Page 47: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Jul/Aug 2021)

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THE FINAL WORD NOIA

AMERICAN OFFSHORE

ENERGY DRIVES

HUMAN PROGRESS

By National Ocean Industries Association President Erik Milito he offshore energy industry is leading a remark- able energy transition. From the Gulf of Mexico providing among the lowest carbon barrels of the

T oil producing regions to new wind projects along the Atlantic coast to emerging carbon reduction technologies, such as hydrogen development and carbon capture and stor- age, the offshore energy sector is driving the energy innova- tion and technological progress essential to fueling the world and lifting society with supplies of sustainable energy.

NOIA fghts for the continued success of U.S. offshore oil, natural gas, and wind development and production. Contin- ued American offshore energy production paves the way to- wards enhanced national security, high-paying and accessible jobs, capital investment and spending in every state, and low- er air emissions, a smaller physical environmental footprint and more effcient water use and management.

NOIA works tirelessly to ensure that Washington, D.C. policymakers understand – and embrace – the vast benefts of

American offshore energy production.

In the Gulf of Mexico, a symphony of U.S. offshore pro- duction involves more than 345,000 men and women across all 50 states, provides a GDP impact of $28.6 billion and gen- © TimeStopper/AdobeStock erates more than $5.4 billion in government revenues.

The offshore oil and gas industry provides opportunity representing a diverse supply chain of companies both small throughout every corner of the U.S. From the oil and gas and large, commit themselves to continuous improvement in companies that make up the fabric of countless Gulf Coast ever-reducing emissions from operations. In fact, the Obama communities to buoy experts in Maine to software companies Administration review of the 2017-2022 Five Year Plan for off- in Florida to concrete specialists in Hawaii, every U.S. state shore oil and gas leasing determined GHG emissions would has businesses and employees linked to the offshore industry. be higher without these lease sales because energy production

Not only is there is a legal obligation to continue Gulf of would be outsourced to foreign countries with greater emis-

Mexico leasing, but there are a multitude of important benefts sions intensity and resulting in a higher carbon footprint.

including reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. Gulf of U.S. government efforts should serve to prevent substitu-

Mexico region is recognized as providing among the lowest car- tion of sustainable and responsible U.S. offshore production bon barrels of the various producing regions because of the scale with barrels from high emitting foreign sources with weak en- and tremendous level of investment and innovation inherent in vironmental oversight, such as Russia, China, or Iran.

offshore operations. The women and me of the energy industry, Capitalizing on an American environmental and emissions

JULY/AUGUST 2021 OFFSHORE ENGINEER 47