Energy workers preserve the past while powering the future

By Scott Angelle

As a boy growing up in Louisiana, I have vivid memories of my dad taking me hunting. As the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (1972-1980, 1983-1988), he didn’t just teach me how to handle a rifle or call in a duck, he showed me the profound value of the land, the delicate balance of nature, and the deep responsibility we all carry to protect it for those who come after us. 

Those early mornings in the marshes, with the mist rising off the bayou and the world awakening around us, instilled in me a love for the outdoors that has shaped my life. It’s a sentiment echoed in families across America, where traditions like these bind generations together in quiet reverence for our natural heritage.

The role of energy workers in conservation

What many do not realize is that the same domestic energy workers who fuel our cars, power our homes, and sustain our economy also make modern conservation possible. 

The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) takes $1.9 billion in royalties annually from energy development on non-park, non-wilderness public lands and waters put it into national parks, wildlife refuges, and other public lands across the country for conservation and repairing visitor centers, trails, campgrounds, and other facilities. The program is funded almost exclusively from revenues generated by federal oil and natural gas production.

Offshore energy production also contributes nearly $900 million each year to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which has financed at least one project in every single county in America. Whether it’s restoring wetlands for duck hunters in Louisiana, funding public boat ramps in Minnesota, or preserving hiking trails in Colorado, energy revenues directly support the places where hunters and anglers live out their traditions that hold our most cherished memories and stories.

Energy and the outdoors are not competitive, they are partners. Every barrel produced and every cubic foot of gas lifted offshore helps secure funds that protect fish and wildlife habitat across America, safeguarding the wild spaces that stir our souls.

This connection matters now more than ever. Hunting and fishing are not only cherished cultural traditions but also powerful economic drivers. Together, they help fuel the outdoor recreation economy, which generates more than $1.1 trillion in annual output, supports over five million American jobs, and contributes significant tax revenue to communities nationwide.

And as we balance the 3Es®: Environment, Energy, and Economy, we create smart public policy when we recognize that conservation and energy development together create a win-win for the nation, weaving a tapestry of sustainability that honors both progress and preservation.

Policy reforms strengthen the partnership

Recent advancements through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) are poised to make domestic energy great again by removing barriers for independent producers, easing permitting processes, and supporting traditional oil and gas investments while reorienting U.S. energy policy for greater efficiency and output. 

A centerpiece of this reform is the return to regular, reliable offshore lease sales, restoring predictability for producers and ensuring that conservation revenues continue to flow. Key to this is the bill’s National Environmental Policy Act reforms, which introduced a fast-track option allowing project sponsors to pay a fee to accelerate environmental review deadlines, streamlining approvals for energy infrastructure without compromising safeguards. 

Together, these measures accelerate development, fund conservation efforts like those benefiting hunters and anglers nationwide and reinforce the essential partnership between energy workers and outdoor traditions. These changes not only boost job creation in the energy sector but also guarantee a steady stream of revenues to protect the lands and waters we cherish, honoring the hardworking Americans who power our nation and preserve its natural bounty for generations to come.

Celebrating National Hunting and Fishing Day

When a child casts their first line in a community pond, when a grandfather calls in a wild turkey on a spring morning, or when a family gathers venison around the dinner table, energy workers have a hand in making that memory possible. They power our future while preserving our past, allowing us to pass on the lessons my dad taught me: that the land is not just a resource, but a living legacy of love, respect, and stewardship.

On September 27, National Hunting and Fishing Day, I invite every American, whether you hunt, fish, or simply cherish the great outdoors, to join us in recognizing the bond between our sportsmen and sportswomen, and energy workers. Together, they form a living partnership that safeguards traditions, strengthens communities, and sustains the very resources we hold dear.

Let’s celebrate both the hunters and anglers who keep our traditions alive with every sunrise adventure, and also the energy workers whose labor ensures that conservation remains strong for future generations.

Scott Angelle is the founder of USA Energy Workers, and has previously served as the Director of the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, and as the Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana.

_{*The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of EnergyPlatform.News.}