Industry hosts Oil and Gas Day at Capitol

More than 300 supporters of Louisiana’s oil and gas sector gathered on the Capitol grounds Monday for an event aimed at promoting the industry.

The Oil & Gas Industry Day featured appearances by two of the state’s four gubernatorial candidates along with industry leaders. Supporters, workers and leaders from Louisiana’s energy industry wore green “Stand Up for Energy Jobs” shirts at the event held at the Pentagon Barracks courtyard just outside the state Capitol.

The event was hosted by the Grow Louisiana Coalition, Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association and the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association. The Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce was one of several partners who helped with the event.

Candidates for governor, U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., and Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, spoke at the event.

Marc Ehrhardt, executive director of the Grow Louisiana Coalition, said Monday marked a milestone for the coalition, which signed its 10,000th member at the event. He also said the people and businesses who support the oil and gas industry wanted to demonstrate the positive economic impact the sector has on the state.

“The oil and gas industry is the family living next door to you,” Ehrhardt said. “There are oil and gas professionals working in every parish of the state. Collectively the people of Louisiana oil and gas industry earn more than $20 billion a year. We must protect them and grow our industry here.”