American Oil and Gas Reporter - November 2017 - 96

didn't change after the election, but we
are having an easier time in Washington
these days. Doors are open."
API's strategy is to move public rhetoric
to the center, Durbin said, not swing it to
the extreme opposite of what was common
during the last presidential administration.
That, he suggested, was the key to lasting
regulatory changes.
Increasingly, Durbin said industry challenges were moving to the state and local
levels, and he cited the Keystone XL
project as an example. Activists were focusing their efforts to stop one permit.
"It's a model that works," he said. In
fact, pipeline projects were bringing together environmental activists and private
property rights advocates into what he
called the "Green Tea Party."
"Our critics are going down to the
local level to influence policies and there
is a lot more to come," Durbin predicted.
However, he suggested, if the industry
can help foster "energy literacy" it can
position itself as a solution before lawmakers, regulators and the public. "People
are getting information differently now,"
Durbin considered. "We have to connect
our products to peoples' values."
This involves reaching out in new and
different ways, including running ads on
online services such as Hulu and Pandora,
he said. Research shows that Millennial
generation audiences want to know why
they should invest their time and energy
in a movement and the message is more
powerful without a label. "They are more
likely to be influenced by their friends
and family than their bosses," Durbin said.
With its public policy and public outreach work, Durbin assured, "API can
and will be part of the solution."
Membership Meeting, Awards
AIPRO President Mike Callan, vice
president of governmental affairs for
Stephens Production Co. in Fort Smith,
Ar., opened the business meeting with a
president's report. "In mid-2016, AIPRO
adopted a new management structure,
which has allowed the association to operate within budget and keep its office
space," he said.
He went on to highlight the association's
work during the 2017 legislative session.
That included victories on bills related to
eminent domain, natural gas utility infrastructure expansion and tort reform.
AIPRO Past President Andy Miller of
Southwestern Energy chaired the nominating committee and presided over the
election of members for two-year terms
on the Board of Directors. Chris Rogers
of Bonanza Creek was elected to represent
the South Arkansas region; Howard Vernon
with Foundation Energy was elected from
96 THE AMERICAN OIL & GAS REPORTER

the Arkoma region; and Ryan Ainsworth
of Southwestern Energy and Ryan Bowley
with BHP Billiton were elected to represent
the Fayetteville Shale.
The last order of business was considering amendments to AIPRO's bylaws.
"These amendments update the bylaws
to remove an officer position, reflect the
association's new management structure
and revise the signatory authority requirements," explained Executive Director
Rodney Baker.
The Arkansas Energy Education Foundation (AEEF) presented two awards at
AIPRO's convention. Springdale Public
Schools teacher Jaime Cavitt was honored
as the Arkansas Energy Rocks! Outstanding Educator for her work at Walker Ele-

mentary and Hellstern Middle School.
The Arkansas Service, Transmission, Exploration & Production Safety (STEPS)
Network presented an award to William
R. Brown, Environmental Health and
Safety Coordinator for XTO Energy Inc.
in Heber Springs, Ar., for his work to
promote safety, health and environmental
improvement in the state's exploration,
drilling and production industry.
"The Arkansas Energy Education Foundation was formed two years ago to support outreach and education efforts, specifically Arkansas Energy Rocks! and the
Arkansas STEPS Network," said AEEF
President Andy Miller, with Southwestern
Energy. "We are pleased to honor Jaime
and Bill."
r

Report Says U.S. LNG Exports
Offer Major Economic Beneﬁts
WASHINGTON-The American Petroleum Institute has released a new study
showing that increased exports of U.S.
natural gas (in the form of liquefied
natural gas) can support between 220,000
and 452,000 additional American jobs
and add as much as $73 billion to the
U.S. economy by 2040. According to
API, the study, which was conducted by
ICF International, also concluded that
expanded LNG exports would have a
minimal impact on natural gas prices.
The group adds that greater use of natural
gas across the world projects to reduce
global greenhouse gas emissions, mirroring
the way in which U.S. natural gas-fired
power generation growth has helped trim
the country's GHG emissions to near 25year lows.
"This report confirms that increasing
U.S. LNG exports will bring great benefits
to American workers and consumers and
the U.S. economy," characterizes API
Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Marty Durbin. "Increasing
the use of U.S. natural gas throughout
the world means more production here
at home, cleaner air and increased energy
security for our nation and our allies.
This report is the latest to exemplify the
benefits that come from this clean, affordable, abundant and reliable energy
resource."
According to API, the study updates
analysis ICF undertook for API in 2013,
which included estimates of LNG exports'
potential impacts on U.S. energy markets
and the economy. The first study presented
national level results for changes to energy
prices, employment and gross domestic

product. The second report broke out
those impacts on a state-by-state basis.
According to the new study's executive
summary, ICF's 2013 reports examined
cases in which U.S. LNG exports ranged
from 4 Bcf/d to 16 Bcf/d and compared
them with a scenario of no LNG exports.
It concluded that higher LNG export levels
corresponded with higher expected net
gains in GDP and employment, including
positive net job gains in the manufacturing
sector. LNG exports projected to have
moderate impacts on U.S. natural gas
prices, such that, for each 1 Bcf/d of exports, ICF estimated an average price increase of $0.11-$0.12 an MMBtu between
2016 and 2035 (in real 2016 dollars).
API points to a number of key findings
in the 2017 report:
* Increasing LNG exports to volumes
as great as 16 billion cubic feet a day by
2040 can support between 220,000 and
452,000 additional jobs and expand the
U.S. economy by $50 billion-$73 billion.
* Estimates of current U.S. natural
gas resources are 3,700 trillion cubic
feet, exceeding ICF's 2013 estimate of
3,550 Tcf.
* The potential global market now is
estimated to be 32 Tcf by 2040, a considerable increase from ICF's 2013 estimate of 22 Tcf.
* Increased LNG exports are estimated to exert a minimal impact on consumers' energy costs. Projected price impacts of LNG exports are anticipated to
be half of earlier 2013 estimates thanks
to efficiency gains and advances in energy
production technology.

American Oil and Gas Reporter - November 2017

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