On This Page:

America’s Progress at Risk: The Impacts Of A Fracking Ban
Policy Pathways
Energy in Communities: Aurora, Colorado
Energy in Communities: Moon Township, Pennsylvania
Energy in Communities: Red Wing, Minnesota
Energy in Communities: Lansing, Michigan
Energy in Communities: Las Cruces, New Mexico
Energy in Communities: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Energy in Communities: Eau Claire, Wisconsin


America’s Progress at Risk
The Impacts of a Fracking Ban

Hard-earned economic progress and opportunity – illustrated in Colorado, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Virginia and Michigan, thanks largely to America’s energy transformation – could be lost if the U.S. energy revolution is halted by banning fracking or ending new federal natural gas and oil leasing, as some advocate.

Ending hydraulic fracturing would cause significant impacts to the U.S. economy and household energy costs, and increase our dependence on foreign energy, according to soon-to-be-released independent analysis.

Today the U.S. is No. 1 in the world in natural gas and oil production but ending hydraulic fracturing would mean:

  • $900 Billion increase in U.S. Household energy costs through 2030
  • $6.3 Trillion less for families to spend on priorities
  • $7.1 Trillion in potential losses to the U.S. economy by 2030
  • Up to 7.3 Million fewer U.S. jobs by 2022
  • The U.S. would import 40% of our oil and petroleum products by 2030 and 29% of our natural gas by 2030
  • Even with more renewables, the U.S. would use more coal to generate electricity, with a 40% increase in coal generation over today.

Policy Pathways

Policy Priorities To Continue U.S. Energy Progress

Natural gas and oil power America’s 21st-century economy, strengthen our nation’s security and support U.S. global leadership in reducing greenhouse gases.

The U.S. is No. 1 in the world in natural gas and oil production – thanks to abundant reserves and today’s modern, technologically advanced industry.

Now is no time for turning back. To grow American energy leadership, we must look to the future and prepare for projections that global energy demand will rise with policies that support safe, responsible domestic natural gas and oil production. The following pages describe forward-looking polices that will foster sound, well-managed development that benefits American families, creates opportunity and helps secure our country well into the future.


Expand U.S. Energy Infrastructure

To keep pace with rising energy demand, over $1 Trillion Is Needed For Infrastructure investments through 2035


API RP 1173, Pipeline Safety Management Systems: helps pipeline operators benefit from a safety management system (SMS) and systematically manage pipeline safety and measure progress to improve overall performance

Delivering Affordable, Reliable Energy

U.S. energy infrastructure, including pipelines, export terminals and ports, is a complex and extensive network that seamlessly delivers energy to consumers.

Pipelines are the safest and most efficient way to transport natural gas and petroleum for everyday use. Over the past five years, liquids pipeline mileage increased by nearly 12% to accommodate America’s energy production growth. Infrastructure expansion will ensure that our abundant, homegrown energy reaches American households, businesses and U.S. trading partners.

Increasing efficiency, transparency and certainty in federal permitting is essential to aligning smart regulations with responsible and timely investment in necessary projects.

For example, modernizing the National Environmental Policy Act’s (NEPA) maze of permitting rules is necessary to the sustainable development of the nation’s vast energy resources.


Support American Energy Development

2.37 Million Acres of parks, forests, and recreation areas in 50 States federally funded primarily by offshore energy royalties


API RP-75, Recommended Practice For Development Of A Safety And Environmental Management Program For Offshore Operations And Facilities: ifoundational offshore safety and environmental management standard that reflects state-of-the-art systems to drive safety and environmental protection in offshore operations

Access To Energy Key To Security

With global energy demand projected to increase more than 45% by 2050, access to energy is more important than ever. Safe and responsible production in the U.S., including on federal lands onshore and offshore, is critical for a reliable, affordable and cleaner energy mix. In addition, investments in natural gas and oil support communities by contributing to lower household energy costs, more jobs, and greater state revenue for education and public projects.

The federal government should expand offshore natural gas and oil leasing opportunities to promote continued domestic production since offshore natural gas and oil reserves can take over 10 years to develop and will help to secure our country’s long-term security.  

Transparent, streamlined and expedited federal permitting processes are necessary for the timely review of natural gas and oil production – which in turn promotes economic growth for local communities, investments in parks, roads, and schools, and good-paying jobs. 


Remove U.S. Trade Barriers And Open Global Markets

In 2019, the U.S. produced 12 Million barrels of oil per day


89,000 barrels of oil per day in U.S. Exports


Free Trade Agreements Support U.S. Jobs And Investments

Free-trade agreements like the USMCA – that eliminate tariffs, create energy trading zones, and protect U.S. energy investments in other countries – help open markets for the American natural gas and oil industry, boosting domestic production and job growth. Provisions in free-trade agreements, including the elimination of tariffs on products, create a level playing field for the U.S., which enables greater energy trade and investment all around. That benefits energy consumers and energy security for the U.S. and our partner countries in these agreements.

Policymakers and regulators must insist on international agreements that strengthen free market energy trading relationships between the U.S. and the rest of the world, coupled with domestic policies that allow for exports to the global market.

This includes de-escalating trade disputes with China and other nations that take America in the wrong direction. The U.S. needs to de-escalate the trade war with China: through commitments that remove U.S. tariffs that still remain on hundreds of industrial components that are used in the U.S. natural gas and oil industry and that remove retaliatory Chinese tariffs against U.S. exports of crude oil, LNG, and chemicals products. And the U.S. needs to remove tariffs on imports of specialty steel used in the American natural gas and oil industry that we import from our allies, working together rather than against our allies to address the unfair trade practices of other nations. Trade wars block American progress and the global competitiveness of the U.S. natural gas and oil industry.

The U.S. recently became a net exporter of energy for the first time since the 1950s – a milestone that brings with it a slew of economic benefits, including lower energy prices and renewed investment in resource development, processing, and transportation.

These exports strengthen America’s standing as a world energy superpower and create opportunities for the U.S. to use its energy to alleviate poverty and reduce emissions around the world. Going forward, policies should support additional export capacity, which will help meet expected growth in global energy demand, boost energy trade, spur domestic production, and grow the economy.


