FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HOUSTON – Today, the Energy Workforce & Technology Council released the following statement applauding the Trump Administration and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s release of a new five-year offshore leasing plan for the Gulf of America that restores certainty and strengthens American energy security. EWTC has previously testified on the importance of offshore oil and gas production, urging the implementation of a new five-year offshore leasing plan.
“The 650,000 men and women who make up the US Energy Workforce applaud Secretary Burgum’s proposed new five-year leasing plan. For years, men and women who make their living offshore have faced delays, uncertainty and cancellations that have threatened their livelihood and discouraged investment in offshore projects. American offshore resources belong to all Americans. The US will face significant increases in energy demand in the coming years, and the Gulf of America will be one of our greatest tools to meet this demand and ensure continued energy security for the United States. American energy dominance starts in the Gulf,” said Energy Workforce President Tim Tarpley.
The proposed 2026 to 2031 plan outlines up to 34 potential lease sales across existing Outer Continental Shelf planning areas and marks a decisive return to predictable, pro-growth offshore policy. BOEM intends to hold the first offshore lease sale since 2023 this December, following congressional direction that mandates continued offshore leasing.
“The proposed five-year plan is a turning point for America’s energy future,” said Energy Workforce President Molly Determan. “This plan signals to the world that the United States intends not only to lead, but to compete and invest for the long haul. A clear offshore leasing schedule strengthens our supply chains, anchors long-term planning and ensures our workforce has the stability they deserve. This is how you build real energy security.”
American offshore production remains one of the nation’s most strategic assets, supplying nearly 2 million barrels of oil per day and delivering some of the world’s lowest-carbon-intensity barrels.
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About Energy Workforce & Technology Council
Energy Workforce & Technology Council is the national trade association for the global energy technology and services sector, representing more than 650,000 U.S. jobs in the technology-driven energy value chain. Energy Workforce works to advance member policy priorities and empower the energy workforce of the future.
