The first quarter of 2021 has brought challenges and opportunities to the oil and natural gas industry, both upstream and downstream. Many of these we were ready for, while some we could not have anticipated. I remain encouraged by our industry’s resolve in the face of hardship and our tireless dedication to providing the resources we all depend on every single day. I doubt any of us were sad to see 2020 draw to a close, but that isn’t to say when the calendar page turned, all of the problems of the previous year went with it.

On the contrary, many of the difficulties from the previous year not only persist, but new ones have emerged. As an example, the Biden Administration has made clear its goal of expediting a transition away from fossil fuels. No matter how premature and impractical we believe this transition to be, the actions taken by the Biden administration to achieve this goal will have tangible effects on us all. Each one of us, as individuals or as companies, can share our frustration with the perceived misdirection, but our disparate voices alone cannot achieve change in any meaningful way.

That’s why I am proud to be Chairman of the Utah Petroleum Association and remain active in similar organizations across the country. It is only through collective action, a spirit of cooperation, and creative partnerships that we can amplify our separate voices into one that cannot be ignored. We have a right to advocate for ourselves, and deserve to be a part of the solution — sharing our technological, environmental, and community relations breakthroughs and demanding a seat at the table as the future of our country is discussed. We are not ideological opponents with those who disagree with us; we are collaborators working toward a common solution using our savvy, our work ethic, and our community building. No matter the obstacle, we accomplish great things through collaboration, resourcefulness, and dialogue.

If you play an active role in the Utah Petroleum Association, I thank you. If you’re a member but have not joined a committee or shared some of the meaningful work your company has been doing to enhance our communications activities, I encourage you to take a more active role. If you know a company that should be a member of the Utah Petroleum Association but isn’t, pick up the phone or drop them a note and tell them to join an organization with a real purpose.

While 2020 is over, many of the challenges we faced are not and they promise to continue not only this year, but beyond. We can, and should, do good things as individuals in advocating for ourselves. But we also can, and should, contribute to lifting our voices higher and carrying our messages further using the megaphone provided by the Utah Petroleum Association and other industry organizations. I look forward to working with you all as the year unfolds. My thanks to you for helping to grow and develop this organization.