Level The Playing Field For Transportation

80% of all federal EV subsidies have gone to individuals making $100,000 or more


E15 and other higher ethanol volume fuels Can Damage:

  • Boat engines
  • Outdoor power equipment
  • Vehicle engines
  • Motorcycle engines


API Standards [ILSAC GF-6A, GF-6B And API SP]: improved performance standards for engine oils that will provide greater protection and fuel efficiency for today’s gasoline-engine-powered cars and trucks

Protecting U.S. Consumers

Consumer-friendly transportation policies require a free-market approach to ensure a level-playing field for all Americans. Government mandates and subsidies harm consumers by unfairly disrupting market decisions.

For example, biofuel mandates distort the marketplace to use products that can damage vehicles, while electric vehicle (EV) tax credits subsidize upper-income households purchasing luxury vehicles at the expense of taxpayers.

The Renewable Fuel Standard’s (RFS) objective of reducing crude oil imports is obsolete given growing domestic oil production, and its goal of producing commercially viable cellulosic biofuel has never materialized. Today, about 70% of vehicles on the road weren’t designed to run on E15 fuel, per manufacturers’ manuals, and no boats, small engines or motorcycles can use the product. The outdated ethanol mandates puts consumers at risk by incentivizing higher ethanol blends in the fuel supply.

Electric vehicles can and should coexist with internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEV) on our roadways in a vibrant, free market. However, subsidies for EV purchases disproportionately advantage upper-income households, and many federal and state transportation policies exempt EV owners from paying their fair share for road maintenance and repair. Those same households also get assistance by having the EV charging infrastructure paid for by electricity rate payers regardless of whether they own an EV or not.

Fuel policies should safeguard consumers against unfair subsidies and mandates that do not harm all U.S. consumers.


Adopt Climate Solutions

$108 Billion invested in greenhouse gas mitigating technologies between 2000-2016


API RP 50, Natural Gas Processing Plant Practices For Protection Of The Environment: for natural gas processing to help companies reduce methane and other greenhouse gas emissions


Api engages on climate policy from a principled approach and supports bipartisan legislation to incentivize research and development of ccus, including the use it act (s. 383) And the leading act (s. 1685)

Investing In A Cleaner Energy Future

The U.S. natural gas and oil industry is laser-focused on delivering affordable, reliable, and ever-cleaner energy to businesses and consumers around the world.

The increased use of natural gas in power generation, industry’s leadership and continuous innovation, and creation of state-of-the-art standards have driven U.S. carbon dioxide emissions to their lowest levels in a generation, even as global emissions are on the rise.

Now that the U.S. is the world’s leading producer and a net exporter, cleaner natural gas is more readily available in areas that experience energy poverty – reducing global emissions, raising standards of living, and supporting the uptake of renewable energy.

API and its members commit to delivering solutions that reduce the risks of climate change while meeting society’s growing energy needs. We support global action that drives greenhouse gas emissions reductions and economic development.

The natural gas and oil industry is part of the global solution and plays a vital role in developing and deploying technologies and products that continue to reduce GHG emissions while advancing human and economic prosperity and that are essential to extending the benefits of modern life to all.


Unlock Innovation And Cultivate Partnerships

67% Decline in methane emissions relative to production, 2011 – 2018, in five of the major producing areas.


Since 1990, methane emissions from natural gas systems nationally have Dropped 14% while natural gas production has increased More Than 50%.


Energy Progress Is Not Done Alone

It has always been a mixture of industry leadership, opportunities to innovate, and partnerships with the best minds – from academia to government scientists, such as those in U.S. national labs. The natural gas and oil industry’s continued advancement of engineering technologies over time, such as hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, benefit the nation’s economic strength and energy security.

Constant innovation, smart regulations, collaborative efforts, and industry initiatives, help to ensure that industry is providing affordable and reliable energy to consumers, while reducing its environmental footprint and emissions.

For instance, The Environmental Partnership, which is comprised of companies in the U.S. oil and natural gas industry committed to continuously improving the industry’s environmental performance, serves as a model of industry leadership. The U.S. leads the world in producing natural gas and oil and is committed to reducing emissions relative to production in basins across the country.

API works to constantly evaluate and strengthen industry standards to drive progress in safety, environmental protection, and efficiency across the industry. API’s Global Industry Services (GIS) drives safe production globally through critical partnerships, including signing four memoranda of understanding (MOU) with international parties and working with emerging nations on standards adoption.

Additionally, API partners with energy trade associations around the world to cultivate partnerships focused on global sustainability. We work together with associations including IPIECA and IOGP to convene and produce standards and guidance that our member companies use globally to conduct operations in a safe, environmentally responsible manner that is responsive to communities around us.


Energy in Communities:
Aurora, Colorado


Natural Gas And Oil Partner With Aurora In City’s Steady Growth

For more than 40 years, the Nuñez family has been serving home-style Mexican recipes from the same restaurant location in Aurora, Colorado. Today, Alfonso and his wife, Doña, proudly keep the family business going — serving dishes made from scratch, including handmade tortillas, using recipes passed down from his parents, while also infusing creative touches of his own.

La Cueva, with its neon green sign and turquoise booths, is a staple within the community and a landmark in a city that looks much different today than it did in 1974. Alfonso says La Cueva was the first Mexican restaurant to open in East Colfax, an area within Aurora’s center.

La Cueva, with its neon green sign and turquoise booths, is a staple within the community and a landmark in a city that looks much different today than it did in 1974. Alfonso says La Cueva was the first Mexican restaurant to open in East Colfax, an area within Aurora’s center.

“The natural gas and oil industry is an important sector that helps to maintain economic stability throughout the Denver metro area, and the entire state of Colorado.”
– Michael Orlando, Economist, University of Colorado Denver

Nuñez has seen much change over the years, and he’ll be the first to say that not all the changes have been easy. However, La Cueva stands as a warm and comforting reminder that, just like a good meal, stability and growth in many aspects of life often require a nod to tradition, a good mix of fresh and local ingredients, and a spirit of innovation.

This is Aurora. Tradition, new ideas and innovation combining to help the city and the surrounding area emerge from the shadow of nearby Denver. It’s the home to more than a dozen thriving business sectors, with 11 development deals bringing thousands of jobs and driving nearly $290 million in capital investments in 2017. In this, abundant natural gas and oil energy, much of it home-grown from the nation’s 7th-largest energy producer, has played an important, empowering part.

