American Offshore Oil & Gas Production Strengthens the Environment, Benefits All Americans
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, September 8, 2020
Contact: Justin Williams, (202) 465-8464, jwilliams@nullnoia.org
American Offshore Oil & Gas Production Strengthens the Environment, Benefits All Americans
Washington, D.C. – National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) President Erik Milito issued the following statement after President Trump announced an extension of the oil and natural gas moratorium in Eastern Gulf of Mexico as well as a new moratorium in areas offshore the Atlantic Coast:
“The American offshore should be the region of choice for energy production. From the outset, it provides high-paying and accessible jobs that are supported in every U.S. state as well as billions of dollars in annual revenue that funds vital programs like the Land & Water Conservation Fund and our beloved national parks. Once offshore energy reaches American refineries, it provides the plastic components that is used in the medical equipment at the front lines of the COVID-19 response, among many other products. The benefits that American offshore oil and gas provide are nonpartisan and touch every American.
“American offshore production produces energy with a comparatively smaller footprint than other producing regions, occurs under the highest level of regulations and standards and does not give rise to issues of environmental justice. Furthermore, daily experience in the Western and Central Gulf of Mexico shows how offshore production goes hand-in-hand with environmental stewardship, national defense and other industries, including fishing and tourism.
“Our preference should always be to produce homegrown American energy, instead of deferring future production to countries like Russia and Iran, which do not share American values. Limiting access to our offshore energy resources only shortchanges America and dulls our national outlook.”
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The National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) represents and advances a dynamic and growing offshore energy industry, providing solutions that support communities and protect our workers, the public and our environment.
