President's Message

We stand at a critical juncture in the life of our nation and our world. We are witnessing dramatic changes in our economy and those of practically every other country. Such developments have a profound impact on the oil and natural gas industry, but they also make strikingly clear how interdependent all nations and societies are.

As I begin my duties as API’s president and CEO, I am convinced that now, more than ever, the people of America’s oil and natural gas industry can lead the way in this new reality. Our industry – our members and their employees in hundreds of communities across the country have the talent, vision and resources to allow us to continue providing the energy that enhances our daily lives and powers our economy. Our challenges will be great, but I strongly believe that this is the time for us to create an effective partnership involving industry, government and consumers to nurture and sustain sound energy policies for our country’s future.

API is the major trade association for the oil and natural gas industry. Our members come from all segments of the industry, including small independent producers and companies that provide diverse services and supplies to larger producers and refiners. Because of that diversity, we are very conscious of the importance of communicating freely with our hundreds of member companies and responding to their needs.

The past year has been a challenging one for our industry. Increased global competition for energy led to high fuel prices and heightened frustration with our industry as the political season was getting underway, making energy policy prominent throughout the campaign, even after decreased demand led to lower prices. I have no doubt that as the new administration and new Congress take office, energy policy will be a topic of renewed and even more intense debate. It is up to us to lead the way in forging a new path forward.

The work we have done over the past year to educate policymakers and the public about our industry is beginning to pay off as more and more Americans gain a greater understanding of just how vital our industry is to their lives. However, the new political and economic realities we face make it even more vital that our voice is heard in even more venues and that our industry speaks with a unified voice. If we do so, and if we do not waver from our conviction that oil and natural gas will remain vital to the economic wellbeing of our nation, we will seize this opportunity to bring about a new era for our industry.

For information on how to become part of the API tradition, please click here.

Thank you for your interest.

Sincerely,

Jack Gerard