ODESSA, Texas — The very first "Energy Talks" was held Wednesday at UT Permian Basin, focusing heavily on energy production.
Hosted by Shale Oil and Gas Magazine, Energy Talks are very similar to Ted Talks, with both of them dealing with speeches and discussions centered around scientific thought.
However, with the lack of discussions regarding energy production, Energy Talks aims to pick up the slack.
"We realized that the general public really does have the desire to learn more about energy, it is an extremely complicated topic," Kym Bolado said. "But they needed it in bite sized pieces and they needed it to fit with their schedule, so Ted Talks was the idea, and it was born then."
Five speakers spoke at the event, including oil and gas industry leaders like Todd Staples, the current president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association.
During his speech, Staples praised the Permian Basin for all of the oil and gas production that comes out of the area.
"Oil and natural gas literally powers progress and there's no better platform to discuss these issues then the Permian Basin. The Permian Basin represent the American Dream," Staples said. "It's where ingenuity and opportunity collide to create success. This region of our state is leading the nation and our nation is leading the world in natural gas production."
All of the production that comes out of the Permian Basin contributes to the country's national production of oil and gas.
"Countries are literally lining up at the doorstep to buy the products that oil and natural gas producers are producing and transporting and processing each and every day," Staples said. "I love it when I speak to groups across the state and talk about the Four P's: production, pipelines, processing and ports."
While the country sees the production it gets out of oil and gas, how does it help people out here in Midland and Odessa?
According to Staples, the impact can be seen in the money that flows into the local economy.
"What we've seen is a greater investment in Ector County schools. We've seen a greater investment in Permian Basin roads, all because oil and natural gas has contributed so significantly," Staples said. "Just last year alone, the oil and natural gas industry paid $24.7 billion in state and local taxes and state royalties."
As far as the Energy Talks, the plan is to have four more in 2024.