The Mission of the Alliance..
CNG Workshop
Lafayette Chamber Recieves National Recognition
Congratulations to the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce for being recognized by the US Chamber as the 2011 Chamber of the Year!
Meeting August 25th on I-49
The Future of I-49 South
Thursday, August 25th, 2011
7:00 AM
Click here for meeting details and registration information.
States of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi File Motion to Intervene in Support of Deepwater Drilling Plan
The Gulf Economic Survival Team (GEST) today applauded the States of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, for seeking to intervene in lawsuits filed by environmental groups that challenge Shell’s Appomattox Exploration Plan to drill a deepwater well in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Shell plan was approved following the lifting of the 2010 deepwater drilling moratorium and the implementation of new federal plan and permit requirements. Several environmental groups have sued the federal government over the approved plan, contending that the BOEMRE violated existing environmental law when approving the plan, and the groups have requested that the plan be sent back to the agency for further review.
“While the lawsuit attacks Shell’s approved plan only, we recognize the huge implications it could have on many other approved and pending plans for drilling in the Gulf, and on our ability as a nation to get back to work with American energy. This lawsuit could have cascading impacts and potentially shut down oil and gas activities in the Gulf of Mexico, similar to what was experienced with the moratorium a year ago. American workers cannot afford any more unreasonable setbacks,” says GEST Executive Director Lori LeBlanc.
“GEST was pleased to be able to work with Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and LA DNR Secretary Scott Angelle to secure Louisiana’s commitment to intervene in the lawsuit, and we commend them for their leadership in reaching out to the States of Alabama and Mississippi to publicly issue their joint support of the Shell plan. They all clearly understand the economic consequences this region and nation will face if this misguided legal challenge manages to further delay the resumption of safe and responsible drilling in the Gulf,” she concludes.
According to the states’ motion to intervene, “Thousands of Louisiana businesses and citizens depend on OCS exploration, development and production for their livelihoods, and OCS operations are a leading driver of Louisiana’s economy. Given the substantial economic benefits that Alabama and Louisiana derive from Gulf of Mexico OCS exploration and production, both states have a profound interest in this action that seeks to stop, or at least curtail indefinitely, OCS drilling activities.”
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GEST is an independent non-profit group that serves as a liaison between industry, state and local government, and the federal government in an effort to resolve federal permitting issues that are delaying a return to drilling in the Gulf. GEST is headquartered in the South Louisiana Economic Council on the campus of Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. Website: www.GulfEconomicSurvival.org.
EXXONMOBIL Discoveries Show Value of Getting Back to Work with American Energy
ExxonMobil Discoveries Show Value of Getting Back to Work with American Energy - June 8, 2011
Exxon Mobil Corporation today announced two major oil discoveries and a gas discovery in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico after drilling the company's first post-moratorium deepwater exploration well. Following is a statement from Gulf Economic Survival Team (GEST) Executive Director Lori LeBlanc on this significant development in the group's efforts to get this nation Back to Work with American Energy:
ExxonMobil's discoveries confirm the tremendous value of the Gulf as our nation's domestic energy resource, and the need for a full return to safe drilling and production of American oil and gas.
It is also a victory for the Gulf Economic Survival Team under the leadership of LA DNR Secretary Scott Angelle, as we have worked for the past year with industry, community leaders and federal officials to get this nation Back to Work with American Energy. We are pleased that our ongoing discussions and meetings with the BOEMRE yielded an approved permit for ExxonMobil and, ultimately, this significant post-moratorium discovery.
However, while GEST has made significant headway in our push for plan and permit approvals, our work is not done. With only 15 deepwater permits approved by BOEMRE since the lifting of the moratorium last October, resumption of full Gulf of Mexico energy production continues to lag more than a year after the moratorium was announced, and our small businesses and coastal communities continue to feel the economic impacts.
GEST will continue our aggressive efforts to clarify new plan and permit requirements and streamline the review process in order to get this nation Back to Work with American Energy. As ExxonMobil's announcement proves, the timely issuance of drilling permits is critical to America's energy future.
visit: www.GulfEconomicSurvival.com
Register by May 10 for Acadiana Day at State Capitol
U.S. Losing $4.7M a day from permitting lag
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 27, 2011 -
U.S. losing $4.7M a day from permitting lag, group says
April 27, 2011
Greenwire
By Phil Taylor
Research by a Dallas-based research group found that declining oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico and a lull in new drilling permits is costing the United States $4.7 million a day in mineral revenues.
The briefing released today by the National Center for Policy Analysis blames the losses on declining production at existing wells and bureaucratic delays on new exploration but warns that the losses will increase the longer the United States waits to issue new offshore leases.
The group cites estimates by the federal Energy Information Administration that Gulf oil production will decline by 240,000 barrels a day this year. With oil selling at $100 a barrel and producers typically paying an 18.75 percent royalty, the United States is losing $4.7 million a day, which would amount to $1.7 billion over the year, the group found.
"While President Obama says he supports deficit reduction, his administration's policies are only contributing to the country's deficit problem," report author and NCPA adjunct scholar Rob Bluey said. "Every day the Obama administration delays new oil drilling, the federal government loses more oil company revenue that could be used to reduce state, federal and local deficits."
Bluey is also director of the Center for Media and Public Policy at the Heritage Foundation.
The report also warns that the lack of new leases means the government will collect less in rent payments, which generate more than $200 million a year.
