As the people across this great nation prepare to make decisions that will shape our future, let’s look at how the next administration faces important decisions to secure America’s energy advantage at a time of rising geopolitical volatility around the world.
We look around the world today, and ongoing conflicts remind us that secure, reliable access to energy is at the core of our nation’s energy security, as well as the security of America’s allies. But our energy security should never be taken for granted, and we need policies that ensure we can meet our energy needs tomorrow, not just today.
With escalating tensions in the Middle East and Putin’s war in Ukraine approaching its third year, we cannot emphasize enough the commanding presence of American oil and natural gas in the global market and the energy security benefits it provides.
Despite the noise from doomsday scenarios, the reality is that oil and natural gas will be needed for decades to come — not just years. Because global demand for energy is rising, there’s no better place to produce it than here in America.
We produce the most reliable, affordable energy in the world under the strongest environmental standards. American oil and natural gas will continue to be cornerstones of the energy mix for generations to come.
Let’s reflect on why U.S. energy leadership is so crucial. We look around the world today, and ongoing conflicts remind us that secure, reliable access to energy is at the core of our nation’s security — as well as the security of America’s allies. Yet, despite war and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Europe, we are not in an energy crisis.
Why?
Because of the resilience and innovation of nearly 11 million American workers supported by the oil and natural gas industry. These men and women ramped up production when the world needed it most, even in the face of challenging policies from Washington. Their efforts kept the lights on around the world — something every state and federal policymaker should commend.
With wars in multiple energy-producing regions and threats to shipping in places like the Red Sea, the stakes are high. It’s a stark reminder of the poor energy policy decisions made in the 1960s and ’70s, leading to the 1973 oil crisis, with skyrocketing prices and economic turmoil.
In this moment, let’s learn from those mistakes — not repeat them. We simply must, because as we approach 2050, the global population is projected to reach 10 billion. With energy demand set to increase, we need energy from all sources.
Thus, it has never been more important for America to emerge as the runaway top supplier of both oil and natural gas.
Since 2015, methane emissions from U.S. oil and natural gas production are down 37% while production is up 40%, according to EPA data. Production up and emissions down. That is what the oil and natural gas industry strives for. The American oil and natural gas industry is in for the long haul. Regardless of what happens on Election Day, the oil and natural gas industry is here to stay.
Let’s be clear, there is no more critical industry today than American oil and natural gas. However, some argue that the world no longer needs oil and natural gas and that we can move past them entirely. Others in Washington are pushing policies that restrict access to abundant sources of oil and natural gas, make us dependent on China for critical minerals, limit consumer choices, and threaten the very infrastructure that keeps our energy system running.
These policies are misguided. They discourage investment in energy projects and impose unrealistic timelines and mandates. What Americans need are choices, not mandates, and honesty about the consequences of losing our energy advantage or sowing the seeds of a new energy crisis.
Here’s some energy reality for those folks: Even with the most optimistic projections for renewables, nearly half of all global energy will still come from oil and natural gas in 2050 — roughly where it is today. The question is whether that energy will come from America, with our commitment to environmental stewardship, or from nations that do not share our values.
The next administration must focus on protecting consumer choice, restoring permits for LNG exports, expanding access to our vast energy resources, and advancing sensible tax policy.
These are not just popular positions — they’re essential. Polling in political “swing” states shows that eight in 10 voters, across party lines and including independents, support increasing U.S. production of oil and natural gas.
Even a national poll by The New York Times found that nearly two thirds of voters support boosting domestic oil and natural gas production.
American energy leadership is our insurance policy against volatility and a pillar of our national security. It’s the result of decades of bipartisan commitment, with every president from Jimmy Carter to Donald Trump calling for greater American energy independence.
You don’t have to read a newspaper or watch cable news to know that given the state of the world, there has never been a more critical time for strong U.S. energy production and the policies that support it.
Affordable, reliable energy from U.S. oil and natural gas is not just an economic necessity — it’s a matter of national security.
Let’s embrace this moment for U.S. oil and natural gas, take pride in our achievements, and forge ahead with the determination to leave a legacy of strength and security for generations to come.
Edward Cross is the president of the Kansas Independent Oil & Gas Association in Topeka.