Scott Kidwell
As you all know, PBPA’s advocacy is focused at the state and federal levels. But what many may not consider is that this advocacy truly has an international impact. The growth or decline of oil and gas production in the Permian Basin has a major impact on the quality of life that people around the world, both those living in developed nations and those still developing, may have.
Currently, the world’s population stands just shy of eight billion people, with the majority of that population living in less developed countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Further, according to the International Energy Agency, billions of people live in energy poverty, lacking access to either electricity or clean cooking facilities.
We are fortunate that in the United States we can have a discussion about “energy democracy.” We have the means to discuss not just whether or not we have energy, but where that energy comes from and how it is generated. These conversations are often started, it seems, by those who never question whether or not when they flip a light switch, they’ll have lights and power. These conversations often are aimed at impacting legislation, whether that legislation is in Austin, Santa Fe, or even Washington, D.C., and can have dire consequences on the economic and physical well-being of many who will never have a say in these laws and regulations.
While these are important conversations to have no matter who starts them, it is also important to keep all facts in mind and to know that not every person can make such a presumption of guaranteed energy availability. Again, there are billions who may have no light switch at all. We must keep in mind that affordable, reliable, and available energy means that fewer people around the world live in energy poverty and more people can rely on not only having a switch, but having energy availability when they flip it on. When they flip the switch, their quality of life will be improved.
Estimates are that the world will add another billion people in the next few decades, with most of that growth coming in less developed countries. As the world’s population continues to grow, that population will need energy to keep it from living in energy poverty. For so much, if not most, of the world currently and into the foreseeable future, the most affordable, reliable, and available source of energy that can lift people out of energy poverty comes from hydrocarbons.
The members of the PBPA believe no one should live in energy poverty. We will continue to advocate for a stronger oil and gas industry in the Permian Basin so that the citizens of the world can live a better quality of life. While we might be fighting for better laws and regulation in Texas, New Mexico, and the United States of America, what we are really fighting for is the opportunity to provide affordable, reliable, and available energy so that those living around the world can lend their voice to the conversation about where our energy comes from.
There is no doubt that energy generated in the Permian Basin makes the world a better place.
Thanks for a well put commentary on the huge role that energy plays in the quality of human life. I wish there were a way to get these thoughts and the data behind them in front of those people who want to do away with hydrocarbons as a source of energy. They do not realize that when we do away with hydrocarbons as a form of energy, they will be hurting, most, the people who can least afford it. If the average wage earner’s energy bill goes from 10% of his/her disposable income to 30%, it will totally change their standard of living. You refer to people in parts of the world where they do not have available and affordable energy. When you go to those places you see that a great many of them live as they did 200 years ago, all because they lack access to energy. It seems that many in the political world do not really care how their policies might affect the average Joe. How sad.