Oklahoma City’s Devon Energy was among the major oil companies that met virtually this week with Gina McCarthy, President Biden’s senior domestic climate official who claimed the Biden administration is not at war with the oil and gas industry.
The meeting included CEOs and top officials from other companies such as Chevron, Exxon, Occident and BP and trade groups.
A spokeswoman for Devon declined to identify the Devon representative at the meeting but called it a good way to connect with other top industry leaders and government officials about the importance and the future of energy in the U.S.
The spokeswoman also said the statement from American Petroleum Institute spokesman Mike Sommers best described the meeting from Devon’s viewpoint.
“Our industry regularly engages with all levels of government and wants to ensure that policy makers in Washington understand that we can achieve our shared goal for a low-carbon future while strengthening American energy leadership and supporting the nation’s economic recovery,’ said API President Mike Sommers in an emailed statement. “We are committed to working with the White House to develop effective government policies that help meet the ambitions of the Paris agreement and support a cleaner future.”
McCarthy and other environmental officials from the White House hosted the meeting with executives from 10 of the industry’s biggest companies. It was the first such meeting between the White House and oil companies.
A readout made available by the White House stated, “During the virtual meeting, National Climate Advisor McCarthy emphasized President Biden’s commitment to bringing the voices and perspectives of all stakeholders to the table when tackling climate change.”
The readout further stated its claim, “She made clear that the Administration is not fighting the oil and gas sector, but fighting to create union jobs, deploy emission reduction technologies, strengthen American manufacturing, and fuel the American economy.”
The Interior Department also took part in the virtual meeting and discussed the President’s pause on leasing on federal public lands.
It was not revealed what the oil company executives had to say to the White House officials.