--- title: "State of American Energy: Oil Industry Group Tips Hat to Renewables" id: "26746" type: "post" slug: "state-of-american-energy-oil-industry-group-tips-hat-to-renewables" published_at: "2015-01-09T21:48:37+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T17:53:19+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2015/01/09/state-of-american-energy-oil-industry-group-tips-hat-to-renewables/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2015/01/09/state-of-american-energy-oil-industry-group-tips-hat-to-renewables.md" excerpt: "The American Petroleum Institute’s latest State of American Energy report isn’t just focused on the fundamentals this time around. The report gives significant air to wind, solar, and other kinds of energy beyond fossil fuels—complete with the help of organizations..." taxonomy_category: - "Advocacy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "energy" - "industry collaboration" - "Leadership" - "renewals" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » State of American Energy: Oil Industry Group Tips Hat to Renewables For a report published by the oil industry’s leading trade group, [the 2015 “State of American Energy” report (opens in a new tab)](http://www.api.org/~/media/files/policy/soae-2015/api-2015-soae-report.pdf) [PDF] sure gives a lot of attention to alternative fuel sources. In fact, about 40 percent of the American Petroleum Institute’s 50-page report covers energy types as diverse as solar, wind, nuclear, geothermal, hydropower, and even biomass. Associations that represent each of these sectors, such as the Nuclear Energy Institute, the National Hydropower Association, and the Biomass Power Association, get a chance to make the case for their respective industries in the API report. > This is an important development. It’s a clear recognition by the oil and gas industry that solar is now a mainstream energy source and an important part of America’s energy future. It’s an unexpected move for an association that [once got into a virtual pumpkin-carving contest](http://associationsnow.com/2013/10/light-em-up-oil-industry-carves-out-space-in-pumpkin-pr-battle/) with the Department of Energy after the agency slighted the oil industry in a series of jack-o’-lantern stencils. (Seriously, this happened.) But API says recognizing the role of alternative fuels in America’s energy ecosystem makes sense within its overall mission. “Rather than focus solely on the oil and natural gas industry, API this year is pleased to partner with organizations representing various energy sectors to highlight the contributions of each toward America’s current and future economic well-being, and collectively stress the importance of adopting a lasting ‘all of the above’ energy strategy,” API’s president and CEO, Jack Gerard, wrote in the report’s introduction. The strategy was welcomed by many of the associations that took part, including [the Solar Energy Industries Association (opens in a new tab)](http://www.seia.org/news/solar-featured-new-state-american-energy-report) (SEIA) and the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). “This is an important development. It’s a clear recognition by the oil and gas industry that solar is now a mainstream energy source and an important part of America’s energy future,” SEIA Vice President of Communications Ken Johnson [told the ECOreport. (opens in a new tab)](http://www.theecoreport.com/surprises-in-the-apis-state-of-american-energy-report/) AWEA noted the contrast between [API’s 2014 report (opens in a new tab)](http://www.api.org/~/media/files/policy/soae-2014/api-2014-state-of-american-energy-report.pdf) [PDF] and this year’s edition. “API, in its annual State of American Energy report, included an entire section on wind written by the American Wind Energy Association,” [AWEA’s Shauna Theel wrote on the association’s blog (opens in a new tab)](http://aweablog.org/blog/post/american-petroleum-institute-includes-wind-in-its-annual-energy-report-for-first-time) . “In contrast, API’s 2014 State of American Energy report did not mention ‘wind’ once.” Gerard said this shift was by design: The goal of the 2015 report is to show the great diversity of energy options the U.S. has to offer. “Energy is inseparable from America’s economic growth and job creation, upon which rests a thriving quality of life and secure future for generations to come,” Gerard wrote. “The constant pursuit of innovation, driven by both robust competition and entrepreneurial spirit, has enabled the United States to safely develop a spectrum of energy resources.” (iStock/Thinkstock) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. 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