Mayor Lori Blong joined representatives from the American Exploration & Production Council (AXPC) and a group of congressional staff to learn about the work that takes place in Midland Wednesday.
The event matters as it offered policymakers’ staff an opportunity to observe oil and gas activities, interact with industry operators, and hear updates on sector developments. Such tours can inform legislative perspectives on issues affecting the region and the broader energy landscape.
Blong recapped the day in a Facebook post. According to the mayor, the visit included time on location, conversations with operators and an evening at the Petroleum Museum according to Blong.
She additionally discussed a speech to the contingent from Diamondback Energy CEO and President Kaes Van’t Hof. Van’t Hof provided an update on the petroleum industry in West Texas, according to Blong. “In 2025 alone, operators in the Permian contributed $27 billion in state and local taxes, roughly $74 million per day that supports schools, roads and infrastructure across Texas… Nearly half of the nation’s oil supply comes from this region, and so does much of the technology that has transformed modern energy development,” Blong said according to Blong.
Blong said that she hopes each visitor leaves Midland with the understanding that oil and gas remain essential to the country’s future and Midland continues to play a central role in the industry. “The innovation happening here, the jobs created here and the commitment shown by companies and workers across the Basin are shaping the next century of American energy… Thank you to everyone who traveled here to listen and learn. And thank you to AXPC and their team for bringing these conversations to the Permian,” she said according to Blong.