Two news stories over the past week have shed new light on how important it is for those of us in energy to speak loudly and proudly about the good work we do.
First, outdoor recreation company The North Face reportedly turned down an order from Innovex Downhole Solutions because it did not want to support an oil and gas business. (The company acknowledged to Snopes that it did not fulfill the order but did not say why.)
As you may have seen on LinkedIn, I was among those calling on The North Face’s corporate leadership to avoid taking an obtuse view. Businesses of all kinds should work with energy companies and their people on joint goals rather than shun them.
Second, you may have seen backlash on inaugural festivities.
What do these stories have in common? They speak to the false impression that people across the country and around the world have of our industry. Most people still don’t know that oil and gas companies are some of the biggest investors in renewable energy. That they consider decarbonization fundamental to their immediate growth. That Texas is producing more energy from renewable sources than from carbon, and the most wind energy of any state. (For more on this, see my recent piece in USA Today.)
For far too long, we as an industry have been too insular when it comes to our work cultures and storytelling. We have failed to communicate about what we’re up to and where we stand. As Sproule’s Deb Ryan, one of the Top Energy Voices of 2020, said at one of our events this year, we as an industry “are not good advocates for what we do.”
It leads to parts of the energy industry being villainized rather than welcome to the table in discussing solutions to move toward decarbonization. And it makes bad actors (like those who would use images of real women in presenting fake identities) seem representative of the sector.
Across this industry, all those of us committed to an equitable energy transition are allies. We’re coming together on the ALLY platform to share knowledge, ideas, career opportunities, connections, and more. We’re discussing racial justice, equity, ESG and much more.
Be sure to check out our new podcast, The Voices of Energy. And participate in our live virtual events, where you can share your views and ask questions from experts.
In the year ahead, let’s resolve to be proactive in projecting the reality of our industry to people across the country and around the world. We power people’s lives -- and together, we can all be part of building a better, stronger future.