As the national program director for Vets4Energy, retired U.S. Army Capt. James McCormick works with veterans across the country to advocate for policies that encourage more domestic energy production to boost America's national security.
In his home state of West Virginia, however, McCormick says a string of federal policies have discouraged that energy production, with a dramatic impact on the Mountaineer State's jobs climate.
“Our state has felt the blow of over-restrictive regulations from DC,” McCormick told TI News Daily. “It’s had a negative impact on areas like McDowell,
Wyoming, Mingo, Lincoln, Boone and Logan counties.”
McCormick said such poverty hasn't
existed in the state in more than 50 years; and as a combat veteran of two wars,
it breaks his heart to see people lacking so much.
While McCormick says federal regulations have hit the coal industry hard, he said they also have stymied the state's ability to develop its natural gas resources. Failure to develop those resources have led to missed opportunities for West Virginians — especially veterans — in need of work.
McCormick explained that veterans make up more than 12 percent of the
population and their families make up another 22 percent.
“With 34 percent of a state’s population, it's
clear that energy plays a major factor in the ability for our veterans to work
and support their families,” McCormick said. “Just imagine if (West Virginia)
could build the pipelines and infrastructure needed to properly extract that
natural gas — that’s 18,000 jobs. In addition to all that, think about our
national security position with an increase to energy resources.”
Veterans are a great fit for jobs in the oil and gas industry, McCormick said,
because they possess a broad scope of qualities such as discipline, the ability to
work in a structured environment and being punctual -- just to name a few.
McCormick added that veterans are educated
to do more than just one job, and possess a sincere passion for doing a job
properly, expeditiously and safely.
With so many voters advocating for more offshore energy
production the million dollar question is why is there such a deliberate effort to prevent certain types of energy development in the
country?
“It's politically motivated in some instances," McCormick said. "In others, it's a lack of education
in the actual process that goes into gas and oil development. The
oil and gas industry in America has developed the world’s safest and most
environmentally friendly processes to extract resources.”
McCormick encourages people to study
the science of energy production and educate themselves before “buying into the
hype and fear mongering tactics” some activists use.
“Those tactics are not only inaccurate, but can result in policies that put the security of our nation at great risk and force our nation and our allies to continue to import our oil from some countries that don’t share America’s values and interests,” McCormick said.
More Stories
- ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: Governor Ducey issues Executive Order further extending expiration of driver licenses
- AMERICAN AIRLINES: Cleaning with a Purpose, American Airlines Earns GBAC STAR Accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council
- AIRLINES FOR AMERICA: Statement from A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio
- ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: ADOT distracted driving campaign raises awareness
- ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: Drivers get break from state highway closures through early January
- AMERICAN AIRLINES: American’s AAdvantage Program Reveals Elite Choice Rewards for Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum Members
- ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: Donor Network of Arizona honors two MVD employees with awards
- AMERICAN AIRLINES: American Airlines Names Meghan Montana Vice President and Treasurer
- ALBERTA TRANSPORTATION: Building roads to economic recovery
- AIRLINES FOR AMERICA: Airlines for America Applauds the Department of Transportation’s Final Rules on Traveling by Air with Service Animals