Colorado Oil and Gas Association’s (COGA) President and CEO, Tisha Conoly Schuller revved up the crowds this week at the organizations annual Rocky Mountain “Energy Epicenter”, encouraging attendees to get involved in an Energy Revolution centered around engaging the public and those outside the industry, in discussions rooted in fact. This years conference speakers delved into topics around technology, the economy and public perception, which turned out to be the perfect platform for the launch of the groups newest campaign, My Energy Truth. The campaign, which revolves around five tenants, encourages an honest and personal discussion around individual energy use that is responsible, fact-based, engaged, conscientious and localized.

The campaign is crucial as questions and public scrutiny continues to rise across the country, especially in new areas of development; speculating about the industry, its methodologies, techniques and environmental stewardship surrounding air and water quality. “The foundation of the energy revolution is the foundation of new technologies being created within the industry,” said Conoly Schuller, “It is because of these advancements that resources are more available and more abundant.”

The increased availability and abundance because of these new technologies have assisted in the rise of exploration and production in areas where there has not typically been energy development in the past. “The key component is the unknown,” said Douglas County Commissioner, Jill Repella who’s county is experiencing rapid new energy development, “It’s the pace in which development is happening and the unknown that scares people.”

Since 2000, advancements made in horizontal drilling have helped to increase oil and gas production by almost 40%. “Energy is fundamental to human existence, it is as important to all of us as clean air, water and food and none of these are exclusive from each other,” said Jim Hackett, CEO, Andarko.

The increase in production has helped to ensure a strong American energy future but it has also raised concerns with citizens and environmentalists alike about how far we will go to develop these essential resources. “Corporations influence resources and energy material flow, so we need to work with them and help them advance their conservation goals,” said Peter Kareiva, Chief Scientist of the Nature Conservancy, “I think there are enough options out there in nature and there are enough resiliencies that I believe there can be a win-win.”

The win-win attitude was shared by many at the conference who talked about their “Energy Truth” stating their concern over the non-renewable resource. Many shared that they ride their bikes often, are contentious of their thermostats and take into account simple things like turning off the lights. Others in the industry just wanted to have a truthful and engaging conversation with those that oppose the them, “Everyone should be treated with respect and deserve an answer to their concerns,” said Chesapeake Energy’s Digital Communications Manger, Blake Jackson, “We as an industry have to stay transparent. We can do so much better working together.”

Convention staff continued to urge corporations, organizations and individuals alike to take the pledge and assert their “Energy Truth”. The idea is nothing new but it is an essential reminder to people on both sides of the issue that our environment and our need for energy are both desperate and fragile. The campaign made it clear that only through engaging and thoughtful dialogues will we be able to work together to find the best path forward to secure an energy future that all of our grandchildren can be proud of.

What is your energy truth? Log on to www.MyEnergyTruth.org to take the pledge and share your truth.

In our turbulent and uncertain world, countries like China and India have emerged as nations leading the charge towards global economic growth, industrializing through fossil fuels. However, despite the emergence of these successful economies, energy poverty continues to be an issue for countries across Africa that lacks the infrastructure for even small-scale energy developments. And while the slate is clean for countries across Africa to explore the vast resources available to them, they also have to work through the challenges that those same resources pose. For this reason, academics, researchers, engineers and business leaders came together to speak to those challenges and share ideas to help create a sustainable energy future, a platform for economic development in Africa. The Global Commerce Forum’s event held in Denver challenged participants to look at potential development based on clean energy complemented by natural gas.

Unlike other countries around the world, the nations that make up Africa lack the monetary resources and the infrastructure for such development. While Africa has lots of sun and wind that blows across the open plains, they do not have manufacturing facilities, concrete plants or transportation to service such large-scale green energy developments.

There are, however, huge reserves of undiscovered and unrecovered natural gas throughout the coastal basins, North-Central Africa, the Chad Basin and through the Nile Delta. Currently, there is a lack of sub-structure for recoverable reserves but these Pre-Cambrian, Devonian and Jurassic source rocks contain huge shale gas potential. This has of course already captured the attention of multi-nationals like Chevron, Swakor (now NAMCOR), Shell and Anadarko who operate across the continent in basins like Tindouf and Karoo that are comparable to the United States’ Barnett and Marcellus shales respectively.

Even with these large-scale operations headed by powerful companies, Africa with its assessed reserves still only has 52 land rigs, 26 off-shore rigs and only five new proposed facilities to produce conventional oil but not unconventional. The climate for new wells however looks slow to change, especially with regulatory issues from geopolitical influences plaguing various areas along with local concern for surface and ground water contamination. But even these challenges can be worked through with proper education regarding the existing technology and techniques.

The real challenge is the water resource conundrum, especially as it pertains to hydraulic fracturing which requires huge amounts of water reserves as well as recycling. Because of the operation locations, there is limited access not just to water but water infrastructure and the availability of the markets that would access such gas. Add in the cost of transportation and the vision seems almost insurmountable.

“Natural gas isn’t the solution, it is the foundation,” said Paula Gant, VP of Regulatory Affairs for the American Gas Association. With the help of small-scale renewables, cities and towns can experience some power where there was not any before while large-scale traditional energy development by large multi-nationals such as Chevron, Shell, Anadarko and NAMCOR can help to advance infrastructure through private funding.

One thing is clear, without an energy policy of our own, advancing one for another continent does not seem logical. The people of Africa have shown that they are strong, they are resilient and they are proud. They do not need a handout, they need a hand up, “Africa needs investment and Africans need jobs. Jobs are created by business, not charity,” said John Coors, Chairman, President and CEO of CoorsTek. “If money was the issue for these people than the problem of poverty would have been solved.”

The shale is there. The demand is high. The people need work. The real question is, how do we support businesses to create jobs and help to build the local African economy? Until then, according to the International Energy Agency, tonight when the sun goes down in Africa, roughly 587 million people will be left in the dark.