State of the Union has narrow energy industry focus
During the State of the Union speech last week, President Donald Trump praised the oil and natural gas industry as a key driver of the country's economy and a prominent factor in both global economic and military policies.
Energy policy often features prominently in the State of the Union. This year, Trump expanded on his vision for the country's energy sector while narrowing his focus on traditional fossil fuels.
Trump praised the “revolution in American energy” as being responsible for much of the country's economic growth. He pointed out that the country has become a key exporter both of oil and natural gas.
The speech drew praise from Oklahoma oil and natural gas industry leaders.
“It was exciting to see what the president said in terms of acknowledging the tremendous growth of the oil and gas industry in the country,” said Chad Warmington, president of the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association — Oklahoma Oil and Gas Association.
“He sees the significant economic tool it is and the foreign policy tool it is. Being the largest exporter in the world and growing as rapidly as we are in terms of LNG (liquefied natural gas), those are good tools for the president and our country to have. That helps our friends as well because they can get their energy from a friend in the U.S.”
Trump has promoted U.S. energy production before. And energy policy often finds its way into State of the Union speeches. In this year's speech, it's notable that Trump referred only to oil and natural gas. He avoided discussion of other sources of energy, including coal, wind, solar and other renewables.
“It's an acknowledgement of the reality that the energy industry in this country has oil and gas as the driving force in terms of providing energy we need, along with jobs and the economic impact tied to the industry,” Warmington said.
Johnson Grimm-Bridgwater, director of Oklahoma Sierra Club, said it was disappointing the speech did not recognize the growing renewable energy sources.
“If he wants to get real about assuring a vibrant economy, he needs to accept the reality that renewable energy is vital and limitless,” Grimm-Bridgwater said.
The growing renewables sector also increasingly is providing jobs and economic impact, he said.
“Renewable energy is providing careers because these are limitless sources of energy with equipment that must be maintained,” Grimm-Bridgwater said. “Employees in the renewables industry have stable, lifetime career paths that have other economic and social benefits.”