving money every month from your natural gas bill to power the entire city. progress is happening here. ismael is working to ensure that happens for everyone. this is natural gas and oil. this is energy progress. >> an aurora citizen for 40 years, kevin sees natural gas

and oil to energize his city. kevin recognizes in sustainable community growth. ker kevin knows it is just getting started. this is natural gas and oil. this is energy progress. this is donny, president of mill marine and ship repair. he's bringing real jobs to virginia beach. he's providing career opportunity that changes lives forever by partnering with universities to keep virginia beach a place where local manufacturing can thrive. opportunity is happening here and donny is bringing it to the community. this is natural gas and oil. this is energy progress.

ladies and gentlemen, please direct your attention to the main stage screen. there is a clear and present danger to our nation.

our national economy will never again be held captive. we'll not return to the day of gas line and international humilation. i have called for more energy and reliance on american natural gas. >> i urge congress to pass legislation that makes america more secure and less independent on foreign energy. >> after years of talking about it, we are finally poised to control our own energy future. >> the united states is the number one producer of oil and natural gas anywhere in the world. ladies and gentlemen, please welcome api, president and ceo, mike summers.

>> good afternoon everyone and welcome to the state of american energy anthem. this is quite a different venue from the reagan building downtown where we have done many events. being here on stage on the very spot where bob dylan has played gives this event a whole different feel. like the best musicians, americans embraced independence, you see it when we give our polling place, when we celebrate your freedoms and now when we get our energy right here at home. [ applause ]

reducing our nation's dependence was the stated goal of everyone of our last seven presidents. democrats and republicans. these leaders all understood that clean, affordable and reliable american energy serves both as the basic economic growth at home and security abroad. now finally, the united states has achieved this bipartisan goal. the state of american energy in 2020 is one of leadership. america is the global leader and energy development carbon emissions and reductions and environmental performance. [ applause ] so today, i am here to talk about three things. one, how america's energy revolution has benefited

americans in the communities that we live in. two, the risks of climate change and how our industry of problem solve solvers are meeting the challenge. three, the choice that is head of us and the repercussions that'll come if we choose the wrong path. u.s. energy leadership offers stability in chaotic times and insulate america from hostile and unreliable - >> if you want to know the true value of energy leadership in 2020, you must also zoom into see if it benefits here at home. there are displays from the smallest american communities to our biggest cities. american energy is powering the lives of people across our nation. tot today we are introducing you to

men and women from seven american communities. you will learn about some of these leaders during lunch and you will hear more about them later today. their stories are different but their experiences are similar. american energy is helping to revive the communities. from colorado and new mexico to ohio in pennsylvania, natural gas and oil development is energizing the economy and improving millions of lives. in mexico, natural gas fuels the state of economy and futures generations to the tune of one billion dollars every year for state schools. natural gas and oil helps explain why in parts of america that have not seen jobs growth for decades. people are moving in, mainstream is busy again. businesses are opening and hiring and more tax revenue for

schools or police or public work and conservations and so much more than power modern life. i had a chance to visit some of these communities in new mexico and michigan and pennsylvania. when people in those areas think of natural gas and oil, they think of real and ongoing changes for the better. good paying jobs, lower cost, worker safety and reliable energy. for example, a local michigan community leader told us that energy infrastructure brought growth and help convince u.s. automakers to stay in this country. these remarkable achievements were no accident. they were brought about the technologies and practices that unlocked these vast energy resources. hydraulic fracturing and

drilling may be a mouth full but there is the invention of the iphone. american energy import has plummeted. the u.s. is a net export of natural gas and oil for the first time in 70 years. [ applause ] america is also leading on a mission reduction. no nation on earth has reduced annual carbon emissions more than we have. we have the capacity, desire and grit to keep stepping up. the american people rightly expect big things from this industry. we have to serve the vast and growing demand for affordable energy and we have to accelerate progress on this serious challenge of climate change. any report on the state should begin with that fact that we

accept that and we are meeting it. everyday, our industry is focused on lowering emissions, on increasing efficiency and on furthering our environmental progress. the size and scope of the climate challenge requires a tremendous response. it requires innovation from everyone including our members. bold and achievable action at climate change is essential. american natural gas and oil industry is committed to innovation and leadership to make shows ambitions to more than just hopes and dreams. we support legislation to encourage wider use of carbon capture and utilizations.

