The American Petroleum Institute (API) presented the findings of its 2017 State of American Energy report to policymakers and industry experts Wednesday at its annual State of American Energy address. And the key takeaway from both the address and the report is that while the state of American energy remains remarkable, the best could be yet to come — so long as the incoming administration adopts pro-energy policies and alleviates regulatory burdens that have impeded the industry’s full potential in recent years.

API President and CEO Jack Gerard’s keynote address focused on the fact that energy is fundamental to how we operate as a society at any given hour of the average day or night (see graphic below), and noted it will be the incoming administration’s duty to ensure the safe, reliable and consumer-friendly production and delivery of oil and natural energy to the American people moving forward.

According to the report, 80 percent of Americans support increased energy infrastructure development. With this in mind, Gerard emphasized it would behoove the Trump administration to take seriously the needs of the country’s pipelines and roads, making oil production and transport safer and more efficient.

Gerard made it known that one of the biggest hurdles with the last administration was overregulation of the energy industry, and he was not shy to point out his contempt for government overreach and the “Keep It In The Ground” (KIITG) agenda — particularly its stated goal of stopping infrastructure projects in 2017:

“We need to expand energy infrastructure to keep pace with our new energy reality and to deliver affordable energy to families and businesses,” Gerard said. “But government decisions and red tape are obstructing energy infrastructure projects and the good jobs they create. Even for projects that have successfully completed exhaustive approval processes. Eight out of 10 voters support increased deve...

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