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The Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA): Providing Opportunities

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Nearly 1.3 million job opportunities are projected in the oil and natural gas and petrochemical industries through 2030, and minority workers represent a critically vital and available talent pool to help meet the demands of the projected growth and expansion, according to the American Petroleum Institute (API), the only national trade association that represents all aspects of America’s oil and natural gas industry.

Published

4 years ago

July 12, 2019

Oakland Post

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

The Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA), a statewide trade association representing every facet of the Texas oil and natural gas industry including small independents and major producers, has for 100 years lived up to its mission of promoting a robust oil and natural gas industry while advocating for sound, science-based policies and free-market principles.

Today, the association says that all 10 sectors of the Texas oil and natural gas industry – from production, to pipelines to refineries – supported 348,570 direct jobs last year.

Those workers earned an average of about $130,000 a year – which was 2.3 times the average pay in other private sectors.

It’s those facts that underscore why many – including African Americans and Latinos – are turning to the oil and natural gas industry for careers they know will pay family-sustaining wages.

Nearly 1.3 million job opportunities are projected in the oil and natural gas and petrochemical industries through 2030, and minority workers represent a critically vital and available talent pool to help meet the demands of the projected growth and expansion, according to the American Petroleum Institute (API), the only national trade association that represents all aspects of America’s oil and natural gas industry.

The industry continuously seeks ways to better diversify its employment makeup, TXOGA said.

The increased implementation of diversity and inclusion programs explain why nationally, African American and Hispanic workers are projected to account for close to 25 percent of new hires in management, business and financial jobs through 2035.

“The oil and natural gas industry provides some of the most high-paying, desirable jobs that offer great benefits and the opportunity to make a difference, and the employees of the Texas oil and natural gas industry are making life better for people here and across the world,” said TXOGA President Todd Staples.

“Many may not know the level of technological innovation and sophistication of the industry or the fact that oil and natural gas impacts nearly every aspect of modern life,” Staples said.

“Oil and natural gas are the building blocks of 96% of the everyday essentials we use. From cell phones and computers, to cosmetics and clothing, to medical devices and contact lenses, the list is lengthy,” Staples said.

“Ingenuity and innovation are increasing efficiency and companies are investing billions of dollars in advanced technologies that are protecting and improving our environment and, with expanded exports of LNG, other countries are improving their air by using more natural gas for electricity,” he said.

But the industry isn’t just made up of the engineers who help make these accomplishments possible. The job opportunities vary widely and require diverse backgrounds including attorneys, architects, truck drivers, welders, carpenters, accountants and human resources specialists, to name a few.

“Whether you specialize in business development, chemistry, construction or public relations, there’s an opportunity for almost every type of background in the oil and natural gas industry,” Staples said.

Collectively, the membership of TXOGA produces in excess of 90 percent of Texas’ crude oil and natural gas, operates over 80 percent of the state’s refining capacity, and is responsible for the vast majority of the state’s pipelines.

In fiscal year 2018, the oil and natural gas industry paid just over $14 billion in state and local taxes and state royalties, funding Texas schools, roads and first responders.

Lee Warren of Marathon Oil, an independent global energy company specializing in exploration and production and a member company of TXOGA, said diversity of background, experiences and thought among the workforce is critical to their success.

Warren said the percentage of minorities among their total staff increased to 33.3% in 2018, and Marathon Oil will continue to focus on ways to improve those metrics even more in the future.

“Many Marathon Oil jobs, including the majority of our leadership positions, require a degree in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects,” Warren said.

“We broaden the pool of diverse job candidates by reaching out to local student chapters of the Society of Women Engineers, the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, LGBTQ Engineers and other organizations. We also use digital methods to recruit at approximately 17 universities to reach diverse job candidates,” she said.

The company also awards scholarships to increase the number of qualified diverse hires in the U.S.

In 2018, Marathon Oil funded college scholarships totaling $280,000 for students to study core disciplines and that included approximately $150,000 for diverse students with a record of academic excellence studying engineering and geosciences at the University of Texas, Texas A&M University and the University of Houston.

In addition to college recruiting, Marathon Oil continues to look for ways to hire, retain and promote more women and under-represented minorities.

Marathon Oil partners with organizations such as Women in Energy, Pink Petro, Hispanic Alliance for Career Advancement (HACE) and Human Rights Campaign to make their members aware of career opportunities with Marathon Oil, Warren said.

“These relationships also give our employees networking and professional development opportunities. For example, we hosted the 2018 Mujeres de HACE Leadership Program and 2019 HACE Executive Leadership tour, where several Marathon Oil Hispanic leaders were among a diverse group that participated in leadership and career development conversations,” Warren said.

“Additionally, when two of our senior executives were recognized as Savoy Magazine’s Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America in 2018, it created ongoing career development and professional networking opportunities for our African American employees. Marathon Oil employees also attended an African American Executive Leadership Council event,” she said.

Further, Texas energy producers are fueling education with oil and natural gas industry dollars — the state received about $2 billion in royalties in 2018 — paid into Texas’ Permanent School Fund and Permanent University Fund.