when ever we advance new technologies to reduce or capture carbon emissions, we take a step forward with other industries looking to do the same. but, our industry's problem solvers are not done yet. our industry now supports 10.9 million jobs and we are charging ahead. when facing serious charges, you want capable men and women of america's natural gas oil industry on your side. when api advocates for energy development and infrastructure, we are fighting for the long-term success of american communities like the seventh that are represented here today. and so many more like them, no one should take away what they gained a gained. no one should close them off for more opportunities ahead. what's happening with american energy today is one of the

greatest economic success stories of our time. and it is an america's interest to keep it going. to do that, we must continually develop new and affordable, reliable energy. that power is america's economic growth and we need new infrastructure over the next 15 years, americans need an estimated $1 trillion in private infrastructure development to bring energy to where it is to where it is not. to help unlock our critical funding, our lawmakers need to adopt new guidelines, cut red tape and avoid unnecessary delays. all this only helps strengthen our economy on both ends of the value chain. it ensures our energy, power our american households and businesses and trading partners and communities like those i just mentioned. we need lawmakers ending mandate

on et ethanols. we strongly support the u.s. mca trade deal that was approved by the house last month point, it holds potential for our country and our closest neighbors. some our trade efforts such as tariffs against china and other nation takes our country into the wrong direction. trade wars block american progress. deescalation is welcome news but american policymakers must get us over the finish line. let's remove all trade barriers on both sides and restore critical and energy export

growth. we are taking the side of all sectors of the economy that depends on the progress and strength of u.s. oil and natural gas. somehow at this very moment of progress, some has made it their cause to stop american energy development. at the extreme, we hear promises on the 2020 campaign trail, demand fracking and nationwide and forever. here is a glimpse of that vision. millions of jobs loss, a spike in household energy cost, a manufacturing downturn. last energy security and the short run, a fracking band would quickly invite a global recession. you don't abolish the most

dynamic asset of the world leading energy without severe consequences. it is no mystery why foreign leaders, hostile to american interests don't like american energy progress and the advantage that's given to our country. other countries have the choice of reliable energy from the u.s., thank in part of sound policies and the american innovation of fracking. banning a safe and successful method of energy is apart of an extreme agenda, opposed to natural gas and oil no matter where it is produced. nobody wants unhinder development or drilling on federal land. that's an extreme view. so in this campaign here, capturing leading political momentum will hear pledges to ban developments on all federal

lands. on shore and offshore. i don't for one moment believe there is a majority in either party for that position. i don't believe in taking things for granted either. so again, we must all strongly oppose these proposals. whether the issues is offshore leases or fracking or energy infrastructure, the false choice will prevail unless we answer director with evidence, sharing our stories and those in the community across the country to drive our conversation. the american people make their own choices. we should all remember after all there is another word for choice when it comes to energy. it is called demand. the nation with the largest and most innovative economy in the world runs on affordable and reliable energy. the majority of which comes from natural gas and oil. our mission as an industry

starts with meaning and rising demand and doing it responsibly. we are relentless and reducing our footprint improving safety technology and decreasing emissions rates. we are not finished. api in this industry will continue to lead far and wide. today u.s. energy development is safer than ever been in part, thanks to apis world class standards from foundational offshore safety to pipeline leak detection. api standards drive safety, environmental protection and sustainability. not only here in the united states but across the world. in fact, setting standards for the natural gas and oil operations had been the core program of api since our section. in our first 100 years, we

adopted more than 100 standards. in 2019 alone, api released 90 standards for developing natural gas in nigeria, we also signed agreements with our counter partners in india, saudi arabia and russia so producers of government agencies in these regions can rely on our standards and program to drive safe operations. you will hear from the panel about just how far our efforts reached. even in regions that don't produce natural gas or oil. our impact extends far beyond that of any industry or group. every citizens stand to gain when energy is affordable and producing cleaner here in the united states. our future can unite democrats

and republicans and independents alike. that's the spirit of everything we do at api. it is clear that these issues won't be solved on social media, in florida speeches or with political pledges, these pledges promise a lot but they deliver very little. it takes hard work to develop affordable solutions to meet demands while addressing the risk of climate change. together we can do it. where ever the future of energy is at stake. when people doubt the value of natural gas and oil. where ever our commitment to worker safety and environmental safety is questioned, you are going to see api making our case. we are ready to work together. we may not agree on every detail but on the big issues, we have far more in common than you may think. like our nation, this industry

finds itself at a defining moment. when our energy of demands have never been higher and a focus on a cleaner planet has never been greater. we are eager to accelerate our work together to tackle both challenges. we intend to spend the next 100 years continuing to innovate and create a better future for all of us. our industry mission is society's mission. that's energy for progress. thank you very municipch. [ applause ] ♪

>> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome community leaders from across america for a special message. [ applause ] >> good afternoon. i'm county councilman sam de marco from western pennsylvania, better known as shale country. this is the region that provides much of the energy that's making our country stronger and more self-reliant. tens of thousands of pennsylvanians and their families are enjoying the jobs and the safety and comfort that this industry is bringing through its development this past decade. >> i'm jennifer van dyke from lansing, michigan.

