As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our great country, I want to stop and reflect on the role the U.S. refining, petrochemical, and midstream energy industries have played in the United States' rise from a loose collection of colonies into the global superpower we are today. Our country's trajectory changed dramatically with the dawn of refining in 1850 and the first commercial oil well in 1859.
Fuels, petrochemicals, and pipelines helped grow our economy, expand our infrastructure, and build our middle class. They connected communities, powered innovation, and created the products we rely on every day — from medical devices to cell phones and everything in between.
I can’t tell you for sure what the next 250 years will bring for America, but I can tell you this: Our refiners, petrochemical manufacturers, and midstream energy workforce will play a key role in it, and we’ll continue to create, adapt, and innovate along the way.
Happy Fourth of July!