OKOGA and OIPA Support Pruitt’s Confirmation as New EPA Administrator

scotpruitt

Two of Oklahoma’s energy associations released individual statements praising the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee confirmation of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

“The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee made the right step to end the grandstanding by a minority of its committee members and move forward on Scott Pruitt’s inevitable confirmation to be the next EPA administrator,” said Chad Warmington, Oklahoma Oil and Gas Association President. “Pruitt has promised to return the agency back to its core functions and to include all stakeholders when drafting regulations to protect the environment. The era of EPA being a political action arm for the far left, where the agency issued legally questionable regulations punishing sectors of America’s economy that didn’t align with their vision, is coming to an end. We look forward to supporting Scott Pruitt’s vision of a nation that is both pro-energy and pro-environment.”

News of Pruitt’s confirmation also pleased the OIPA.

“Scott Pruitt’s confirmation by the EPW committee is a step in the right direction for Oklahoma’s oil and natural gas industry,” said Tim Wigley, Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association Vice President of Governmental Affairs. “For the past eight years, increased, unnecessary and burdensome regulations have been put in place by a White House administration bent on slowing oil and natural gas production. As Attorney General, Scott Pruitt has been a consistent challenger to overreaching EPA regulations, and his appointment will change the course of how the EPA is utilized by the White House administration.”

“The American people want and need affordable and reliable energy sources to power their cars and their homes, and Oklahoma can be a national leader in providing that,” said Wigley. “As a businessman and public servant, Scott Pruitt understands the impact regulation and legislation have in the business world, and the rational and reasonable approach to energy regulation he will offer gives energy-producing states like Oklahoma greater hope for a brighter future.”

Both trade associations are hopeful that Pruitt will be the next EPA administrator.