i'm president of swann electric company. we've seen large energy infrastructure projects that have provided immense benefit not only to our business but to the greater lansing community. >> and i'm terry hayden from wisconsin. natural gas and oil are providing incredible work opportunity for the men and women of my union. my hometown is eau claire and it's a great place to raise a family and to live. and because of american energy, we have more than 18,000 students currently enrolled in programs to supply our area's skilled workers. >> affordable energy costs help every american family and create good paying jobs. i'm proud of my part in telling the story. the video you're about to watch is about progress. in my community and others across america, all made possible by american natural gas and oil. thank you. [ applause ] ♪

>> announcer: it's not always obvious. with everything going on, it's easy to take it for granted. but if you look closely, you'll find that natural gas and oil is at work for you, bringing real benefits to people and communities across america. >> the majority of our energy relies on natural gas. >> overall it really has improved our community's quality of life. >> every day we're looking for ways to do it better. >> it's a huge natural gas revolution going on out there. >> i think the energy costs going down have helped. >> what can we do to adjust what we're doing to maintain our lower costs. >> announcer: creating a future that is. building a more resilient america. delivering opportunity. strengthening local economies. and ensuring a cleaner future. demand for a cleaner energy is only increasing. and challenges this size require unmatched problem solving,

information, and policy making. what happens in washington and in state capitals across the u.s. can either accelerate or undermine this great progress in our towns and neighborhoods. we must meet demands with reliable, affordable, and cleaner energy. creating a brighter tomorrow while continuing energy progress today. learn more at energyforprogress.org. >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our future of energy panelists. general president of laborers of north america, terry o'sullivan. president and ceo of small business and entrepreneurship council, karen carrigan. president of petroleum equipment and services association, leslie

beyer. skilled trades advocate and television host mike rowe. and our panel moderator, senior vice president of global industry services, deborah phillips. [ applause ] >> well, good afternoon, everyone. i'm deborah phillips, and i run a part of api that mike and megan have mentioned earlier today, but not many in this town know very much about. our more than 120 employees and more than 7,000 volunteers worldwide develop standards and programs that drive safety, environmental performance, sustainability, and energy efficiency throughout the oil and gas industry, both here domestically and around the world. it's my distinct pleasure to be the moderator for today's panel. i'm joined onstage with four folks that have unique and well-positioned perspectives regarding america's energy future. and they're here to share that with us today. just to do a brief

reintroduction of our panelists, we have terry o'sullivan, at the end, to your left, representing international laborers union. karen carrigan, representing small entrepreneur. leslie beyer represents companies that provide critical services to oil companies world wild. our celebrity guest mike rowe you know from "dirty jobs" but is also a skilled trades advocate here in this country. so we don't have much time. i'm going to jump right in. and karen, you get the first question. you represent small companies and entrepreneurs. and you don't always immediately think about energy and oil and gas in terms of the primary interests of your organization. so can you talk a little bit about why energy is so important to your companies and as you look toward the future, what's on their minds? >> a lot is on their mind, given

the competitive global economy. but we, spe council, always makes the point, a big point, about underscoring the role of entrepreneurs to small businesses in the oil and natural gas industry. they actually dominate this industry. u.s. energy has been a long term, consistent, good news economic story. and small businesses have benefitted from that, both as consumers in the marketplace but also as entrepreneurs and small businesses in the industry. so for example, among oil and gas extraction companies, 90% have fewer than 20 employees. 96% have, you know, fiewer thana hundred. oil and gas drilling companies, the numbers are about the same, 96% or so have fewer than 20 employees. so all sectors, whether it's

equipment, manufacturing, pipeline construction, related structures, you name it, it's really small businesses that are driving innovation in this industry. and i love seeing all the videos of the women entrepreneurs in this industry. obviously women entrepreneurship is booming. and to have the opportunity for women to engage in this industry, bring more diversity in this industry, is very important. diversity fuels innovation, which will only help in terms of taking our industry, the energy industry, to the next level. so -- and making it more affordable. with respect to costs, that's the big thing, for any business, but for small businesses, to have this consistent -- to not -- when we think about 15 years ago, you know, when we're

up on the hill talking about the concern that small business owners have about price shocks to their bottom line, to have stable and consistent costs is so important for small businesses in terms of allowing them to invest, to compete, to hire. do all the things that they do to keep our economy growing. so it's vital. obviously the point about the policies to encourage the industry, but it is entrepreneurs and small businesses at the heart of the industry that are helping to strengthen it as well. >> not only the industry but the engine of the american economy. >> absolutely. >> terry, you're next. good paying middle class jobs are really the lifeblood of your membership. we've heard stories today about opportunities that the new energy age in america has brought to communities and individuals. can you talk a little bit about what it's meant for your membership and as you look forward, what are the policies

that are necessary to sustain those kinds of opportunities and potentially expand them? >> i want to first -- thank you, deborah. i first want to that anything mike somers and api for the situation on behalf of the organization. we have a great relationship with api and your member firms so thank you very much for the members of the national laborers of north america. the energy sector for us is thriving. i brothers from the ua are here, operating engineers, the teamsters, building trades, pipeline crafts. we have seen, you don't want to use "explosion" when you're talking about natural gas, but that's what we've seen in our organization and in the industry. you know, these kind of energy jobs are a pathway to the middle class. they provide hope, opportunity, good wages, with good benefits.

