LMOGA Launches New Offshore Committee to Support and Promote Gulf of Mexico Energy Activity

BATON ROUGE--Recognizing the tremendous national and state economic significance of energy development in the Gulf of Mexico, the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association (LMOGA) is launching a new Offshore Committee to promote Gulf energy production and advocate for industry’s continued responsible development of our valuable domestic energy resources.

LMOGA Chairman Jim Hutchison announced the new offshore initiative, to be coordinated by consultant Lori LeBlanc of Lori LeBlanc, LLC, at the association’s annual meeting on February 19 in New Orleans.

“The Gulf is America’s energy workhorse, and its economic impacts are astounding. Thirty percent of our nation’s domestic oil is produced in the Gulf of Mexico and energy activity in the Gulf contributes $5 - $8 billion per year to the U.S. Treasury. Gulf energy production creates jobs in every state, and it yields an economic impact of $44.3 billion on Louisiana alone,” says Hutchison. “To continue this great success story, its imperative that we increase our outreach efforts with federal leaders and have a seat at the table when key policy decisions are being made”

The LMOGA Offshore Committee will focus on policy, partnership, public input, and positive communication as it works to support and promote oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico. Activities will include developing and maintaining relationships with federal policymakers and Congressional members; monitoring and commenting on federal rules that impact Gulf development; collaborating with members, other trade associations and other Gulf Coast states on energy policy initiatives; and communicating the significance of Gulf energy production to our nation’s economy and energy supply. Targeted policy issues may include the Rigs to Reef program, national ocean policy, impacts of new mitigation requirements, outer-continental-shelf lease sales, revenue sharing, and industry safety and technology. The Committee will also maintain LMOGA’s active engagement in Louisiana’s coastal restoration and protection efforts, and will also develop local grassroots support of the industry and its workers through participation in community organizations and relationships with community leaders.

“LMOGA has long championed the Gulf’s value to our LMOGA members and to this state and nation, and our new Offshore Committee will give us the opportunity to strengthen
the role we play in supporting the growth of our members and securing continued activity in America’s Gulf,” says President Chris John. “Lori LeBlanc has had great success
working with federal leaders on regulatory issues and promoting energy production in the Gulf as part of the Gulf Economic Survival Team, and we are very pleased to have her on
board to lead this exciting effort for our group.”

LeBlanc is a professional independent consultant in Thibodaux, Louisiana, who specializes in government relations, project management, strategic development, policy development, and advocacy for environmental and energy issues. She served as Deputy Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources from 2008 – 2010. In June 2010, she became Executive Director of the Gulf Economic Survival Team, formed at the onset of the drilling moratorium of June 2010 to push for a full return to energy production in the Gulf. “I am eager to get to work with members of the Offshore Committee,” LeBlanc says. “We have a tremendous natural resource called the Gulf of Mexico in our backyard and thousands of men and women in our great state of Louisiana who go to work each day to fuel America. I am eager to begin working with members of the LMOGA Offshore Committee to tell that story and keep America working in the Gulf.”

About LMOGA
Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, founded in 1923, is a trade association exclusively representing all sectors of the oil and gas industry operating in Louisiana and the Gulf
of Mexico. LMOGA serves exploration and production, refining, transportation, marketing and mid stream companies as well as other firms in the fields of law, engineering, environment, financing and government relations.
LMOGA’s mission is to promote and represent the oil and gas industry operating in Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico by extending representation of our members in the Louisiana Legislature, state
and federal regulatory agencies, the Louisiana congressional delegation, the media and the general public.