Archives for February 2012

For Immediate Release:                                              Contact:  Nicolette Nye

Thursday, February 23, 2012                                       (202) 347-6900

                                                                          

NOIA Statement on President Obama’s Energy Speech

 

Washington, D.C. – NOIA President Randall Luthi today issued the following statement following President Obama’s Energy Speech in Florida:     

 

“NOIA applauds recognition that our Nation needs an “all of the above” approach when it comes to energy.  We have long supported such a policy.    However, in spite of today’s mention of the importance of oil and natural gas, we remind the Administration that “all of the above” does indeed include oil and natural gas.  To date, the Administration’s actions hindering domestic production has eclipsed any fleeting words of support.

 

While it is true that production is up in the U.S., it is not a surprise to learn that the increase is attributable to actions taken before this administration took office and on state and private lands onshore.    This Administration loves to conjure the image of “big oil,” but the fact is much of our increased production is a result of smaller, independent operators that would be hit hard by the President’s proposed tax increases at a time when we should be encouraging them to produce more jobs and more energy for America.  So while we should all be pleased when domestic production rises, it makes absolutely no sense to attempt to raise taxes on those that would create jobs and generate more energy production.

While there is indeed no silver bullet to immediately fix high gas prices, the country certainly would have been better served had the administration moved to facilitate new offshore access following the lifting of the moratoria in 2008.    Instead, we are left with the fact that not one new acre outside the areas already opened has been leased and the Administration’s plan for the next five years would not allow for the opening of any truly new areas.  Thus, we are left with leasing, exploration and development taking place in the same areas it has for a generation.  Simply saying areas are “new” does not make it so.   Apparently “all of the above” doesn’t include any truly new sources of offshore oil and natural gas.”

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NOIA is the only national trade association representing all segments of the offshore industry with an interest in the exploration and production of both traditional and renewable energy resources on the nation’s outer continental shelf.  NOIA’s mission is to secure reliable access and a fair regulatory and economic environment for the companies that develop the nation’s valuable offshore energy resources in an environmentally responsible manner. The NOIA membership comprises more than 270 companies engaged in business activities ranging from producing to drilling, engineering to marine and air transport, offshore construction to equipment manufacture and supply, telecommunications to finance and insurance, and renewable energy.

 

For Immediate Release:                      Contact:  Nicolette Nye

Tuesday, February 14, 2012                             (202) 347-6900

                                                                                   

 

NOIA Statement on Interior Budget Request

Non-Producing Lease Fee Shows Lack of Understanding  

 

Washington, D.C. – NOIA President Randall Luthi today issued the following statement on the Obama Administration’s Budget Request for the Department of the Interior:     

 

“The Administration’s budget request for an additional fee on yet to be producing leases shows a remarkable lack of understanding about geology and the oil and natural gas industry.  If the Administration’s goal is to produce more home grown energy, this not the way to go.  Using this logic, charging more for a fishing license means you will catch more fish, or charging more for a driver’s license means you will get better gas mileage.  Neither is true.  What is true is the offshore oil and gas industry uses the most modern, sophisticated geological and geophysical methods to predict where valuable deposits of oil and natural gas might be found.   Once they pay top price for the lease, they pay a rental fee until the lease is producing.    If the lease is not developed within the lease terms -- usually 3, 5 or 10 years --that lease is returned to the Federal government to be sold again.  Given today’s economy and  today’s prices, exploration companies are not sitting on leases, because  they don’t have a chance of making a profit, nor can they supply more American jobs or produce more American energy, until they actually drill.  This old, tired ‘use it or lose it’ philosophy should be lost for good.”

 

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NOIA is the only national trade association representing all segments of the offshore industry with an interest in the exploration and production of both traditional and renewable energy resources on the nation’s outer continental shelf.  NOIA’s mission is to secure reliable access and a fair regulatory and economic environment for the companies that develop the nation’s valuable offshore energy resources in an environmentally responsible manner. The NOIA membership comprises more than 270 companies engaged in business activities ranging from producing to drilling, engineering to marine and air transport, offshore construction to equipment manufacture and supply, telecommunications to finance and insurance, and renewable energy.