and that's what we stand for. and that's what the partnership with api in this sector actually provides. i do have a few examples. i couldn't memorize them all but just to give you an example of not only the potential but then i'll talk just for a minute about some of the challenges. we have the atlantic coast pipeline or dakota access pipeline. i had over 1,600 laborers on that job, and i'm not talking about for a week or a month, but for a year or more. rover pipeline, 3,000 construction workers, multiple-year project. atlanta sunrise pipeline, 2,500. line 3 replacement in minnesota, 3,000. atlanta coast pipeline which has its challenges which i'll talk about in a second, there is going to be about 1,200 construction laborers on it. we actually have, i saw one of

the representatives here for pennsylvania, there's a plant with 7,500 construction workers on that facility. so the potential is incredible. and as i said, we've seen an absolu absolute, you know, thriving in the energy sector. oil, gas, we support wind, solar. we're doing a big nuclear facility in georgia. what are some of the challenges? i'm at least encouraged that on thursday i know the president is going to propose changes to nepa which are desperately needed from our perspective, to expedite the permitting process. when infrastructure projects and energy projects take ten years, 12 years, i'm not going to go through the list of them, but i have a project in taos, new mexico, an airport project, over 20 years to get the approval for

a runway expansion. another project where it's a roadway with a bridge, 16 years through the process, the review, the regulation process. those of you from the d.c. area, we have the purple line. some of it was litigation, but it took 14 years for that to finally get off the ground. so nepa needs to be changed. it's a 50-year-old regulation that needs changes to it. we still need to be thoughtful about environmental impact, that's not to rush it through, to harm the environment or workers, but it needs to be changed. and we have too many gutless politicians here in washington, d.c. and across the country that are pandering to extremists on all fronts, who are licking their fingers and seeing which way the political winds are blowing instead of talking with us in the sector, business,

labor, suppliers and the like, to figure out how we move our energy policy forward in a way that we don't have the keystone xl pipelines, we don't have the penn east or the atlantic coast pipeline where it's on again/off again because of political winds. so between changes to nepa, having politicians that actually start standing up instead of licking their fingers, and some other things, i think we're just scratching the surface of this energy renaissance. it's good for business. it's good for the economy. and it's good for working men and women, that all they want to do is be able to keep a roof over their head, food on their table and provide for themselves and their families. [ applause ] >> thank you. thank you, terry. you bring up an important point about infrastructure investment. i think a recent study has indicated that we need more than

a trillion dollars in investment in infrastructure in order to keep up with growing global energy demand. so, critical. my next question is for you, mike, our celebrity guest. you've spent a lot of time on the front lines talking to american workers, hearing their stories, retelling their stories on your broadcast, including spending time with workers in our industry. and as you know, they're very, very proud, not only of what they do every day but in terms of what we've been able to achieve with regard to this new american energy leadership age. and so my question for you is, how do we tell that story of progress and bring that pride that our workers feel about what we've accomplished in our industry outside of our industry, to the rest of the american workforce? >> yeah, thank you for having me here for the celebrity opinion. look, for what it's worth, i have opinions. i have opinions about the infrastructure and about

organized labor and about the widening skills gap and unemployment and all these things. but nobody would have ever given me a seat at any table or on any panel if we hadn't found a way to build a platform from which to share those ideas and for me that platform was a show called "dirty jobs." and i spent ten years crawling through skewers and doing unspeakable things to barnyard animals in an attempt to get the audience's attention. and once we did that, we got a weird level of permission to talk really honestly and really candidly about the evolving, ever-changing definition what have a good job means. back in the day, that was 2003. today in 2020, we're still doing the same thing. we're trying to make a persuasive case for opportunities that actually exist. "dirty jobs" gave me a chance to

do a lot of different things. but the thing i'm most proud of in 2008 was the evolution of a foundation called microworks. and the goal of microworks, to your point, is to tell the stories of people who managed to prosper by mastering a trade and learning a skill that was actually in demand. we've been offering work scholarships, modest stipends, to, in many cases, people who want to get into the energy industry. because make no mistake, the biggest impediment to the growth that i think we all want to see has to do with the broader perceptions and the stigmas and the stereotypes and the misperceptions that affirmtively keep parents and guidance counselors from encouraging their kids to enter into that sector of work that as my

grandfather said, looks like work, right? i mean, we're still lending money we don't have to kids who are never going to be able to pay it back to train them for jobs that don't actually exist anymore. and we're still tacitly promising that the value of a four-year degree is somehow going to translate into a magic ticket. the kids are still under the mistaken presumption that they're going to be able to find a dream job in their chosen sector when they get out. the consequences of that rock n reckoning are nothing short of national security. we have $1.6 trillion in student loans on the books. we often talk about the burden on the kids who hold that note, and it surely is, but hello, we hold the note too.