The city of Aurora has seen the success that comes with staying true to its identity, while also creating a path for economic growth. Kevin Hougen, Aurora Chamber of Commerce president, describes the Aurora as a former bedroom community for Denver. Today, the city is vibrant, yet relaxed in its true form, and as diverse in culture and industry as it is in its appeal to people from all walks of life. From bio-science and healthcare to cybersecurity, aerospace and the military, Aurora has it.

Job growth, along with quality of life, outdoor activities, and what Hougen calls “attainable housing,” are perhaps reasons why Aurora’s population grew by more than 6,000 from 2017 to 2018.

Economist and University of Colorado Denver professor Michael Orlando says the state is shaped and strengthened by its varied industrial mix. “Colorado’s economy exhibits more diversity than the industrial balance of the nation,” says Orlando, who points to the significant contribution from natural gas and oil.

“The natural gas and oil industry is an important sector that helps to maintain economic stability throughout the Denver metro area, and the entire state of Colorado.”

30,000 Jobs
As of 2017, Colorado’s oil and gas sector provided roughly 30,000 direct and indirect jobs within the state

$13.5 Billion
As of 2017, Colorado’s oil and gas sector added about $13.5 billion to the state’s domestic product

Education
The industry also provided 81% of the distributions made to Colorado’s School Trust, which supports public K-12 education.

Orlando led a recent study that shows natural gas and oil gas add twice as much to Colorado’s economic output, as compared to the industry’s share of GDP nationwide. And significant tax revenues from the industry support a variety of public expenditures, including education, conservation and infrastructure.

In Colorado’s 6th Congressional District, home to Aurora, the natural gas, oil and petrochemicals industry:
  • Supports 24,900 jobs – almost 6% of the district’s employment
  • Directly and indirectly adds more than $3.3 billion each year – 7.5% of the district’s total economy

The industry adds to the community in other ways. Volunteer and community programs from the industry include cleanup days with area students, mental health crisis help groups, active area churches and school volunteer programs all tie communities together.

And those ties continue to strengthen. The front range region around Aurora is a prime example. The area serves as a collaborative learning laboratory of sorts among natural gas and producers and nearby residents. Orlando notes that the industry integrates community input into its operations, and how all parties are becoming more engaged in ways that could serve as a model for the nation.

This engagement is part of a broader industry commitment to be a good neighbor — to hear and respond to local concerns, improve operations and safety and to protect the environment. In turn, the environmental performance of industry facilities, fuels and other products has been improved.

In Aurora, young, entrepreneurial ventures are bringing new values to innovation. Extraction Oil & Gas, a Denver-based exploration and production company, was formed in 2012 and co-founded by then 27-year old Matt Owens, now the company’s president.

Business Spotlight:

Colorado Air and Space Port, located a few miles west of Aurora and the Denver International Airport, is the state’s first spaceport and a U.S. hub for commercial space transportation, research and development. In 2019, Reaction Engines, Inc., in collaboration with the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), began high-temperature airflow testing of HTX, an engine pre-cooler designed to stop rocket engine components from overheating at high-flight speeds. The testing took place within their new Testing Facility 2 located at the spaceport.

But it didn’t take the industry’s relative newcomer long to make an important mark on Colorado. Extraction Oil & Gas has landed on the Denver Post’s “Best Places to Work” list three times in the company’s seven-year history.

For Brian Cain and his colleagues at Extraction Oil & Gas, social responsibility is just as important as economic impact, and speaks to much of what has led to the company’s success.

“Extraction Oil & Gas solely operates in Colorado and so much about the lifestyle we, as fellow residents, enjoy centers around our natural environment and the outdoors. We take pride in being good stewards and good community partners,” says Cain.

Along with corporate social responsibility, the company believes its commitment to leveraging proven technology is foundational to business. Still growing, Cain sees a sweet spot for Extraction Oil & Gas.

“We want to remain agile. That will enable us to effectively leverage cutting-edge technology like automation, and add techniques like remote monitoring that reduce costs, as we continue to invest in workforce training,” says Cain.

Extraction Oil & Gas recently began installing engineered polymer sound walls and utilizing other noise reduction technology during well drilling operations.

“This is a win-win for our workers as well as neighbors in areas where we operate,” Cain says. “More than anything, it serves as a testament of how innovation can enable safe operations, economic growth and a good quality of life to all coexist.”

Lilla Ramos, La Cueva Restaurant – Aurora, Colorado

Colorado has seen the fruits of its energy production in more ways than one — underscoring energy’s empowering capacity.

Like economic growth, the city’s energy use is well planned and managed. Electricity rates are about 10% lower than the national average for commercial use and more than 13% lower for residential. Aurora demonstrates the importance of good stewardship of rich natural gas and oil resources, as well as infrastructure. That includes the Magellan Chase Pipeline, which begins in Aurora.

The oil and natural gas industry adds more than $3.3 billion each year to the economy of Colorado’s 6th Congressional District, where Aurora is located, or 7.5% of the district’s total economy. Jobs include everything from petroleum engineers, environmental experts and rig hands to truck drivers, caterers and contractors. Whatever the skills or specialties, all benefit from local energy-related economic activity.

And Aurora has its sights set on continued economic growth with a number of exciting development projects underway.

Colorado Air and Space Port, located six miles from Denver International Airport, is slated to serve as a U.S. hub for commercial space transportation, research and development.

The Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, located in Aurora, opened its doors in December 2018 and stands as the largest combined resort and convention center in Colorado.

Back at La Cueva, Alfonso says that while the population and development have grown exponentially in recent years with a number of projects slated for the city’s near future, like his family’s recipes, the heart of Aurora remains as true as ever. But he also knows firsthand the importance of spicing things up. After all, it’s what’s kept La Cueva thriving for more than four decades.


Energy in Communities:
Moon Township, Pennsylvania


Energy Empowers Western Pennsylvania Comeback Stories

The Coraopolis Bicycle shop is celebrating 50 years in business. Walk through its unassuming front door and Dick Wolf, the shop’s quiet owner, appears from the back room where he rehabs gears, brakes and tires for customers young and old. His story is a tale of Western Pennsylvania.

When Wolf opened his store in 1969, he sold a little of everything, including bicycles. You could think of his original shop as akin to a today’s Dollar Stores. However, the big box companies began to put pressure on his business, so he transformed the Fifth Street storefront into a pure bicycle repair and sales operation.