The Permanent School Fund has reached a new high of $44 billion and is the largest educational endowment in America, according to officials.

The Texas energy industry also pays property taxes to independent school districts, accounting for billions of dollars each year for public schools in the state.

In some communities, the oil and natural gas share of the school district’s tax base tops 70, 80 and even 90 percent, according to data released annually by TXOGA.

The energy community also is cultivating the next generation of STEM graduates and skilled workers with innovative education programs and productive partnerships with some of Texas’ leading colleges and universities, TXOGA officials said.

Jobs that require STEM skills and training currently comprise 20 percent of all jobs in the U.S. economy, according to API.

Current projections anticipate that the STEM economy will grow about 9 percent between 2014 and 2024—faster than the growth rate projected for all other occupations.

As an industry that supports 7.6 percent of the U.S economy and 10.3 million American jobs, many of which are STEM jobs, the oil and natural gas industry has a great interest in better understanding and promoting the relationship between STEM education and employment, officials said.

In addition to the millions of jobs already supported by the industry, IHS projects that through 2035 nearly 1.9 million direct job opportunities will be available in the oil and natural gas and petrochemical industries.

“These achievements and opportunities represent more than bragging rights,” Staples said.

“The women and men who work in the Texas oil and natural gas industry are growing our economy, funding our schools, building our roads, and most importantly, they’re securing our future,” he said.

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WATCH LIVE! — NNPA 2023 National Leadership Awards Reception

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Welcome to the NNPA 2023 National Leadership Awards Reception
The post WATCH LIVE! — NNPA 2023 National Leadership Awards Reception first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

5 days ago

September 22, 2023

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The post WATCH LIVE! — NNPA 2023 National Leadership Awards Reception first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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OP-ED: Delivering Climate Resilience Funding to Communities that Need it the Most

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Just last month, FEMA announced nearly $3 billion in climate mitigation project selections nationwide to help communities build resilience through its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) national competition and Flood Mitigation Assistance program. In total, more than 50% of these projects will benefit disadvantaged communities, and in particular, 70% of BRIC projects will do the same.
The post OP-ED: Delivering Climate Resilience Funding to Communities that Need it the Most first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

5 days ago

September 22, 2023

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By Erik A. Hooks, FEMA Deputy Administrator

We know that disasters do not discriminate. Yet, recovery from the same event can be uneven from community to community, perpetuating pre-existing inequalities. Recognizing these disparities, FEMA and the entire Biden-Harris Administration have prioritized equity when it comes to accessing federal programs and resources.

The numbers tell the story.

Just last month, FEMA announced nearly $3 billion in climate mitigation project selections nationwide to help communities build resilience through its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) national competition and Flood Mitigation Assistance program. In total, more than 50% of these projects will benefit disadvantaged communities, and in particular, 70% of BRIC projects will do the same.

These selections further underscore the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to equity and reaffirm FEMA’s mission of helping people before, during and after disasters, delivering funding to the communities that need it most.

Building on this momentum and our people-first approach, FEMA recently announced the initial designation of nearly 500 census tracts, which will be eligible for increased federal support to become more resilient to natural hazards and extreme weather worsened by the climate crisis. FEMA will use “Community Disaster Resilience Zone” designations to direct and manage financial and technical assistance for resilience projects nationwide, targeting communities most at risk due to climate change. More Community Disaster Resilience Zone designations, including tribal lands and territories, are expected to be announced in the fall of 2023.

These types of investments have, and will yield a significant return on investment for communities nationwide.

For example, in my home state of North Carolina, the historic community of Princeville, founded by freed African American slaves, uses BRIC funding to move vulnerable homes and critical utilities out of flood-prone areas.

In East Harlem, BRIC dollars will provide nature-based flood control solutions to mitigate the impacts of extreme rainfall events in the Clinton low-income housing community.

While we are encouraged by these investments, we know more must be done.

Not every community has the personnel, the time or the resources to apply for these federal dollars. Fortunately, FEMA offers free, Direct Technical Assistance to help under-resourced communities navigate the grant application process and get connected with critical resources. Under the leadership of FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, this assistance has been a game-changer, reducing barriers and providing even more flexible, customer-focused, tailored support to communities interested in building and sustaining successful resilience programs.

In Eastwick, Philadelphia, FEMA’s dedicated support helped the city with outreach to multiple federal agencies. Together, we built a comprehensive community-led flood mitigation strategy. When applied and implemented, this will make this community more resilient to hazards like flooding, which was negatively affecting many neighborhood blocks.

In DePue, Illinois, we worked hand-in-hand with communities to improve their ability to submit high-quality funding applications for hazard mitigation projects. We are happy to share that DePue is the first Direct Technical Assistance community to be selected in the BRIC national competition. And, we know they will not be the last. Thanks to this assistance and their ambition, DePue was awarded more than $20 million to build a new wastewater treatment plant, which will reduce flooding and raw sewage back-up into the basements of homes.

In total, our agency is working with over 70 communities, including tribal nations, to increase access to funding for mitigation projects that will make communities more livable and resilient.