$1.6 trillion. we're still telling kids the best path for the most people is the most expensive path. meanwhile, as we have 7.3 million open jobs in the skills gap, many of which are in your industry, many of which don't require a four-year degree. but for whatever reason we've got it in our heads that those jobs are in some way subordinate. they've become vocational consolation prizes. so that's a long way of saying, part of what you have to do is change the conversation. part of what you have to do is educate 330 million people not just about the opportunities in your industry but the reality of their dependence on your product. we are profoundly disconnected, i'm afraid, in so many ways. that was a big lesson in "dirty jobs." we were able to reconnect people to the miracle of electricity coming on when you flick the

switch, or the equally miraculous occurrence when you flush the toilet and everything goes when it's supposed to go. these are miracles. and the people who made those miracles happen were the heroes of our show. so the short version is, you have to educate, you have to inform. you have to fight them on a policy level, terry, absolutely right. but we also have to, in a vericivery ci sysiphian way, tackle the misperceptions head on. if half the country comes to the conclusions that it's all over in 12 years, then none of these ideas and policies are ever going to work. so it's a very, very broadway of saying you have to get the country's attention and then persuade them.

and the way you persuade them in my view is not just to preach to the choir and not merely to confront those who are uniformly opposed but to talk to the folks in the middle in a persuasive, compelling way that ultimately leads them to understand, look, this is a human condition, right? we wind up resenting that which we come to depend upon. it's crazy, but we do it all the time. i live in northern california. two months ago we were without power for four days. i finally started to have conversations with my neighbors about the reality of the situation. but sometimes things have to go splat. lose your power for four days, the conversation changes. nobody wants to see that happen again. but we have to change the narrative. >> hard work, but necessary work. okay. i want to come back to skilled labor here in a minute. but before i do, i want to get

leslie in on the conversation here. you represent companies that supply critical equipment and services to the natural gas and oil industry all around the world. how does your industry think about recent policy proposals that would ban hydraulic fracturing, that would limit access to federal and state lands for exploration and development? how does your industry respond to that? how does that affect the american consumer? >> thank you for having me, i appreciate being able to represent equipment and services, a critical part of the industry. mike talked about in his initial remarks, we talk about a fracking ban, it's important for everyone to realize it's not just at the national level that we're seeing these threats, certainly at the state level. in new york you see an outright ban, in california a moratorium on permitting, colorado pushing regulatory activities out to the local level.

so we have to keep an eye on that. then simultaneously with the discussion around the fracking bans, you see two candidates right now calling for an outright ban on the first day that they're elected, and the others pretty much saying that they would attempt to ban on federal lands. i think the political reality of that is that a president could likely enact a fracking ban on federal public lands but most of that unconventional activity occurs on private lands. and so what that would look like most likely is just a regulatory creep. and the administration, this administration by a motivated president could take action through the clean air, clean water act. that would require congressional action, of course. we won't likely see that.

what fracking has given to the industry, how much it's changed our geopolitical position. also reduced emissions. to pull off a technology that has given us all of this is knee-jerk and wouldn't even get to the heart of the goal. and i think we've seen the recent study by the chamber, kind of talking about what we would lose at the economic level, you know, gasoline prices double, electricity prices quadruple. geopolitically we would return to our reliance on the middle east, that's especially scary this week. the trade deficit. we're in a great position. most importantly, the emissions would go up because of the market share that natural gas has taken over coal. what we have to do, it all is

going to get back to the technology and the innovation. so many companies are investing in carbon capture sequestration. companies are investing in collaboration with renewable technologies. the oil service countries are investing in water recycling and reuse. automation, ai in the oil field is real. like karen said, that opens up the energy industry to a new workforce. you know, the fracking is not the dirty job that it used to be. there are technologies being developed that are going to continue to make sure that the u.s. can keep our position that we've gained through all of this shale revolution but also, you know, really be able to allow us to attract a new workforce that's going to keep thrust, back to the technology and innovation. >> thanks, leslie. i want to spend just another

minute on innovation. as you mentioned, horizontal fracking, drilling, are innovations that domestically, globally. there are changes in the pipeline to fight the risks of climate change, energy storage, remote technology, chemical recycling of petroleum products. how do you see sort of the policy space affecting that kind of innovation? what kinds of policies, what kinds of atmospheres do we need politically? >> it's uniquely american, hydraulic fracturing, we export