The Interior Department since February has issued at least 10 new deepwater permits for exploration activity that was banned under a now-lifted moratorium imposed in the aftermath of last April's BP PLC Deepwater Horizon disaster. The moratorium allowed Interior to establish critical safety regulations to protect workers and the environment from another blowout, officials have said.
Interior last week said it plans to hold its first lease sale after the BP spill in the western Gulf by the end of the year (E&ENews PM, April 19).
The NCPA briefing also takes a swipe at an Obama administration proposal to raise inspection fees and charge nonproducing lease holders to raise money for more inspectors and agency resources. The group suggests additional revenue from expanded production would be ample to cover the costs.
"The income from new lease sales, rents and royalties would be more than enough to pay for new offshore oil rig inspections," the group notes. "President Obama's 2012 budget proposal estimates the fees would generate about $65 million -- significantly less than the amount the federal government could collect by simply boosting Gulf of Mexico production to last year's levels."
Click here to read the brief analysisRandy Haynie on Upcoming Legislative Session _Register Now
Planning for the Future- October 2010 Strategic Planning Session
ARA Exec Summary Report 2010-10-20.pdf
Register Now for Quarterly Meeting September 16
For the lastest news on the moratorium go to ....
POSITIVE NEWS!!
U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman of New Orleans has blocked the six-month offshore drilling moratorium imposed by President Obama. Feldman says in his ruling that the Interior Department failed to provide adequate reasoning for the moratorium. (View complete judgment on www.GEST.la.gov).
Our voices are being heard loud and clear. We need to continue sending this message to President Obama and Secretary Salazar.
We must move forward as a team, so please continue to support our efforts to preserve the economy of "America’s Energy Coast!" Our petition is still accepting supporters, so don't stop now!
We are constantly adding the most up to date information to our website: www.GEST.la.gov. Your support is so important to the success of our mission.
Thank you for your continued support,
Scott A. Angelle
Lt. Governor of Louisiana
Gulf Economic Survival Team
Media Summary
Quarterly Membership Meeting
June 17, 2010
Media Summary
Print & Internet
The Daily Advertiser – 6/18/10
http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20100618/NEWS18/6180335/-1/news18/Angelle-argues-drilling-embargo
LA Newslink – 6/18/10
http://www.lanewslink.com/archives.php?id=18105#story
IndiaTimes – 6/18/10
http://iplextra.indiatimes.com/quote/04YRaiXbiq8t3?q=White+House
KATC Ch. 3 Lafayette – 6/17/10
http://www.katc.com/news/lt-governor-addresses-moratorium-in-lafayette/
KLFY Ch. 10 Lafayette – 6/17/10
http://www.klfy.com/Global/story.asp?s=12669708
The Shreveport Times – 6/17/10
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/DG/20100617/NEWS01/100617014/Lt-Gov-Angelle-Moratorium-won-t-last-six-months
1012 Corridor – 6/16/10
http://www.1012corridor.com/archives/1012-corridor-weekly/latest/
Crowley Post Signal – 6/15/10
http://www.crowleytoday.com/content/angelle-discuss-moratorium-impact-acadiana
The Independent – 6/15/10
http://www.theind.com/business/6413-angelle-speaking-on-moratorium-thursday
KBZE/KFRE – 6/14/10
http://kbzenews.blogspot.com/2010/06/breakfast-meeting-this-thursday.html
KATC – 6/14/10
http://www.katc.com/news/moratorium-meeting-open-to-public/
Video
KLFT Ch. 10 Lafayette – 6/17/10
http://www.klfy.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=4878192&h1=Lt.%20Governor%20in%20Lafayette&vt1=v&at1=News - Hard News&d1=96100&LaunchPageAdTag=News - Hard News&activePane=info&rnd=66298513
KATC Ch. 3 Lafayette – 6/17/10
http://www.katc.com/player/?video_id=3419&zone=4&categories=4
KATC Ch. 3 Lafayette – 6/14/10
http://www.katc.com/player/?video_id=3394&zone=4&categories=4
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EXECUTIVE BOARD
Acadia Parish
The City of Crowley
Allison Clarke, Quality Manager
(337) 783-0824
Ali.clarke@crowley.la.com
Iberia Parish
Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce
Janet Faulk, President/CEO
(337) 364-1836
janet@iberiachamber.org
Acadiana Regional Airport
Jason Devillier, Airport Director
(337)-365-7202
jdevillier@iberiagov.net
Jeff Davis Parish
Jeff Davis Economic Dev. &
Tourist Commission
Marion Fox, LCTP
(337) 821-5534
marionfox@jeffdavis.org
Lafayette Parish
Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce
Bruce Conque, VP Marketing & Gov. Relations
(337) 408-3653
bconque@lafchamber.org
Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce
Nicole DesOrmeaux
Communications Director
(337) 408-3656
Nicole@lafchamber.org
Saint Landry Parish
Retired LA DOTD District Engineer
Bill Fontenot
(337) 280-8982
billfont@charter.net
Saint Martin Parish
Breaux Bridge Chamber of Commerce
Tina Begnaud, Director
337 332-5406
info@breauxbridgelive.com
St. Mary Parish
St. Mary Parish Government,
Economic Development
Frank G. Fink, Director
337-828-4100-ext. 340
ffink@stmaryparishla.gov
St. Mary Chamber of Commerce
Donna Meyer, Executive Director
985-384-3830
info@stmarychamber.com
Vermilion Parish
Greater Abbeville-Vermilion Chamber of Commerce
Lynn Guillory, Executive Director
337-893-2491 (Phone)
lynn@abbevillechamber.com
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