All Posts from November, 2010
Our most powerful energy solution? Efficiency.
It might look like a trivia question, but it’s quite the opposite. As you might have seen, we posed a question on the front page of today’s Wall Street Journal: What will make the single biggest contribution to meeting global energy needs in coming decades? The correct answer is not oil. It’s not nuclear, solar or any other energy source. The answer is improved energy efficiency.
An inspirational read for the holiday break
As we get ready to take off for the Thanksgiving break here in the U.S., I thought I’d leave you with a recommendation for some good holiday reading. Earlier this fall, Bernard Harris – the first African-American to walk in space – published his autobiography, Dream Walker: A Journey of Achievement and Inspiration. For anyone concerned about the future of American innovation and competitiveness, one only has to take a look at Harris’ life to be inspired by what can be achieved with hard work, determination and guidance.
Score one for U.S. education
As a company that utilizes advanced technology in every aspect of its business, ExxonMobil understands that the United States’ future success depends on the best and brightest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). But declining proficiency among American students in math and science – the building blocks of innovation – is posing a direct and potent threat to U.S. competitiveness.
Global growth drives increasing energy needs
The International Energy Agency published its latest World Energy Outlook last week, and the report outlines several global energy scenarios to 2035 – highlighting possible implications for energy supply, demand, technology, emissions and investments. As we review and assess some of the key conclusions in the report – which I’ll talk about in future posts – it’s clear we agree with the IEA on a couple of their most fundamental conclusions.
Fueling jobs
When we stop and think about it, it’s obvious how critical energy is to our daily lives. But, because energy is supplied reliably 24 hours a day with little or no disruption, we sometimes take it for granted. But for millions of hard-working Americans, energy is just as important to their livelihoods – and they certainly don’t take it for granted. According to a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the oil and natural gas industry supports more than 9.2 million jobs in the United States, accounting for 5.2 percent of total U.S. employment.
Building a culture of safety
Today, the presidential commission investigating the tragic Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico convened for the second part of a two-day hearing in Washington, D.C. As part of today’s hearings, the commission sought views on how companies have developed sustainable and effective approaches to safety. Our chairman and CEO, Rex Tillerson, was invited to share ExxonMobil’s perspectives on this critical issue.