“This industry provides people with optimism instead of pessimism.”
– Sam DeMarco, Council Representative at Large, Allegheny County, PA

Wolf has served generations of riders by surviving economic cycles, like the closing of the nearby steel mills, and changes to his own business model. Much like Wolf, the town of Coraopolis, about 15 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, is a survivor that is once again thriving thanks to a decade of natural gas development in the Marcellus shale – as well as the broader economic benefits of abundant domestic energy.

Despite its up-and-down past, the region today is experiencing significant growth. Information Technology jobs are up 18%, Transportation and Warehousing have grown about 12%, Arts, Entertainment and Recreation 11% and Mining, Quarrying, Oil and Gas Extraction are up 8% since 2013.

Area business owners will tell you that the opening of the Marcellus Shale for natural gas production in 2008 spurred strong and lasting growth in revenues, wages and land values. Moon Township, where Coraopolis is located, boasts an unemployment rate under 3%, and the median income was well over $70,000 annually (compared to about $60,000 nationally) in 2017. It doesn’t matter if your collar is blue or white, it seems everyone has an opportunity to earn a good living these days.

Dick Wolf, Coraopolis Bicycle – Coraopolis, Pennsylvania

“New industry benefits everyone here, and this region has really exploded over the past 20 years,” Wolf says. “This progress is good for all of our businesses. I have a lot of loyal customers from all over Western Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, and I am proud of the businesses here in town like mine that have survived for two and three generations.”

Standing in front of the shop, you see a steady flow of traffic go by, supporting a town on the rise. Located along the Ohio River, you can still feel the community’s steel and manufacturing roots even as its 21st-century economy shines through.

Job Growth:

18%
Information technology
12%
Transportation and warehousing
11%
Arts, entertainment and recreation
8%
Mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction

Nick Haden from Reserved Environmental Services grew up in Moon and describes what happened when his natural gas and oil services company began to expand. “At the time, our employees would say things like, ‘Thank you, this is going to be the best Christmas we have ever had.’ Hearing that from your employees means a lot.”

Haden’s company provides water recycling services to the natural gas and oil industry – an integral part of industry’s commitment to energy development that is safe for communities and the environment, while lowering emissions. Today his company has 90 employees and will soon open its third recycling plant – just one piece of the puzzle in a thriving economy.

In Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District, home to Moon Township, the natural gas, oil and petrochemicals industry:
  • Supports 18,390 jobs – almost 5% of the district’s employment
  • Adds more than $1.78 billion each year – 6% of the district’s total economy

Ann Flask came out of college with a criminology degree and worked as a fraud investigator for the banking industry. But like so many others, she experienced job loss. On a whim, she visited a job fair and met a recruiter for Pittsburgh’s local Steamfitters union. Soon after that, she became a welder, a job that today is in high demand as new manufacturing and infrastructure projects continue to be approved. This includes a multi-billion-dollar chemical plant being built in the area to turn natural gas into the building blocks for plastics. At the peak of the construction phase, the project is supporting an estimated 6,000 jobs.

“There was a buzz about this project, and we are all excited about the job creation, not just for the steamfitters but for everyone,” Flask says. “It’s been a great provider for me, and I am excited to be part of something that is going to provide for the long term.”

The challenge for the Steamfitters and other local businesses is how to best staff the jobs flowing into the region. With opportunity comes competition. Manufacturing, energy and other expanding industries in the region pay well. A competitive labor market increases wages even further. An Allegheny Conference on Community Development study, “Inflection Point,” projects 80,000 skilled workers will be needed to fill these high-paying jobs by 2025.

Local business owners, craft labor unions, educators and public officials are coming together to meet this challenge. Efforts are underway to build new training and apprentice programs, expand and retool university and community college curricula, and develop additional mentoring opportunities to build the skills needed across the area.

Hunter Truck Sales’ Mike Fischer (left) and Dustin McClanahan – Butler, Pennsylvania

One hour north of Moon township, leaders at Hunter Truck’s corporate headquarters needed qualified workers so badly they decided to build their own training center. The company has seen more than 40% growth since 2008. And it all started with a little gamble.

“About 10 years ago, our vice president of sales decided to buy 80 water trucks without any orders because he heard there was a real need in the industry,” says Nancy Hunter Mycka, one of the third-generation owners of the company. “We all thought he was crazy at the time, and then all but one of those trucks sold before they even arrived. And the last truck sold the same day it got here.”

Shale Revolution – And A Little Luck – Prove Timely For Hunter Truck

One hour north of Moon Township, leaders at Hunter Truck’s corporate headquarters needed qualified workers so badly they decided to build their own training center. The company has seen more than 40 percent growth since 2008. And it all started with a little gamble.

Hunter needed to attract new talent fast. The company gave raises throughout the organization and then went to work recruiting during one of the largest expansions in its 80-year history. The team claims that a CDL driver’s license can be as valuable as a Ph.D. these days in Western Pennsylvania.

When you talk to politicians in Allegheny County and the greater area, they will tell you that opening the Marcellus Shale helped local residents’ weather the recession during the first decade of the 21st century and delivered hope to people who didn’t have it before.

“This industry provides people with optimism instead of pessimism,” says At-Large County Councilman Sam DeMarco. “Right now, the unemployment rate in Pittsburgh and Allegheny county is the lowest it’s been since we started recording it in 1976. That means thousands of residents have good sustaining jobs.”

And it goes beyond jobs. DeMarco says utility bills in the region have dropped sharply, helping seniors, low-income residents and other vulnerable groups. There are even unforeseen benefits like investments in new passenger terminals at Pittsburgh International Airport. He said the natural gas companies also re-invest in the community, funding projects like park and public space rehabilitation, new recreation projects, and improved roads and bridges.

Back in Coraopolis, a long-term customer brings his bicycle into Dick Wolf’s shop for a tune-up. A quick inspection shows a good deal of rust and a big job ahead. But much like the town he has loved for so long, Wolf shows a quiet resolve to keep moving forward. He patiently wheels the broken vehicle into the back room, confident it has a strong future under his steady hand and never-give-up approach.


Energy in Communities:
Red Wing, Minnesota


Energy Empowers Industry, Agriculture In Southeastern Minnesota

The morning sun rises over the bluffs that frame the town of Red Wing in southeastern Minnesota, hugging the Mississippi River’s southern bank about 55 miles from Minneapolis. In the nearby fields and pastures the soil is black and fertile, supporting a cornucopia of planted grains, as well as cattle ranches and chicken farms. Soon, the bounty raised here will make its way to American dinner tables all over the country.

