DNC Keynote Speakers Tout U.S. Oil & Gas
If Democratic policymakers want to ‘build back better’ while also keeping the lights on, they’ll want to support the continued development of America’s vast natural gas and oil resources, which provides reliable, affordable, and cleaner energy.
Democratic leaders like former President Barack Obama – who received a 97% favorability rating in 2018 among self-identified Democrats – and several other keynote speakers at this year’s Democratic National Convention have advocated for U.S. natural gas and oil, with some encouraging its growth to help lower household energy bills, reduce emissions, and create new American jobs.
These party leaders aren’t alone in their support either. New polling shows Americans also recognize the value of natural gas and oil in their lives, and most support political candidates who advocate for ongoing domestic energy production. Democratic, Republican and independent voters all agree that natural gas and oil will remain essential to the U.S. energy mix over the next few decades.
Please see below for a roundup of several keynote DNC speakers advocating for natural gas and oil (in order of scheduled speaking slot).
WATCH: Bill Clinton: “The CO2 emissions for gas are half of what they are for coal, and the U.S. has made the biggest gains in greenhouse gas reductions of any major economy in the last few years because primarily of shutting down coal plants and burning natural gas.” (Remarks at Peterson Foundation Holds 2013 Fiscal Summit, 5/7/13)
- WATCH: Bill Clinton: “The president’s energy strategy, which he calls ‘all of the above,’ is helping too. The boom in oil and gas production, combined with greater energy efficiency, has driven oil imports to a near-20- year low and natural gas production to an all-time high.” (Remarks at the Democratic National Convention, 9/5/12)
Speaker Nancy Pelosi: “Natural gas is a cleaner, all-American, domestic source of energy….” (PBS, The Charlie Rose Show, 10/16/08) TIMESTAMP: [00:43:30 – 00:43:49]
WATCH: Hillary Clinton: “The boom in domestic gas production is an example of American innovation changing the game, and if we do it right, it can be good for both the environment and our economy.” (Hillary Clinton, Remarks at Harry Reid’s National Clean Energy Summit, Las Vegas, NV, 9/4/14)
- Clinton: Natural gas production “is creating tens of thousands of new jobs and lower [energy] costs are helping give the United States a big competitive advantage” (id.)
- Clinton: Increased natural gas and oil production is “also reducing our dependence on foreign oil and freeing up supplies elsewhere. That enables us to help out, for example, European allies lessen their dependence on Russian energy.” (id.)
WATCH: Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM): Natural gas and oil production has put New Mexico in a “very good situation” with “significant resources” to fund free college tuition and “I have no doubt this will change the dynamic of New Mexico forever.” (MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” 9/30/19)
WATCH: Former President Barack Obama: “The development of natural gas will create jobs and power trucks and factories that are cleaner and cheaper, proving that we don’t have to choose between our environment and our economy.” (State of the Union, Washington, DC, 1/24/12)
- Obama: “We’ve got to tap into this natural gas revolution that’s bringing energy costs down in this country, which means manufacturers now want to locate here because they’re thinking that we’ve got durable, reliable supplies of energy.” (Remarks, Jacksonville, FL, 7/25/13) TIMESTAMP: [14:49 – 15:03]
- WATCH: Obama: “And nowhere is the promise of innovation greater than in American-made energy. Over the last three years, we’ve opened millions of new acres for oil and gas exploration, and tonight, I’m directing my administration to open more than 75 percent of our potential offshore oil and gas resources. Right now – right now – American oil production is the highest that it’s been in eight years. That’s right – eight years. Not only that – last year, we relied less on foreign oil than in any of the past 16 years.” (State of the Union, Washington, DC, 1/24/12)
- WATCH: Obama: “We produce more natural gas than ever before – and nearly everyone’s energy bill is lower because of it. And over the last four years, our emissions of the dangerous carbon pollution that threatens our planet have actually fallen.” (State of the Union, Washington, DC, 2/12/13)