‘The Permian Fuels America’ campaign aims to retain Permian workforce

The Odessa Development Corporation (ODC) has announced the formation of a new strategic advisory committee, The Permian Fuels America (TPFA). TPFA is focused on promoting resources to retain the current Permian Basin workforce in the midst of this economic downturn. Kirk Edwards, President of Latigo Petroleum, will lead the committee.

Early in 2020, ODC retained The Perryman Group to perform an economic impact and analysis of the factors facing the Permian Basin energy sector and the Odessa economy in the midst of global oil market fluctuations and the COVID-19 pandemic. ODC accepted the recommended strategies to overcome the negative impacts in May 2020. The creation of the advisory committee was a direct result of the findings and recommendations in the report.

“The efforts to support our community at this time require significant leadership locally and nationally,” Wesley R. Burnett, ODC Director of Economic Development, said. “Mr Edwards immediately came to mind as a person who has the passion, drive, commitment and professional expertise necessary for a committee such as this.”

Additionally, TPFA is driving collaborative industry initiatives to permanently change the vulnerability of American oil and gas production to the manipulations of foreign entities. Recognizing the gravity of the current situation and the monumental task of driving significant change,

Upon agreeing to chair the committee, Mr Edwards began recruiting prominent business leaders and community advocates from Odessa and Midland. The committee quickly came together to determine immediate actions and opportunities and developed “The Permian Fuels America” campaign. One goal of TPFA is to drive collaborative industry initiatives to change the vulnerability of American oil and gas production to the manipulations of foreign entities.

“I am honored to chair this committee and am so appreciative of the committee members that have stepped up to join the effort. We’ve really just started to identify and bring resources to bear that can assist individuals and businesses during this downturn,” Mr Edwards stated. “There is no single answer to the issues presented by the oil and gas industry’s massive oil glut complicated by the reduced demand for energy from the COVID-19 pandemic; so we are looking at everything possible from a local to a national level.”