A few miles north, an industrial corridor is home to Red Wing’s robust manufacturing sector. There, scientists and engineers at research and design centers uncover new technologies and applications, while production teams build products that will be packaged, sold and distributed around the world.

“Low-cost energy helps to keep our facilities operating so that families here can continue to earn a decent living.”
– Mike Goggin, State Senator, MN

Together, industrial manufacturing and farming have driven the Red Wing economy for more than a century. Today, perhaps more than ever, both are thriving in this part of the country because of abundant U.S. natural gas and oil – energy that empowers all sectors, benefits consumers and helps protect the environment. Red Wing native and state Sen. Mike Goggin recognizes the vital role affordable energy plays across the regional economy.

“Manufacturing is energy-intensive, and it’s our bread and butter,” Goggin says. “Low-cost energy helps to keep our facilities operating so that families here can continue to earn a decent living and enjoy all the things that make Red Wing so special.”

Statewide, the natural gas and oil industry supported more than 117,000 jobs, or more than 3% of Minnesota’s total employment in 2015. The industry provided more than $7 billion in wages and contributed more than $14 billion to the state economy – including $4.5 billion to the second congressional district where Red Wing is located.

But industry’s impact is more than it and its suppliers. It’s energy that fuels and produces across all sectors – manufacturing, construction, logistics, banking and more. Energy is foundational to growth and the opportunity to prosper. They’re seeing it in Red Wing and the surrounding area.

The home of headquarters for global players including Red Wing Shoe Company, 3M, Riedell and BIC Graphic – the parent company of a half-dozen other well-known brands – the town of 16,000 has an oversized impact on the world. Just up the road, Marathon Petroleum’s St. Paul Park refinery produces essential fuels for the nation’s transportation sector.

Overall, things are good here. The area’s unemployment rate of 3.1% (as of September) is about a point lower than the national rate. There’s growth, and energy is playing its part. Just ask Tito Warren, a top executive at Red Wing Shoe Company.

“From the natural gas used to power Red Wing manufacturing facilities and retail stores to the fuel we rely on to transport products, and the hard workers who rely on our products, energy is tied to everything we do,” says Warren, vice president of global sales.

Red Wing is one of the world’s oldest work boot makers. Workers in farming, construction, manufacturing, natural gas and oil, and a number of skilled trades swear by Red Wing footwear. The company’s first flagship retail location still sits along Red Wing’s Main Street. A 16-foot-tall, Size 638 ½ boot was parked there to mark the company’s centennial in 2005.

Energy = Skilled Trades Opportunities

The U.S. energy revolution has increased demand for pipefitters to help build natural gas and oil facilities, infrastructure and refineries. Minnesota Pipe Trades Association President David Ybarra says school boards and high school administrators within the state have responded with initiatives to help meet that need.

Besides boots, the company makes protective workwear, gloves, safety glasses and more. These items are particularly important to natural gas and oil industry workers, from the Permian Basin of West Texas to Southeast Asia. Other heavy industrial trades rely on Red Wing products, too. Warren calls the boots a “symbol of American manufacturing everywhere.”

Others point to energy’s positive role as well. David Ybarra, president of the 9,000-member Minnesota Pipe Trades Association, says the U.S. energy revolution helps support much-needed job growth at a critical time.

Bill Hanisch, Hanisch Bakery & Coffee – Red Wing, Minnesota

“The commercial and residential segments of the pipefitting industry were hit hard during the recession and we didn’t have a lot of other options,” Ybarra says. “The shale boom sustained us, drew more people to pipefitting and led to jobs at nearby refineries and natural gas plants that are just as important to trade workers today.”

These are great times for the locally owned bakery and coffee shop. But Hanisch remembers 2007, when things weren’t so great. As natural gas and oil prices were at some of their highest levels, Hansich’s operating costs skyrocketed.

Powering Small Business

Bill Hanisch, Red Wing native and owner of Hanisch Bakery & Coffee Shop began working there as a teen more than two decades ago. Today, his son is learning from the ground up as part of Hanisch’s team of nearly 40 employees.


Energy in Communities:
Lansing, Michigan


In Lansing, Michigan, Energy Helps Write New Growth Narrative

It’s 8 a.m. at Blue Owl Coffee in East Lansing, Michigan, the twin city to Lansing, the state capital. Blue Owl sits just a few blocks from Michigan State University and prides itself on serving “community driven coffee.” Locals, college students and faculty alike know Blue Owl’s baristas by name. Like many other locally owned businesses throughout the area, Blue Owl is hiring. 

That’s a small clue to a big story. People here can remember when things were much different: double-digit unemployment and folks talking about the entire state approaching an economic abyss. “There was a bumper sticker on cars all over town that read, ‘Will the last person leaving Michigan please turn off the lights?’” recalls Rich Studley, president and CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. “The city was at risk of losing General Motors, which at the time, was one of our last major manufacturers.”

“Energy infrastructure enables our plants and skilled workers to build some of America’s best cars.”
– Rich Studley, President and CEO, Michigan Chamber of Commerce

Those unhappy days are a memory. The unemployment rate in the Lansing-East Lansing area is about 3.6% today . Jobs have increased over the past year and local officials are optimistic the area is positioned for growth in the years to come. GM stayed; Lansing is home to the automaker’s two newest manufacturing plants. Playing a significant role here and in other parts of the country: abundant domestic natural gas and oil, helping grow the local economy and empowering people, businesses and manufacturing.

Studley says the area’s energy infrastructure was a significant factor in GM’s decision to stay and has supported growth. “Manufacturers need access to safe, reliable and abundant energy,” he says, “and we’re proud that Lansing has the energy infrastructure that enables plants and skilled workers to build some of America’s best cars.”  

Of course, natural gas and oil also mean fuels for consumers and consumer-serving sectors. In December 2017, the Lansing Board of Water & Light (BWL), the municipal utility, announced it would replace the last of its coal-fired generation facilities with a $500 million natural gas-fueled power plant. BWL broke ground in mid-2019. The station is expected to be completed by 2021 and will be capable of generating 250 megawatts of electricity. 

