If we do and think the way we always have, we can’t expect much to change. We will always get similar results. The thinking that got us to where we are today won’t take us to the next level.

Last week, Shale Crescent USA was announced as a finalist for the 26th Annual Platts Global Energy Awards. Finalists represent 33 different countries from Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The 2024 finalists, nearly 56% of which hail from outside of the United States, were just announced by program host S&P Global Commodity Insights, the leading independent provider of information, data, analysis and benchmark prices for the energy, petrochemicals, metals, shipping, commodities, and energy transition markets.

Shale Crescent USA is a finalist in the Energy Transition Award — Downstream category. The Platts Global Energy Awards recognize corporate and individual innovation, leadership, and exemplary performance in 19 categories spanning the entire energy and chemicals value chain. Winners of the 26th annual Platts Global Energy Awards will be announced the evening of December 12 at a black-tie gala in downtown Manhattan. The winners are determined by an independent judging panel of international energy experts whose backgrounds and experiences include regulation, policymaking, corporate leadership, trading, and strategic consulting. S&P Global Commodity Insights nor its event sponsors submit votes or select winners.

Energy transition isn’t new. It goes back to the beginning of mankind. Initially energy was from human muscles like walking for transportation and all work to be done. Animals were tamed for transportation and work like plowing fields to grow crops for food. Energy from fire kept people warm, gave light at night and cooked food. Wood and animal manure were the initial fuels and are still used today in some developing countries.

Wind and solar were used to dry clothing. Wind was the fuel to fill sails and transported explorers all over the world. It replaced men using oars to row boats. Wind was responsible for the discovery and development of the Americas and ultimately global trade. It turned windmills for pumping water. Unfortunately, wind is inconsistent. The steam engine fueled by wood and later coal replaced wind as a dependable fuel for ocean vessels and railroad locomotives. Water was used to turn stones for grinding, running sawmills and eventually machinery in factories. Its use was limited to locations with sufficient water. Manufacturing has always followed energy. The industrial revolution started in England and spread to Europe fueled by abundant coal which was later used to produce electricity.

Whale oil was used for lighting and to produce products. Whales were almost hunted to extinction saved only by the discovery of crude oil in the 1860s in places like Titusville, PA and Burning Springs, WV. Crude oil not only replaced whale oil, it became a transportation fuel for ships, cars, trucks and planes. Natural gas, produced with oil, was initially flared in order to produce oil. Natural gas was found useful for street lights, heating and producing electricity.

Natural gas and natural gas liquids were found to be valuable feedstocks to manufacture thousands of essential products today. West Virginia played a large part in the petrochemical industry starting in the 1920s with the first ethane cracker by Union Carbide in Clendenin, West Virginia.

The USA was fueled primarily by coal, oil and natural gas until a transition to nuclear power started after WWII. In the 1970s the USA was believed to be running out of oil and natural gas. In the 1970s a chemical engineering professor at WVU told us the USA had only a 9-year natural gas supply. The house where we grew up in Pittsburgh still has a natural gas stove over 50 years later. The USA was transitioning to nuclear power until the 1979 accident at 3-Mile Island in Pennsylvania. No one was killed but it scared a lot of people. It made nuclear power plants harder to build.

Then in 1986 there was an explosion in a nuclear reactor at Chernobyl in Russia. People died and radioactive material was released ending the planned energy transition to nuclear power. The town of Chernobyl is still uninhabited today. Small modular nuclear reactors are now being discussed as a future energy source.

In 1983 on our first family visit to Epcot’s energy attraction at Walt Disney World, wind and solar were touted as our future energy sources. After over 40 years, in spite of an energy crisis wind and solar aren’t a replacement for fossil fuels.

They are fossil fuel products and will be helpful in meeting some of our energy needs. There will be an energy transition as there always has been since the beginning of mankind. Transition to what, is yet to be seen. It could eventually be hydrogen, nuclear, geothermal, all of the above or something yet to be seen.

In the Energy Transition Award — Downstream Shale Crescent USA is recognized for its unique approach to energy transition by changing how transition is thought about. Dramatically increased electric power demand for data centers, AI and dependable economical energy required for expanding U.S. manufacturing and onshoring is considered.

An estimated additional 100 gigawatts of power is needed by 2030. It will be a challenge. For a power plant to get approval to access the electric grid takes years.

Emissions need to be reduced. From actual projects Shale Crescent USA found thinking regionally, expanding manufacturing in the Shale Crescent region instead of importing from China reduced global emissions. Onshoring and buying American reduces imports and global emissions. Working to decarbonize current dependable economical fossil fuel energy sources while searching for future energy sources reduces global emissions and can keep electricity on for millions of Americans.

Greg Kozera, gkozera@shalecrescentusa.com, is the director of marketing and sales for Shale Crescent USA, www.shalecrescentusa.com. He is a professional engineer with a master’s in environmental engineering and over 40 years’ experience in the energy industry. He is a professional speaker and author of four books and numerous published articles.