by Drew Powell | Wednesday, September 1st 2021 

AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — Exploring new methods of how to market the oil and gas industry to the public is at the forefront of this year’s Panhandle Producers Royalty Owners Association convention in Amarillo.

“Oil and gas has a bad rap for no reason," said Judy Stark, President of the PPROA.

There’s a negative stigma about the oil and gas industry that it’s environmentally insensitive. To help create and increase the appreciation for oil and gas, industry leaders are hoping to build a public relations campaign.

“What we need to do is be able to have an audience to make people understand how fossil fuels are used in so many industries," said Stark. 

“Bringing people to the table citizens, industry, landowners, everyone that’s associated that has an impact here in Texas to relay the facts of what our impacts truly are on the environment," said Jim Wright, Texas Railroad Commissioner.

Congressman Michael Burgess of Denton insists that the right messaging strategy needs to be pursued to show how the industry is not the bad guy when it comes to the environment and needs to receive more credit for the work it does for the environmental landscape.

“The United States, year-over-year, since 2005, every year with one exception, has lowered its carbon emissions since 1985," said Burgess. "There’s been remarkable improvement with the carbon emissions from the energy sector.”

“People do need to know that energy produced in this country is done with an eye toward how we improve our emissions profile and how we improve the affordability and reliability of energy locally," said Wright.

Businesses are posting more job openings but hiring isn’t keeping pace. A labor shortage started after the industry reduced jobs thanks to layoffs and cuts and is now scrambling to find a new workforce to hire.

“It’s really difficult to find people who want to come to work," said Stark. "We just can’t find workforce. Difficulties to find people to take a job right now is one of the biggest things that our industry is going through.”

Stark said it’s not just entry-level positions that are available.

“I’d say get out there now and start applying for great jobs. People need you. People want you," said Stark.