Louisiana’s oil and natural gas industry has a lot to be proud of as we kick off 2026. Louisiana produces, refines, and exports the energy products needed to power our nation and the world. We are also at the forefront of growth across our economy and national security.

As U.S. energy demand rises, driven by major transformations in Artificial Intelligence, advanced manufacturing, electrification, and population growth, our industry is rising to meet the needs of Louisiana and our country as a whole.

Technology companies like Meta have already found a welcoming home in Northeast Louisiana for multi-billion dollar investments for their AI data centers. As they settle in, and continue to find additional sites for data centers, the oil and natural gas industry works overtime to provide the energy they need to succeed, aiding to secure our country’s strong position in the global AI race.

These exciting investments in Louisiana are emblematic of what American Petroleum Institute CEO Mike Sommers is calling the demand decade. These next 10 years will be a remarkable period of historic, structural growth arriving faster than today’s infrastructure and permitting systems were ever designed to support it. These shifts are rewriting the demand curve and reshaping our grid, our economy, and America’s global competitiveness.

Thanks to refreshing leadership in Washington supportive of America’s oil and natural gas industry, the trajectory of U.S. energy policy has shifted from restriction to expansion, but sustaining this progress —and meeting the full-scale demand of the coming years— will require supportive policies in Louisiana and by our state legislature to keep this momentum up.

In the next few months, Louisiana will be entering a critical Legislative session where energy policy will be front and center. Voters across parties have moved past old debates — they want affordability and reliability, and they know expanding American energy is the path to a stronger future. It is more important than ever that Louisiana elected officials implement policy that will enable infrastructure growth, exploration, and development of natural resources, and work to defeat policies that stymie implementation of technology and stifle innovation.

Elected officials who champion access, infrastructure, and domestic production are leading the way for our country to continue to be strong and secure. Those who fail to adapt to the realities of today no longer match the moment.

Louisiana has a leading role to play in securing our future and ensuring American energy remains strong. Our state is critical in meeting the scale of our nation’s needs for the next decade and beyond.

In 2026, America’s future depends on the strength of oil and natural gas — and our industry is ready to meet the moment and rise to the challenge. American-produced energy is the path to a strong future.