Environment

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Occupations requiring skills and training in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines – which are foundational for tens of thousands of well-paying natural gas and oil industry jobs – currently makeup 20 percent of all U.S. jobs. Officials maintain that STEM-educated women and men will lead the industry’s future workforce, so oil and natural gas advocates have maintained a great interest in initiatives that advance education in those fields.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, domestic production increased by more than 3 million barrels per day – from approximately 9.3 million barrels per day before the ban repeal to about 12.8 million barrels per day at the end of 2019. 

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “When we invest in middle class America, when we invest in people who have to go to work every day, America does better,” stated Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.). “Our communities need this funding now. Democratic and Republican mayors who are clear-eyed know that investing in our supply chain infrastructure can’t wait, jobs can’t wait, repairs can’t wait, fighting climate change can’t wait, and protecting our health and safety can’t wait.”

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Amanda Eversole, a graduate of the College of William & Mary and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, now puts her strong track record of driving consensus and winning strategies to the test as API and all-in oil and natural gas wrestles with ensuring people of color and women are a large part of the lucrative industry.

GREENE COUNTY DEMOCRAT — “The USDA has a documented history of discriminating against Black people and communities of color. The federal government’s attempt to rectify this injustice should be applauded, not stopped,” said Damon Hewitt, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “If this critical assistance is not provided soon, Black farmers and other farmers of color who have struggled to overcome decades of discrimination and the economic impacts of the global pandemic will face the threat of losing their land and their livelihoods.”

NNPA NEWSWIRE — According to Nicole Sitaraman, policy committee chair of BOSS and vice president of strategic engagement at Sustainable Capital Advisors, "We are living in a climate crisis in which Black communities are suffering disproportionately. Clean energy industries often overlook the innovation, expertise and insight that Black communities possess. It is time to change that. We will not reach our climate mitigation and adaptation goals without the full participation and leadership of people of color in the clean energy sector. This report presents important data showing the urgency of diversifying this space to achieve an equitable climate resilient future," 

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Based on the success of demand response programs in the electricity markets and a growing number of challenges with the natural gas supply, the government, regulators, and industry are exploring demand response programs for natural gas systems.

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Two hundred and thirty-four authors from 66 countries analyzed more than 14,000 scientific reports about climate change for the report, which officials will present during climate talks later this year. The report came as the Biden-Harris administration announced three pre-disaster funding opportunities to help states and communities prepare for significant disasters they said are costing lives and livelihoods and devastating local communities and businesses. 

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “In fact, API has had a program for over a decade, which brings a minority and underrepresented communities together to talk about, jobs and initiatives within the oil and gas sector,” API President and CEO Mike Sommers said during a news conference on Thursday, March 25. “It’s an important priority of both the API board of directors and the API team in Washington. We’ll continue to grow those alliances over time because we know, based on the studies that we have done in this space, we expect that 50 percent of the jobs in oil and gas in the next 20 years are going to be filled by women and minorities.”

NNPA NEWSWIRE — With President Donald Trump castigating the science of global warming, it’s little wonder that today’s environmental policies not only target people of color when it comes to the placement and operation of unhealthy facilities, they also exclude people of color from being a part of the policy making process — even though they are the ones who are usually most directly negatively impacted by environmental injustices.