 

For Immediate Release:                      Contact:  Nicolette Nye

Thursday, February 9, 2012                              (202) 347-6900 

 

NOIA Submits Comments to BOEM on 2012-2017 Proposed OCS Leasing Program

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) has submitted comments to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on the 2012-2017 Proposed OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program.  In its comments, NOIA reiterated its disappointment in the lack of new access to offshore areas included in the Proposed Program, and stressed the enormous impact offshore oil and gas production has on our nation’s economy and energy security. NOIA also urged BOEM to not further reduce the areas included in the Proposed Program.  NOIA’s complete comments can be read here.

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NOIA is the only national trade association representing all segments of the offshore industry with an interest in the exploration and production of both traditional and renewable energy resources on the nation’s outer continental shelf.  NOIA’s mission is to secure reliable access and a fair regulatory and economic environment for the companies that develop the nation’s valuable offshore energy resources in an environmentally responsible manner. The NOIA membership comprises more than 270 companies engaged in business activities ranging from producing to drilling, engineering to marine and air transport, offshore construction to equipment manufacture and supply, telecommunications to finance and insurance, and renewable energy.

 

For Immediate Release:                             Contact:  Nicolette Nye

Thursday, February 2, 2012                                       (202) 347-6900

 

NOIA Supports House Action on Increased Access to Offshore Energy

 

Washington, D.C. – NOIA President Randall Luthi today issued the following statement:      

“NOIA is strongly supportive of the efforts of Chairman Hastings and the members of the House Natural Resources Committee in taking action to develop our offshore energy resources.  As we have stated repeatedly, oil and natural gas development offshore brings new jobs, new energy, and new revenues – all of which represent a big win for the country.  Given the lack of new access in the Five Year Leasing Plan for 2012-2017 presently being proposed by the Administration, we anticipate that Congressional efforts will have to be the driver if we are to finally unlock the real economic potential of new offshore areas, such as Virginia.”

 

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NOIA is the only national trade association representing all segments of the offshore industry with an interest in the exploration and production of both traditional and renewable energy resources on the nation’s outer continental shelf.  NOIA’s mission is to secure reliable access and a fair regulatory and economic environment for the companies that develop the nation’s valuable offshore energy resources in an environmentally responsible manner. The NOIA membership comprises more than 270 companies engaged in business activities ranging from producing to drilling, engineering to marine and air transport, offshore construction to equipment manufacture and supply, telecommunications to finance and insurance, and renewable energy.

 

For Immediate Release:                              Contact:  Nicolette Nye

Thursday, February 2, 2012                                       (202) 347-6900

                                                                                   

 

NOIA Pleased With Movement Toward Offshore Wind Development

Supports All of the Above Energy Strategy

 

Washington, D.C. – NOIA President Randall Luthi today issued the following statement:     

 “NOIA supports an “all of the above” energy strategy, so we are pleased to hear today that the Department of the Interior has taken further steps toward commercial wind development off the mid-Atlantic seaboard, particularly off Virginia and Maryland.

Our members are enthusiastic about the potential for offshore renewable energy to add new American jobs, energy, and vital revenue to government coffers.  We are pleased to see these significant steps taken with regard to new offshore renewable energy and look forward to working with the Administration to make these projects a reality.”

 

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NOIA is the only national trade association representing all segments of the offshore industry with an interest in the exploration and production of both traditional and renewable energy resources on the nation’s outer continental shelf.  NOIA’s mission is to secure reliable access and a fair regulatory and economic environment for the companies that develop the nation’s valuable offshore energy resources in an environmentally responsible manner. The NOIA membership comprises more than 270 companies engaged in business activities ranging from producing to drilling, engineering to marine and air transport, offshore construction to equipment manufacture and supply, telecommunications to finance and insurance, and renewable energy.