technologies. it has to be trade. right now trade and tariffs is just impacting the industry in such a significant way, specifically in oil field services. we have to have a clear vision what have we can import and export. some of that is equipment with high tech and some of it is specific technology. i think first and foremost at the policy level it is focusing on free trade and policies that will support it. >> karen, do you have a perspective on what can really drive innovation? representing entrepreneurs and small businesses that, you know, really jump into these niche spaces, what do you see in the policy space to really drive innovation? >> obviously we need -- trade is very, very important. i think, you know, changes on the regulatory front, permitting, all of that. certainly from a tax perspective, giving entrepreneurs the opportunity to hold on to more of their capital, more of their resources so they can invest in innovation

is really critical. so continuous policy improvement on all these fronts. again, going back to trade, having market growth, innovation, efficiency, it's all a beautiful circle, if you will. we talk about diversification. you know, we need -- when you look at entrepreneurship and new business creation, we still haven't recovered from the rates of business creation from the great recession, right? and so a lot of the new business creation and the entrepreneurship, you know, is happening, it's very concentrated in urban areas. and so -- but, you know, where do we see the opportunity with energy? it happens to be in rural america, it happens to be in exurban areas. and, you know, just i think, again, allowing development to continue, you know, not having

these bans is very critical to getting more minds and people involved in the energy sector, in these regions. and that fuels innovation, right? beyond the policies, you know, just, again, the diversity of people, bringing in the opportunity, again, you know, to rural, you know, america, is not only critical for economic development and hope and all of that, but will fuel the innovation. and the use of current technologies, whether it's robotics, artificial intelligence, 3d printing. you know, the sky's the limit, you know, in terms of technology. and we never know where that next technological innovation will come from. again, the policies have to continue to fuel investment because these are long term investments. so, stability i think on every front and certainty is very critical. >> okay. i want to come back to the

skilled labor issue that mike so eloquently and passionately expressed earlier. and terry, i'll talk to you about, what do you see as impediments? skilled labor of course is critical to this industry, it will be moving forward into the future. what do you see as embimpedimen and opportunities to really expand and make sure that the skilled labor force is there for years to come as we continue to innovative and grow? >> i think mike touched on something that is critically important, and that is, if you're out recruiting young men and women, returning veterans, which is a big source of recruiting for us, and at the end of the day, if you think that natural gas is going to go away in ten years, what's the incentive to pick that as a career path? so i know i harp on the political innovation along with industry innovation and the

innovation of how we convince young men and men or middle-aged people, individuals looking for a career, that the energy sector is a vibrant and thriving area and one that we need to encourage more people to come to instead of going away. so i still do think that one of the impediments is, is that job going to be around, will i be able to make a career out of it? you should be able to not only make a career but retire as a career with the amount of work opportunities that are out there in this thriving sector. so i think whether it's the education piece with parents and individuals that are not bound for college or maybe went to college and figured out maybe this isn't for me and are looking for a career change, we have to bundle it all together. but policy plays a role. because i think that the nonsense that's going on in capitol hill, green new deal and some of these other things, with all due respect, chase people

away instead of attract them, because they think that at the end of the day, i'm going to go through training, i'm going to start off in this sector, and ten years from now they're telling me they're going to pull the plug on it. >> thanks, terry. backstage, leslie and karen, we were talking a little bit about diversity in this industry and how this industry brings more diverse points of view and experiences into the workplace. do you want to talk a little bit about what you've seen in that area, and future opportunities you see to make this industry -- have more diverse viewpoints represented among our employees. >> sure. as energy grows and we look forward to getting more diverse viewpoints, we really will just -- we'll be able to attract the thinkers that we need to get through these challenges. so the technologies that we talked about, the ways that we need to move closer to a lower carbon future, diverse thinking

at the heads of those groups that are going to be leading that charge is only going to benefit. you know, we've seen studies that show even market share gains and productivity gains. there's no question that a more diverse leadership at any given company is going to help it. but for us, for the energy industry specifically, we have got to be able to have policies within our companies that will attract a more diverse workforce. we're moving towards that. we see them. but we really have to be focused on that and to support our workforce that's going to really drive that innovation change. >> great. okay, i think we have some time and my colleague bill kotzel is going to be moderating some questions for us from the audience. i think you've had an opportunity maybe to -- great, bill's got them, he's ready. all right, bill, take it away. >> a lot of questions, thanks for everybody, a lot of questions following up on how you attract folks into the

skilled labor. one specific one that came up several times is, how do you square that move towards artificial intelligence and automation with the increasing need for craftsmen? >> mike, do you want to take a crack at that one? >> you said ai? >> yeah, you have this dichotomy, you're moving toward more automation, at the same time you need more skilled labor. how do you convince folks that you need both at the same time? >> in my world, when somebody says ai, the first thing i think of is an artificial intelligence. but that's another story, we're not here to talk about the other thing. the reality is, i mean, for me, not a day goes by when somebody doesn't ask if the robots are coming to take our jobs. it's -- you know, it's a very simplistic but a very real fear and a lot of people have it. and it's easy to -- well, it's easy to dismiss it if you look

