Efforts continue in Utah and beyond to combat the war against American petroleum, something that many state and local leaders are engaged in. This month, the Governor’s Energy Advisor and Executive Director of the Office of Energy Development, Thom Carter, spent two days in the Uintah Basin meeting with the Duchesne and Uintah County Commissioners as well as a number of oil and gas producers. “As the Energy Advisor my goal is to get out into rural Utah and listen to the people, understand what is going on there, really hear the issues, the headwinds, and find out what we can do to be part of the solution,” shares Carter, who emphasized that their office is very concerned about the Biden Administration’s approach to energy and the idea that keeping oil in the ground won’t have serious consequences. “Everything in your life is made out of a petroleum product,” says Carter, “but there is a disconnect [with those] that think if we just shut off drilling and mining it won’t significantly change their way of life, but it will.” Carter added that it isn’t just a matter of lifestyle but taking away American petroleum also becomes a matter of national security when relying on other countries for our petroleum. “We need to focus and maintain energy independence and the Uintah Basin is key to energy independence and we appreciate that,” concluded Carter. “That is why we are taking time out there to understand the headwinds and be sure we can be helpful.”
