API Explore Offshore coalition launches Florida campaign

Explore Offshore, a coalition led by the American Petroleum Institute (API) that supports offshore natural gas and oil exploration and production, recently held its first event in Florida.

“As we plan ahead as a country, access to our offshore energy resources is a key part of the nation’s economic future and national security, and that is why I am pleased to chair the national Explore Offshore USA coalition,” Explore Offshore Co-Chairman Jim Nicholson said. “Uniting supporters from Virginia to Florida, we will continue to work to ensure access to our offshore energy resources to support reliable, affordable energy, boost national security, and assure a strong United States economy.”

Nicholson served as Secretary of Veterans Affairs during the George W. Bush Administration.

Miriam Ramirez, a former member of the Senate of Puerto Rico, and Former Florida Lieutenant Gov. Jeff Kottkamp are co-chairs of Explore Offshore Florida.

“We can support thriving tourism industries here in Florida all while developing offshore energy resources that could create high-paying jobs in our state,” Ramirez said. “We cannot take access to reliable, affordable energy for granted.”

Development in federal waters off Florida’s coast could create more than 56,000 jobs by 2035 and result in more than $2.6 billion in private investment in state revenues annually, API said. Florida is the nation’s third largest consumer of electricity and third largest consumer of motor fuels. Two-thirds of Florida’s net electricity generation is fueled by natural gas, much of which is imported from other states, API noted.