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Energy Workforce & Technology Council 90th Anniversary
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Energy Workforce CEO Speaks at 15th Annual OSU Energy Conference

Harold Hamm, Leslie Beyer and Sec. Kenneth Wagner

This week, Energy Workforce and Technology Council CEO Leslie Beyer spoke at the 15th Annual Oklahoma State University Energy Conference in Oklahoma City along with Harold Hamm, Founder and Chairman, Continental Resources, and Oklahoma’s Secretary of Energy & Environment, Kenneth Wagner. In her remarks, Beyer gave an update on the energy industry landscape, the role of oil and gas in energy transition, and the work of the Council on behalf of the energy services and equipment sector.

“With an ever-growing global demand for energy, we must take an ‘all of the above’ strategy to production and resources. Oil and gas must continue to be a part of the equation when meeting this demand for global energy security, national security and economic security.”  

Leslie Beyer, CEO, Energy Workforce & Technology Council

She emphasized that U.S. production of oil and gas is cleaner, safer and more reliable than foreign sources of energy and that the industry is continually innovating and developing new technologies to further reduce emissions and meet environmental goals.

Geopolitical unrest with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is increasing the demand for domestic resources to supply U.S. needs, but also that of Europe, who is heavily dependent on Russian energy supplies. The situation has riled markets, upended the reliance on traditional energy resources for many U.S. allies in Europe, and the U.S. continues to face significant inflation and barriers to domestic production. In order to meet this growing demand, the U.S. oil and gas industry will be tapped to produce more, and quickly.

“To unleash domestic production, the Biden Administration must take action to reduce regulatory hurdles, further open leasing on federal lands and water, incentivize infrastructure investments and allow for increased LNG exports,” Beyer said.

“Of top concern to the industry is the continue vilification of traditional oil and gas. For the future of U.S. energy security, and the growth of domestic resources, the negative rhetoric must stop, and the industry should be hailed as solution providers to the world’s energy needs.”

Leslie Beyer, Energy Workforce & Technology Council

The energy services sector is also leading on energy transition, which is not an either-or proposition and should not be a transition away from oil and gas. Instead, it is the entire energy ecosystem working together. The industry is leading in a number of areas including digitalization, remote technology and automation. All of which are key drivers in the market to reduce climate impacts, improve environmental performance and provide economic and environmental equity.

“Our entire ecosystem is working together to produce the cleanest, most reliable and affordable energy,” Beyer said. “The transition must be smart and realistic, with a focus on improving lives. Solutions also must be practical and scale to meet the needs. Our sector will lead the energy transition because the sector knows how to scale projects and deliver technology to meet growing demand.”

She continued by outlining three types of actions that will set the pace and success of energy transition. First, clean the core: do what the industry does, better. Less emissions and smaller footprints. Next, accelerate the transition by using natural gas as a transition fuel and zero emission sources of fuel where possible. Finally, extend the frontier, scaling solutions to commercialization that is beyond what is feasible today.  

Beyer says digital technology is imperative to the future of clean energy production. Energy Workforce Members are investing in research and development in an array of energy sources and technology and are creating and deploying major components of the digitization map.

“Energy service providers have long played a critical role in the technical advancement of the upstream oil and gas industry. Our industry is well aware of this and CEOs believe technology and digitalization are critically important. We see them looking to invest in remote operations and AI post-pandemic.”

Leslie Beyer, Energy Workforce & Technology Council

She also highlighted several innovative technologies and business practices, including where the sector is investing cap-ex, within energy transition. 

“Our industry is working every day to power the world, and I am so proud to advocate on behalf of energy services, our workforce and the innovative and creative work they are doing to continue to provide cleaner, safer and reliable energy,” Beyer said.


Corry Schiermeyer, Senior Director Communications, writes about governmental policies for the Energy Workforce & Technology Council. Click here to subscribe to the Energy Workforce newsletter, which highlights sector-specific issues, best practices, activities and more.
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