back at history. it's never happened, the luddite revolution, was based, as i remember, was the louvers. there was absolute certainty that the jobs were going to vanish as a result of this existential thing. they're always displaced, they always move, but they never truly, truly vanish. and look, i'm way ahead of my skis on this. i don't know. i suspect, i suspect we'll all live to see self-driving vehicles. but i don't know that we'll live to see trucks going down the road without a driver behind the steering wheel anyway. they might not be touching it. but it's hard to imagine, you know, we're going to see that happen. we might. but if it does, surely things will have been reconfigured once again and new opportunities that we can't currently conceive of will arise. it's always, always, always happened that way. >> terry, do you have a

perspective on this issue? >> we can't get in the way, nor should we, of innovation, automation. i know that through training, which we're a big proponent, as the other trades are, training and retraining of our members, is how we take advantage of automation. i agree with mike that there's going to be -- there's still going to be jobs. there may be fewer jobs. but if we can change the dynamics of the energy industry, we'll create more jobs. and so i told it's about being nimble. it's about being understanding that things are going to change, embracing change, training for change, and trying to build this out and up, because there's enough of potential in the energy sector, i think that as automation takes some jobs, there will be other job opportunities. and if we can train workers for that, they can take advantage of it and still stay in the energy

sector. >> i'll just add, those workers, i mean, that is a diverse workers that can take those jobs. that's different from the worker that could originally work in the oil fields. >> those are technologies that can take workers out of harms' way. bill, do you have another question for us? >> sure do. i wonder if -- there were a lot of questions for the panel about looking back in time for the united states was exporting oil and gas to the time maybe a decade ago and what that looked like for suppliers and labor and small businesses across country and what it might look like if we went back to a time where we were in a more volatile situation. >> terry, you want to kick us off? i can tell, you're ready. >> i was having a tough time hearing the question. >> so bill, correct me if i'm wrong, the question was, if we

rewind and go back to a time where america doesn't have this kind of energy i understandepen anymore, there's more volatility in the market because of policy proposals or otherwise, what does that look like for the organizations and the individuals that you represent, if we were to rewind and go back to the atmospherics ten years ago, what does that do to your constituencies? >> in our organization, highway is number one, energy is number two, building is number three. if you unplug energy, it would have a dramatic impact on our organization. more importantly, it would have a devastating impact on the men and women that we proudly represent. it would turn their lives upside down at a time when they finally have hope and opportunity, are making really good money and have great benefits.

that would disappear. and given, until we change our way of expediting projects on the infrastructure side, if we wind it all back, they've improved them a lot quicker, but today not so. but it would have a tremendous and devastating impact on the lives of the members that i represent and the other building trades unions that are here. it would turn them upside down. >> but who's got the most skin in the game in terms of, you know, a critical mass? the fat part of the bat is 330 million americans. and we don't have to imagine what the past looks like. it's 1973. we're in line. the lines at the pump are miles long. we have a whole generation alive today that has no recollection of that. so from a perception standpoint, and again, perception shapes

reality, perception, i believe, informs policy, i think it would be a terrific idea to remind the country in crisp, clear, stark imagery, of exactly what the past looked like when we were utterly reliant on energy from other places. and that -- we're preaching to the choir. we understand, for the workers in this industry, this thing would have a horrible consequence. but the rest of the country, they're just so busy, you have to get them someplace where they really and truly live like the gas pump or their heating or their air conditioning or any of the other things that we take for granted. that's my message. and i'm repeating myself, but if you don't engage the people outside of the industry, then we're just talking to panels. >> to ourselves, exactly right. okay, bill, maybe one more

question. >> well, let me do one and see if we can sneak one more in. >> okay. >> we have a question, karen, specifically for you to talk about some of your members. there's this perception that the oil and gas industry is full of huge behemoth companies. maybe you can talk a little bit more about your members, the size of your members, the jobs that this industry supports. >> yeah, i mean, when -- among so many u.s. industries, whether it's europe it's, you know, oil or natural gas, some of the other industries, all the industries in this country, they are dominated by small to mid-sized businesses, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial firms. so it's a misconception. you know, we're up on the hill, and obviously communicating the numbers, the data in terms of some of the data that i

highlighted in my first remarks about the dominance of small businesses in every sector of the energy industry, if not all, you know, industries that come under attack from a policy perspective, on capitol hill or in the state capitals or at the local level. and as i said, the innovation in any industry, whether it's pharmaceutical, whether it's in the oil and natural gas industry, comes from entrepreneurial small firms. and when there's any type of, you know, barrier, big barriers that are placed up, it really hurts innovation, hurts access to capital. and you need capital, you need investment in order to fuel innovation. but for businesses that are not, you know, in this sector, when you talk about a rewind, you didn't have to go back to the '70s. i mean, ten, 15 years ago, when we had some of these price shocks at the pump, where our

