"Your Voice That Bridges The Area Communities Together."
Submitted by Seth Whitehead, Executive Director, Illinois Petroleum Resources Board
As gasoline prices soar to unprecedented levels, the narrative that oil companies are price gouging at the pump is becoming quite prevalent. But as Politico recently reported, though many are blaming oil companies for high prices, “the facts don’t back them up.”
Facts are indeed a stubborn thing. [Read more...]
Submitted by Seth Whitehead, Executive Director, Illinois Petroleum Resources Board
One of the few positive developments of 2020 was surprisingly overlooked. The United States was a net petroleum exporter for the first time since the Truman administration that year. In other words – America achieved its long-coveted goal of energy independence, an objective pursued by every president dating back to Richard Nixon. [Read more...]
By Seth Whitehead
It has been said many times before but — to the delight of Vladimir Putin and Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — remains difficult for many U.S. policymakers to grasp: reducing domestic oil production does nothing to decrease demand. Instead, it leads to increased dependence on the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Russia and other foreign sources for the oil we need. [Read more...]
By Seth Whitehead, Executive Director, Illinois Petroleum Resources Board
As America celebrates this Fourth of July weekend, it is important to remember what has made the enduring freedoms and prosperity we all enjoy possible.
It is widely understood the United States and the free world as we know it would be a much worse place if not for the nearly incomprehensible efforts and sacrifice of the Greatest Generation during World War II. But less understood is the fact that their valiant struggle to defeat the Axis Powers was literally fueled by abundant American oil – much of it produced right here in Illinois. [Read more...]
By Seth Whitehead, Executive Director, Illinois Petroleum Resources Board
Energy makes the high standard of living most Americans enjoy possible. Affordable, reliable energy is the lifeblood of our economy. And as University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology director Dr. Scott Tinker recently noted, “All forms of energy come from the earth.” It is with those fundamental facts in mind that “Keep It In the Ground” (KIITG) groups should be viewed as anti-U.S. energy. Though it is obvious traditional energy sources such as oil, natural gas and coal come from the ground, it is often overlooked that wind, solar and battery technologies would not be possible without massive mining projects. [Read more...]
Photo (l-r): Ross Basnett, Senior Petroleum Geologist for Campbell Energy, State Rep. Adam Niemerg (109th District), and Jake Campbell, President of Campbell Energy, LLC in Carmi, IL. Photo provided.
State Representative Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) met with president Jacob Campbell, and some of the personnel of Campbell Energy, LLC in Carmi in January. As a new member of the Illinois General Assembly, Rep. Niemerg is meeting with industry and community leaders around the 109th District to get updates on the health of the economy and needs of constituents and businesses. [Read more...]
Seth Whitehead, Executive Director – Illinois Petroleum Resources Board
As calls for the United States to “transition” away from oil and go 100 percent renewable gain traction, an overlooked question begs to be answered: Is a “mine, baby, mine” policy better than “drill, baby, drill”?
“Keep It In the Ground” groups, of course, are diametrically opposed to both. But ironically, should that movement’s objective of ending all U.S. oil and natural gas development and transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy become policy, an unprecedented expansion of mining will be required. And most of it will be done by China. [Read more...]
By Seth Whitehead
“Keep It In the Ground” activist groups continue to aggressively pressure lawmakers at the state and national level to mandate a rapid transition to 100 percent renewable electricity generation and an all-electric vehicle fleet. Intermittent wind and solar power are the centerpieces of this agenda, while traditional sources of energy such as oil and natural gas would supposedly be phased out completely. [Read more...]