With extreme weather events becoming increasingly intense and frequent due to climate change, we must keep pressing forward and continue investing in ways to better protect ourselves and our neighbors. And we are encouraged that local officials are engaging with us to learn more about the benefits of the BRIC non-financial Direct Technical Assistance initiative—just last week, we saw hundreds of participants nationwide register for a recent webinar on this important topic.

We want to see even more communities take advantage of this initiative, and, ultimately, obtain grants for innovative and forward-looking resilience projects. To that end, FEMA recently published a blog with five steps to help local communities and tribal nations learn more about the benefits of this non-financial technical assistance to access federal funding. I hope your community will take action and submit a letter of interest for this exciting opportunity and increase meaningful mitigation work throughout the country.

With the pace of disasters accelerating, communities can utilize federal resources to reduce their risk and take action to save property and lives. FEMA stands ready to be a partner and collaborator with any community that is ready to implement creative mitigation strategies and help build our nation’s resilience.

The post OP-ED: Delivering Climate Resilience Funding to Communities that Need it the Most first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Tale of Two Underground Railroad Communities

ARIZONA INFORMANT — Prior to the Civil War, many communities in the Ohio River Valley were a part of an elaborate system that provided resources and protection for enslaved persons from Southern states on their journey to freedom. Once someone crossed the Ohio River, they traveled along unknown terrain of trails to safe houses and hiding places that would become known as the Underground Railroad.
The post Tale of Two Underground Railroad Communities first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

September 20, 2023

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By Christopher J. Miller, Sr. Director of Education & Community Engagement, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Christopher J. Miller

September is International Underground Railroad Month.

This proclamation began in the State of Maryland in 2019, and now more than 11 States officially celebrate one of the most significant eras in U.S. history. With the signing of Ohio HB 340 in June 2022, Ohio became the 12^th state to designate September International Underground Railroad Month.

Many history enthusiasts and scholars hope the momentum of the proclamation spreads to other states so that all our forebears of freedom are remembered.

Examining this era, you find that the Ohio River Valley is instrumental in the many narratives of freedom seekers. These stories are critical to our understanding of race relations and civic responsibilities.

Before the Civil War, many communities in the Ohio River Valley were part of an elaborate system that provided resources and protection for enslaved persons from Southern states on their journey to freedom. Once someone crossed the Ohio River, they traveled along unknown terrain of trails to safe houses and hiding places that would become known as the Underground Railroad.

Gateway to Freedom sign

The Underground Railroad was comprised of courageous people who were held to a higher law that confronted the institution of slavery with acts of civil disobedience by helping freedom seekers elude enslavers and slave hunters and help them get to Canada.

Many communities were a force for freedom along the more than 900-mile stretch of the Ohio River Valley, but I would like to focus on two significant communities.

Southern Indiana was a major part of this history. It was originally believed that there were from Posey to South Bend, Corydon to Porter, and Madison to DeKalb County, with many stops in between.

In further examination, the Underground Railroad in Indiana was a web of trails through the forests, swamps, briars, and dirt roads. The city that is often overlooked in reflecting on the history of the Underground Railroad is New Albany, Indiana.

By 1850, New Albany was the largest city in Indiana, with a population of 8,632. Free Blacks accounted for 502 of that population. Across the river, Louisville was Kentucky’s largest city, with a population of 42,829. A quarter of the 6,687 Black population were free in Louisville.

Town Clock Church (aerial view)

Louisville and New Albany would grow to become a significant region for Underground Railroad activity. People like Henson McIntosh became a prominent community member and major Underground Railroad conductor. McIntosh was one of approximately ten Underground Railroad agents in New Albany who used their wealth and influence to impact the lives of freedom seekers crossing the Ohio River.

The Carnegie Center for Art & History is an outstanding resource that continues to preserve New Albany’s role during the Underground Railroad era. Approximately 104 miles east along the Ohio River is another institution that plays a critical role in elevating the profile of the Underground Railroad on a national scope.

Inside Town Clock Church New Albany Indiana safe house

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is located on the banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Ohio.

By 1850, Cincinnati would grow to be the 6^th largest city in the Union, with a sizable Black population.

The Freedom Center is prominently located in the heart of a historic Black community called Little Africa. Although the community no longer exists, its legacy lives on through the Freedom Center.

As with New Albany, the community that resided along the banks of the river served an important role in the story of the Underground Railroad. Little Africa was the gateway to freedom for thousands of freedom seekers escaping slavery.

Although there were Underground Railroad networks throughout the country, Ohio had the most active network of any other state, with approximately 3,000 miles of routes used by an estimated 40,000 freedom seekers that crossed through Little Africa.

Despite the growth of enslavement leading up to the Civil War, communities such as Little Africa and New Albany reveal the realities regarding race relations and a model for the dignity of human life through their respective efforts to be kind and resilient friends for the freedom seekers.

For More Information:

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center – https://freedomcenter.org/

Cincinnati Tourism – https://www.visitcincy.com/

Carnegie Center for Art & History – https://carnegiecenter.org/

Southern Indiana Tourism – https://www.gosoin.com/

The post Tale of Two Underground Railroad Communities first appeared on BlackPressUSA.