BWL General Manager Dick Peffley says the plan is vitally important for the future of the Greater Lansing region. “Natural gas enables BWL to provide clean, affordable and reliable electricity to our customers while reducing our carbon footprint,” Peffley says. “As we work to integrate wind and solar, natural gas will also serve as an important backup for our growing renewable power systems.”

Overall, Michigan’s natural gas-fueled generation has increased 130% over the past 10 years. Carbon dioxide emissions from electric power generation declined more than 25% between 2007 and 2017, mirroring the national trend of energy-related CO2 emissions reaching their lowest levels in a generation. Total statewide CO2 emissions declined 16% over that period.

Peffley says BWL’s upgrades are benefiting consumers while also helping to drive economic development, along with road and other infrastructure improvements. “When we built our natural gas plant downtown, 90% of the buildings along Washington Avenue in Lansing were vacant,” he says. “We’re a much different city today. The street is lined with several new restaurants, coffee shops and more.”

In Michigan’s 8th Congressional District, where Lansing is located, the natural gas, oil and petrochemicals industry:

$222 Million
Directly adds $222 million in labor income – wages, salaries and benefits that go to the district’s workforce
More Than $1 Billion
Industry supports more than $1 billion in labor income across other sectors
More Than $1.7 Billion
Industry also adds more than $1.7 billion each year to the district’s overall economy – nearly 5% of the total

Indeed, Blue Owl Coffee’s Lansing shop sits just steps away from the BWL headquarters and the REO Cogeneration Plant, the utility’s first natural gas-fueled power plant. Other locally owned businesses have benefited, too.

Blue Owl Coffee’s Growth Opportunity Knocks – Thanks To Energy

Since an early age, Nick Berry wanted to own a coffee and exhibition space. Twenty or so years later, he decided to go for it.

In 2004, Jennifer Van Dyke was teaching sculpture and design courses at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, when she got a call from her father. Swan Electric, their family-owned electrical construction firm, had been chosen for a large GM project in Lansing, and he needed her help.   

Natural Gas And Oil’s Positive Ripple Effects Benefit Swan Electric, Other Businesses

In 2004, Jennifer Van Dyke was teaching sculpture and design courses at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, when she got a call from her father. Swan Electric, their family-owned electrical construction firm, had been chosen for a large GM project in Lansing, and he needed her help.   

Today, Van Dyke and her brother, David, are third-generation co-owners of the business that does natural gas and oil-related work across the state. “Whether we’re working with oil and natural gas companies, utilities or large industrial manufacturers, most of our work is tied to energy in some way, and we’re proud to provide jobs within our communities,” she says.  

Swan Electric has supported BWL on projects over the years. This includes the construction of a new 130-megawatt electrical Central Substation in 2018, located just south of Lansing’s downtown. 

For companies like Swan Electric, BWL and Blue Owl Coffee, natural gas is powering their success and that of Lansing as a whole. Across Michigan, the natural gas and oil industry contributed $14.6 billion to the state’s economy while supporting more than 159,000 jobs, or nearly 3% of the state’s total employment in 2015. Yet, natural gas and oil’s part is larger than the jobs they create or the vendors who support their operations. For growth all across the economic spectrum, it takes energy.

“American oil and natural gas play an important role in our economy,” Van Dyke says. “Lower energy costs attract industrial manufacturers to Greater Lansing, and that leads to more work for tier-two suppliers like Swan Electric and businesses of all kinds.” 


Energy in Communities:
Las Cruces, New Mexico


Abundant Natural Gas, Oil Boost Economic Sectors Across New Mexico

The sun sets on the valley of the Rio Grande River near Hatch, New Mexico, splashing rows of green chilé pepper plants with one last burst of warmth. It’s a scene that has been re-enacted here since the conquistadors introduced the spicy plant to the region. Far removed from these conquerors of the past, the industry today is getting a boost from a new benefactor – the natural gas and oil industry.


This is the desert Southwest where, surprisingly, agriculture long has been a pillar of the regional economy. As you drive down Interstate 25, patches of green crowd around the banks of the river, following its winding path through the high mountain plateau. These fertile green fields and others across the state provide more than 40,000 New Mexicans with a living – including Marshall Wilson, who joined Adams Produce when he was just 18. More than a decade later, he walks through the chilé fields he manages with a deep appreciation for the interwoven relationship between energy and agriculture.

“Energy fuels everything. It’s not just economics. It’s also building infrastructure, investing in education, letting businesses thrive and providing a way for everyone to have a life that they can enjoy”
– Luis Morales, Researcher and Entrepreneur, New Mexico State University

“Energy affects everything we do, whether it’s the fertilizer that’s produced from natural gas or the diesel fuel for tractors, pumps and transportation. These are all bottom-line considerations for farmers,” says Wilson. “Even the power we use on-site to process the crops and support electric well pumps ties back to energy production.” The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that more than 35% of the state’s power needs are provided by natural gas.

Wilson’s chilé fields are hundreds of miles from the nearest natural gas and oil well. Yet, he is acutely aware of the broad, empowering nature of abundant energy. This includes direct industry benefits – jobs, investments and generated revenues for governments – as well as the foundational support that affordable energy provides for virtually all other endeavors. It’s a realization hitting home across industries and economic sectors across the state.

Natural gas and oil are produced in only a handful of New Mexico’s 33 counties, and yet state and local government agencies are seeing a funding renaissance from industry’s activities — operations and pipeline and other infrastructure builds to maximize the benefits of energy production. The New Mexico Oil and Gas Association says its members contributed more than $2.2 billion to the state’s general fund in 2018. That’s money for schools, bridges, water treatment plants and a number of other critical state and local priorities for growing municipalities like Las Cruces.

Located 40 miles south of the Hatch chilé fields, Las Cruces is the second-largest city in the state. The county seat of Doña Ana is a hub for military installations, educational institutions, space flight companies and retirees – none of which would be possible without significant infrastructure upgrades.

Sue Padilla served as county manager for Doña Ana and speaks about the promise additional funding from natural gas and oil development brings to the state. “If we go back 10 or 15 years and look at where we were with growth in the county, we see a dramatic increase that could never have occurred without a significant infrastructure build-out supported by natural gas and oil revenues.”

She notes that in past years local governments like Las Cruces were more dependent on state funding, but the boon from natural gas and oil has given these governments a new ability to provide services and capital improvements that would have been impossible before. This is especially true for the state’s school systems.