members had to take pretty dramatic actions in terms of, you know, cutting back some of their employees, employee hours, you know, doing a lot -- just, you know, as a business, becoming less competitive because they couldn't -- their capital was going, you know, into paying those higher prices, and it happened rather quickly, as opposed to being able to go into business, compete, hire new people, and invest for growth. so whether you're a small business as a consumer of energy or someone that's very engaged and involved in this sector, it's really all about small business and entrepreneurs. and obviously, you know, the hard working people who work for these enterprises as well. and they are the generator of job creation, innovation.

and i just love it that, particularly in these areas of the country that have been left behind, that energy development and production has been the catalyst, you know, to economic development and new hope, and vibrant communities now, again, particularly in areas of the country that needed it to the most. i think i covered a lot of ground there on small business. but again, it's an industry that's all about small business. and as consumers, boy, i tell you, from a competitive perspective, the cost of energy is really critical. >> okay. really, really this time, one more. >> really quick, i just wanted to let mike know i think you have a future producer here in the audience. they want to know if you would be interested in doing an energy jobs series to tell the stories of people in the industry. >> tell me when and i'll be there. a lot of the country would really dig a show, a "dirty

jobs" types show focused specifically on the industry. i also think you have to be even broader than that. i mean, we're working on a project right now that's about as broad as can be, it's a celebration of surprising connections. in fact there was a show called "connections" back in the '70s with a guy named james burke, it was terrific. this is a version that have show, where we build chains consisting of links between two seemingly completely disparate points and along the way, you discover that everything is in fact connected. and those connections are only made possible inevitably by the presence of energy. so years ago, i did a show called "how booze built america," where i took a somewhat unorthodox position with history and argued that every major decision that had ever impacted our country was made with booze in the room. and it holds up.

well, you can also make the case, a whole lot easier, that energy is always, always in the room. whether you're in the industry or not, whether you're in policy or not, whether -- it doesn't matter. every single american is reliant on this. so you're right, some type of show should absolutely, positively come to pass. if there is anyone in the room who would like to help me make that happen. >> or contribute financially. >> consider that the hard sell. >> all right. great ideas coming from the audience. thank you all very much. with that i'm going to draw our panel to a conclusion. i hope you'll join me in thanking this very excellent group of folks who volunteered their time to spend with us this afternoon. [ applause ] we very much appreciate your insights around the future of energy in america. thank you very much.

[ applause ] ♪ ♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome megan boomer back to the stage. >> what a terrific panel. let's give them another round of applause. [ applause ] woo-hoo! hey, as we conclude today, we want you to be the first to hear and see api's new campaign that we're launching this week. the energy for progress campaign, as mike alluded to, is focused on the fact that sometimes when we come at challenges and solutions from different perspectives and different places, like making progress on solutions to climate change while meeting the ever-growing demand for cleaner energy, we can find common ground. the campaign invites discussion,

debate, and collaboration from all of us. and previews goals we as an industry share and how far industry has come and how we see the future, where we're going. take a look. ♪ >> announcer: our paths aren't all the same. we have different perspectives on the best way forward. but on issues that matter, like climate change, we're more alike than we think. we want cleaner solutions and that means working with each other. so the innovators in america's natural gas and oil companies have teamed up with the country's brightest minds and reduced carbon emission levels to the lowest in a generation. let's make tomorrow better together. learn more at intern energyforprogress.org. america is built on diverse views. different ways of doing the same thing. we all agree we need climate solutions. when we work together on the big issues, we make progress. like how we're importing less

energy today thanks to the partnerships made by america's natural gas and oil companies. together, we want to share a brighter future with the power of american energy. >> we're proud to take this message to key communities and lawmakers all across america. and we would be honored if you would join us to amplify this message on social media using the hashtag #energyforprogress. i want to thank some of the api team members that are here today, particularly rhonda bentz and whitney medina. they have arranged to have some snacks from the communities we profiled. you can have some chili from new mexico or hershey kisses from my home state of pennsylvania. with that, thank you all for coming. we really appreciate it. this concludes the 2020 state of american energy. [ applause ]

>> announcer: today senator shelley capito and state officials speak about appalachian regional opioid epidemic on c-span3, online at c-span.org or listen free on the c-span radio app. our live campaign 2020 coverage continues thursday at 7:00 p.m. eastern with president donald trump in toledo, ohio at a keep america great rally. watch live on c-span2, on demand at c-span.org, or listen on the go with the free c-span radio app. next, a town hall with democratic presidential candidate senator elizabeth warren in manchester, iowa.