This week, we explore the last step in TEA’s Common Sense Energy Agenda: Expand energy technical trades education and training programs.

Why does it matter?  The U.S. oil and natural gas industry supports 10.9 million American jobs, and it is a great source of good-paying jobs. To realize affordable energy independence we need to fill thousands of jobs waiting for Americans to roll up their sleeves and get to work. Education, training, and the upskilling of American workers will impact positively millions of our families, friends and communities directly and ultimately every American will benefit through a prosperous economy fueled by affordable energy.

Joe Biden’s, Chuck Schumer’s, and Nancy Pelosi’s promises of jobs in the China supply chain dependent renewable industries such as wind, solar, and electric vehicles are misleading and a disservice to American labor unions and their promises of high paying jobs. The best energy jobs for American workers are in the American oil and gas industries:

• A July 2020 survey of both union and non-union tradespeople reported that oil and gas jobs “have better wages, benefits and opportunities than renewables projects.”

•  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the oil and gas industry consistently provides an average annual salary over $100,000, well above the national average.
• The North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) estimates that many union members would “take a 50% or 75% pay cut” if they changed jobs into the renewable energy industry.
• Wind, solar, and electric vehicle technologies and projects are heavily subsidized by taxpayers funds, production and/or investment tax credits. They would have a very hard time to survive without such assistance. Jobs in a fundamentally money-losing industry that cannot stay afloat without heavy subsidies is not the best job security one could wish to start a career and hope to retire in.

Finally, recall what you paid at the gasoline pump, at the grocery store, or your last utility bill versus what you paid in 2019. Biden’s, Schumer’s, and Pelosi’s war on American energy from January 20, 2021, is a huge cause of it.  Learn more about why American natural gas is the world’s most affordable and reliable green energy here.