In New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, where Las Cruces is located, the natural gas, oil and petrochemical industry:

27,090 Direct Jobs
Accounts for more than 8% of the district’s jobs
51,100 Indirect Jobs
Supports 51,100 jobs overall, more than 15% of the district’s total employment
$6 Billion
Adds more than $6 billion each year – almost 20% of the district’s total economy.

Statewide studies reveal that the industry poured more than $1 billion directly into the state’s school systems in 2018. That’s an average of $2,472 for every student in New Mexico. Most of this funding was earmarked for k-12 education, but there is also a significant allocation for the state’s university system. Going further, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has proposed free college tuition for all state residents – largely funded by natural gas and oil revenues. “I could spend well longer than 30 minutes telling you about the benefits of what’s going on in the state of New Mexico because of what’s going on in the oil and gas industry — opportunities that we haven’t seen, ever,” Grisham said last fall. If the plan is approved, it will help remove educational barriers for aspiring future entrepreneurs and business leaders like Luis Morales. He’s 36, holds a doctoral degree in biochemistry and is CEO of a startup company that is creating an advanced pipeline coating to protect the infrastructure for transporting natural gas and hydrogen. A product of New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, Morales is well aware of the important link between the industry and educational institutions for the future success of new entrepreneurs. “Energy fuels everything,” he says. “It’s not just economics. It’s also building infrastructure, investing in education, letting businesses thrive and providing a way for everyone to have a life that they can enjoy.” Indeed, additional infrastructure – pipelines and other projects – are critically important to development, here in New Mexico and other parts of the country.

Luis Morales, H-Trap One, Las Cruces, New Mexico

Morales grew up locally and was inspired by one of his high school teachers to become a scientist. Today he lives and works all over the world, pursuing the vision for his fledgling company. His success story is a hopeful theme you hear regularly repeated across the nearby desert highlands.

New Investments, Growth Built On Plentiful Energy

Residents sense Las Cruces is poised for a time of growth and prosperity that directly reflects the regional expansion from El Paso to the Permian Basin near Carlsbad. Sue Padilla, former manager for Doña Anna County, has a clear-eyed view of how important it is to seize this moment.

Business Start-Up Starts With Energy

Luis Morales is a homegrown success story for Las Cruces and New Mexico State University. He also is a living example of the significant opportunities natural gas and oil development present to the desert Southwest.

Local residents sense Las Cruces is poised for a time of growth and prosperity that directly reflects the regional expansion from El Paso to the Permian Basin near Carlsbad. Sue Padilla has a clear-eyed view of how important it is to seize this moment.

“My husband and I worked hard all of our lives to get where we are today,” Padilla says. “But that wouldn’t have happened without opportunities afforded us by economic development in the region.”

Back in Hatch, Marshall Wilson breaks a pepper off a plant and enjoys an afternoon snack as he surveys the fields that have become his home and workplace. A semi-truck piled high with peppers rumbles by on the nearby highway. That’s prosperity and progress – built on a foundation of responsibly produced natural gas and oil.


Business Start-Up Starts With Energy

Luis Morales is a homegrown success story for Las Cruces and New Mexico State University. He also is a living example of the significant opportunities natural gas and oil development present to the desert Southwest.

Local residents sense Las Cruces is poised for a time of growth and prosperity that directly reflects the regional expansion from El Paso to the Permian Basin near Carlsbad. Sue Padilla has a clear-eyed view of how important it is to seize this moment.

“My husband and I worked hard all of our lives to get where we are today,” Padilla says. “But that wouldn’t have happened without opportunities afforded us by economic development in the region.”

Back in Hatch, Marshall Wilson breaks a pepper off a plant and enjoys an afternoon snack as he surveys the fields that have become his home and workplace. A semi-truck piled high with peppers rumbles by on the nearby highway. That’s prosperity and progress – built on a foundation of responsibly produced natural gas and oil.


Energy in Communities:
Virginia Beach, Virginia


Energy Supports Military, Empowers Shipping And Tourism Economy In Virginia’s Hampton Roads

Just footsteps from the Great Dismal Swamp in southeastern Virginia, an inconspicuous warehouse is Donnie Mills’ business headquarters. From this facility and another, both located in Suffolk, workers from Mills Marine & Ship Repair deploy to the shipyards of Hampton Roads, Virginia’s economic dynamo. They service electrical and HVAC systems, fuel tanks and more aboard commercial and military vessels, including massive U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and submarines.

“Low energy bills mean households have a better chance to thrive.”
– Esmel Meeks, Executive Director, Citizens for Energy Equity

Mills’ company is the culmination of a career of more than 30 years, linked to the water culture of Hampton Roads and its member communities – Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News and more. And everywhere you turn, abundant energy is playing important empowering roles.

An industry that supports the Navy and commercial shipping, as Mills’ company does, relies heavily on skilled workers and natural gas and oil. From the heavy machinery that shipwrights use to assemble and maneuver key parts and equipment, to the marine fuels, lubricants and other petroleum-based products, natural gas and oil help empower sea-going vessels cruising the world over, connecting the United States with important trading partners and defending American interests. For Mills, business equals opportunity.

“Ship repair and servicing is a stable industry where people can get trained without incurring any student loans or debt and make $55,000 or more working on marine hydraulics right out of high school,” he says.

Energy also is foundational for the armed forces’ sprawling regional presence, the largest concentration of military personnel outside the Pentagon. More than 75 federal facilities and defense installations.

Virginia produces the 17th most natural gas in the U.S., and these abundant, low-cost domestic energy resources are essential to the work these men and women do every day. Helping ensure the availability of that energy is a sophisticated network of pipelines, terminals and storage and distribution facilities that safely supply military installations with gasoline, jet fuel and other petroleum products.

In Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, where Virginia Beach is located, the natural gas, oil and petrochemicals industry:

$122 Million
Directly adds $122 million in labor income – wages, salaries and benefits that go to the district’s workforce
$546 Million
Indirectly supports an additional $546 million in labor income
$1.2 Billion
Directly and indirectly adds more than $1.2 billion each year to the district’s overall economy

Others recognize energy’s significance as well. Virginia Beach native Esmel Meeks says affordable domestic energy boosts the state’s economy, supports the area’s robust tourism industry and improves the overall quality of life for all Virginians – especially the commonwealth’s lower-income citizens.

