We recently asked you to share your story via our Facebook page. Why? Energy Nation members have the unique experience of working to provide our nation, and their families, with the energy needed to fuel our everyday lives. William Huber, an employee of ConocoPhillips, had this to say:

Thanks for sharing your story, Will, standing up to give our industry a voice and sending a strong message of support for energy to our elected officials.

As industry workers please join William Huber - Sign the Common Sense Approach to Energy Pledge.

Also be sure to tell us why this industry matters to you and what issues you care most about.

Take action now: Tell President Obama to Approve Keystone XL Today!

Clean Harbors, Inc., a Norwell, Mass., company that delivers environmental services, estimates that demand for its know-how from shale-rich Pennsylvania generated 25 percent of its $2 billion in revenues last year – a number it expects to grow this year. “We just see a tremendous market that needs all of the services we provide,” says Chief Executive Alan McKim, who figures his company’s shale-related business is growing about 25 percent a year. “In the U.S., there’s huge potential,’’ McKim says. The Globe adds:

Clean Harbors is just one example of how the unlocking of natural gas reserves hundreds of miles away promises to benefit Massachusetts companies and the state economy. At first glance, the abundant supplies in Northeast shale formations offer lower energy costs for businesses and consumers … But as Clean Harbors also shows, booming gas production is providing a market for one of the state’s main exports: expertise. Consulting, financial services, and even technology firms are finding new customers in the shale industry.

Other examples from the Globe:

• A Bedford, Mass., firm reports strong demand for software that analyzes sensor readings from drill bits and pipelines.
• A Burlington, Mass., company that sells software to manage production, processing and transportation of natural gas says business from shale country is so brisk it is hiring recent chemical engineering and computer science grads to stay ahead of growing demand for its products.
• A Marlborough, Mass., consulting firm reports an increase in its business of advising energy companies on investments related to various shale formations.
• A Boston energy capital investment firm says it has put several billion dollars in natural gas pipelines, processing plants and storage facilities as a result of the shale revolution.

It’s just one report from one state. But the anecdotes are real, and they support oil and natural gas industry assertions that energy production in Pennsylvania, North Dakota, Texas and other states creates job growth beyond the industry itself.

Now, who still wants to dismiss indirect or induced jobs that are being generated by energy industry activity?

A number of factors affect gas prices: weather, supply and demand issues, inventory and taxes—but the cost of crude oil on the global marketplace is by far the biggest contributor to the price. However, increased access to oil and natural gas here at home can increase available supply and help put downward pressure on rising fuel costs.

Act Now: Tell Your Members of Congress to Increase Access to Energy Resources!

Read the full story from The Bismarck Tribune.

• First, the administration should speed up its process for issuing drilling permits for the Gulf of Mexico. Stay safe, maintain the high standards, but accelerate the process.

As a December 2011 Quest Offshore Resources study outlined, “In 2011, the U.S. is projected to account for only 6 percent, or $8.9 billion, of global offshore oil and gas investment valued at $146 billion. Considering the discovered and undiscovered resources in place in the Gulf of Mexico, this figure of 6 percent is far lower than would be expected.” With the vast untapped resources in the area as well as the enormous job creation potential, an increased speed of permit issuance simply makes logical sense.

• Second, the president needs to end the “stall game” on approving the Keystone Pipeline.

Representative Charlie Melancon is not alone in his sentiment on the Keystone XL pipeline. And with more than three years of exhaustive study on the topic, further delay becomes incomprehensible. Mark Green of the American Petroleum Institute (API) recently detailed others who support the project, including Former President Bill Clinton, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and Former Obama "car czar" Steve Rattner. The simple fact is this private project would create jobs and help make America’s energy future more secure while sending billions of new dollars in revenue to governments.

• Third, EPA needs to provide oil refiners clarity on impending greenhouse gas rules.

A recent Forbes article outlines a worrisome detail stating that, “Over the past 60 years, the U.S. has seen the number of refineries cut almost in half, down from 324 to 149.” That means a loss of government revenue, energy security and American jobs. As API’s John Feldman recently said “Maintaining a healthy and competitive refinery sector is vital to our energy security, our economic security, and our national security. We must be sure that new regulatory proposals are necessary, practical, and fair.” Stated simply, federal agencies should consider the impacts proposed regulations would have on the domestic economy.

Read the full Hill piece here.

The gap between U.S. and international gas prices has expanded to all time highs, giving American industries a competitive advantage that could be worth as much as $1 billion a day.

Plans are underway to export gas from the U.S., which could narrow this gap, but they will be several years coming and likely to be limited by political pressure to preserve the low energy price advantage for American industry.

The boom in production of natural gas trapped in shale rock, which has been unlocked by new technology, has driven U.S. gas prices to 10-year lows. This has proved a huge blessing for big industrial users of natural gas.

Petrochemical companies have seen their growth prospects transformed. A report from the U.S. National Association of Manufacturers said cheap supplies of natural gas could help its members reduce their expenses by as much as $11.6 billion a year through to 2025, helping them create a million new jobs.

Read the full story.

That statistic officially makes North Dakota the second-leading oil-producing state in the nation, trailing only Texas.

The quick rise to No. 2 surprised state officials. “We didn’t expect it in the first quarter,” Lynn Helms, director of the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources, said this morning. “We thought we were a few months away.”

Helms said state officials had been watching Alaska’s production closely, which had been around 585,000 barrels per day. However, Alaska saw its production fall to 567,481 barrels per day in March.

Read the rest here.

Leadership and policies. Specifically, what will it take?

At an event today, API presented recommendations to the Republican and Democratic platform committees – proposals that include detailed calls on resource access, regulatory approach and key policies needed to utilize our ample domestic resources for a more secure energy future.

In addition, API President and CEO Jack Gerard delivered a short speech, followed by a bipartisan panel discussion with energy advisors and experts.

An archived version of the event livestream is below.

Gerard:

The question is not whether we will continue to need oil and natural gas. We will. The question is: will we use our own vast energy supplies or rely on others? … There is a choice when it comes to the policies that will help shape America’s energy future—two paths that we can take. One leads to more jobs, higher government revenues, and greater U.S. energy security—which can be achieved by increasing oil and natural gas development right here at home. The other path would put jobs, revenues, and our energy security at risk."

As earnings and tax debates heat up in the media and in Washington, people typically ask the same question: "Are oil and natural gas companies paying their fair share?" Here is a little of what Stephen had to say:

“In this political season, there are number of myths out there that get around about on our industry. For example, some say the industry is heavily subsidized with tax breaks, other say that the industry doesn't pay its fair share based upon returns. We can get into those points and further detail, but they are in fact myths. Currently, America's own natural gas industry supports more than 9 million jobs in the US, delivers energy to the US economy and delivers significant revenue to the government every day. The effective income tax rate paid off by these companies under operation is over 40%.”

As a valued member of the oil and natural gas industry, we want to ensure that you're armed with the latest information and resources to talk to your family and friends about these important issues. Be sure to listen to the tele-townhall to hear questions from your fellow Energy Nation members. Alternatively, you can read the tele-townhall transcript here.