“I want community leaders and those who work on behalf of our most vulnerable residents, to understand the importance of smart energy policy and what access to reliable, low-cost domestic energy means for everyone,” says Meeks, executive director of Citizens for Energy Equity, a statewide nonprofit that works to ensure Virginia energy policy remains focused on people, their families and their livelihoods.

“Low energy costs lead to price stability and job creation for businesses and industries,” Meeks says. “That translates to opportunities for families. And low energy bills mean households have a better chance to thrive. … Energy education at the community level is a must in order to move Virginia forward.”

Certainly, a part of that education is understanding the benefits that safe offshore oil and natural gas development could bring to Virginia – tens of thousands of jobs and billions in industry spending and economic contributions to the state. But only if federal offshore areas beyond Virginia’s shores are opened for development.

The benefits of abundant energy, stable energy costs and record U.S. natural gas production are seen throughout Hampton Roads.

According to Jim Kibler, president of Virginia Natural Gas (VNG), the region’s gas utility, homes and businesses throughout the area save more than $1,000 annually in energy costs. He attributes much of this to new techniques in natural gas and oil production that have helped to stabilize energy prices and support the area’s workforce.

Tourism Is Hampton Roads’ Strong Suit

Ocean beaches and history have always topped the list of attractions to the Hampton Roads region.

As an example, Kibler says VNG invested $40 million on pipeline replacement projects in 2019 and plans to invest up to $70 million annually going forward to modernize more than 453 miles of aging pipeline infrastructure through 2024.

“The 350 full-time VNG employees and nearly 600 contractors take pride in providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable natural gas to more than 300,000 customers across Coastal Virginia,” says Kibler.

And with the growing number of energy jobs comes a greater need for a skilled workforce. The utility, through its workforce training program, is tapping into the area’s large veteran population. In partnership with area colleges, Virginia Natural Gas offers a three-year training program on local campuses. Once complete, candidates can qualify for 23 credits that go toward an associate degree in industrial management.

From his Suffolk warehouse, Donnie Mills echoes Kibler’s passion to recruit and train skilled workers. “These are career opportunities that can change the trajectory of someone’s life forever,” Mills says. “The shipbuilding industry needs skilled workers and there are people in the area who need income. If we can attract more workers and fill positions, it’s a win for everyone.”

Energy Education Seen As Integral To Virginia Progress

Citizens for Energy Equity, a Virginia statewide organization, was formed in 2019 to reach and educate communities about energy policy that helps Virginians access low-cost and reliable energy.


Energy in Communities:
Eau Claire, Wisconsin


Energy Revolution Helps Set Up Eau Claire For Bright Future

When James Hanke completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire in 2001, staying around after graduation wasn’t the plan. A native of Chippewa Falls, about 20 miles to the northeast, Hanke expected his future would unfold elsewhere.

Today, Hanke’s glad he stayed – a member of Wisconsin’s “sticky population,” natives who stay put instead of migrating elsewhere – and to be part of an economic comeback in the northwestern part of the state, closely tied to another comeback: U.S. natural gas and oil.

“We weathered the recession thanks to the energy projects that created jobs and opportunities.”
– Terry Hayden, President, Wisconsin Pipe Trades Association

“America’s natural gas and oil renaissance catapulted the region’s industrial sand mine industry, and in turn, created a path for economic stability and ultimately, growth for Market & Johnson, our employees and workers across a number of sectors,” Hanke says.

Abundant domestic natural gas and oil are economically empowering well beyond the industry itself – as fuel for transportation or power generation, as a component in materials that make Americans’ lives more comfortable, as building blocks for manufacturing processes and more. Natural gas and oil are the leading energy sources that drive the United States’ 21st-century economy.

Western Wisconsin is home to some of the best industrial sand quarries in the country. Market & Johnson helped build processing facilities in states across the U.S. where hydraulic fracturing has been used to develop natural gas and oil. Eau Claire sand is used in the majority of the shale plays in North Dakota, Oklahoma and Texas.

Frac sand mining and other industries associated with natural gas and oil have helped transform Eau Claire, a relatively quiet, small Wisconsin town of just under 68,000. Today, the “Indie Capital of the Midwest” is varied and vibrant, attracting indie music lovers, foodies and fans of locally brewed beers.

Eau Claire’s unemployment rate is under 3%, and the median family income tops $76,500 (compared to about $76,400 nationally). The cost of living index is 93.9 – compared to the national average and the Twin Cities’ index of 105 in 2018.

Benn Haas, owner of The Plus, a popular bar downtown, has seen Eau Claire’s thriving economy benefit small business owners like himself. During the 1980s, large shopping malls drew people out of the city center, putting a damper on small businesses. But the city, reinvigorated as it helped support production of U.S. energy, worked to bring people back downtown.

In Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, home to Eau Claire, the natural gas, oil and petrochemicals industry:

19,960 Jobs
Supports 19,960 jobs – almost 5% of the district’s overall employment
$1.5 Billion
Directly and indirectly adds more than $1.5 billion each year to the district economy

Haas was part of the area’s revitalization. In addition to The Plus, he also owns an arts supply store, a framing store, a tea shop and a cupcake shop, and he lives in and leases the apartments above The Plus. His next venture? “A restaurant,” he says, “but only if it comes with a parking lot.”

Terry Hayden, president of the Wisconsin Pipe Trades Association, credits Eau Claire’s transformation to a mix of private and public investments, including natural gas and oil.

Clean, Affordable Energy For Northwestern Wisconsin

The Chippewa Valley Energy co-op provides propane fuel, heating oil and lubricants to the Eau Claire area – places including Black River Falls, Menomonie, Hudson and Barron. The co-op’s Barry Hines says its “follow the farmer” program supplies propane and diesel directly to farmers, which has helped expand the customer base.

“It’s heartwarming to see that Eau Claire has gone from being simply a good place to live to a city people are drawn to with so much to do,” says Hayden.

Nearby Chippewa Valley Technical College has 18,000 students enrolled in associate degree, technical diploma or vocational continuing education programs to support the area’s demand for manufacturing, distribution and other skilled laborers.

“We weathered the recession thanks to the energy projects that created jobs and the opportunity for young people to come into our industry,” says Hayden. “These are lifelong careers that provide a good life in Wisconsin, and it’s important to us to provide training resources to prepare them for a bright future.”