Midland, TX (August 17, 2026) – National and state leaders converged in the Permian Basin today for the Great American Energy Comeback Tour, spotlighting the region as a driving force in American energy innovation and economic growth.
The Midland stop on the tour was hosted by the Permian Strategic Partnership (the PSP), the American Petroleum Institute (API), the Texas Oil and Gas Association (TXOGA), the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association (NMOGA), Energy Workforce & Technology Council, and the Permian Basin Petroleum Association (PBPA). The event featured U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, U.S. Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas), and Texas Transportation Commissioner Steven D. Alvis, along with other state and local leadership.
“President Trump understands that energy is central to American prosperity, national security, and opportunity, and his agenda to unleash American energy is delivering results,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “Nowhere can the success of President Trump’s energy dominance agenda be better understood than in the Permian Basin. America is the largest producer of oil and natural gas in the world, and that achievement is powered by the ingenuity, grit, and hard work of American energy workers. Thanks to President Trump, we are ushering in a golden era of energy dominance, making our country stronger, more prosperous, and more secure than ever before.”
The day began with Secretary Wright touring an oil rig, getting a firsthand look at the region’s day-to-day operations. Permian Basin oil rigs represent over 44% of all active rigs in the U.S., and it’s estimated they’ll make up to 50% of U.S. oil production by 2027. The region is expected to generate around $350 billion in gross product and provide more than 1 million jobs to the national economy by 2050. If the Permian were its own country, it would be among the top five oil producers in the world.
“The work here in the Permian Basin matters far beyond West Texas,” said Tracee Bentley, President and CEO at the PSP. “Our energy sector is the beating heart behind Texas’ outstanding economic success, and the energy produced here supports investment and economic growth across the country. At the PSP, we are focused on making sure the communities behind that success are positioned to thrive alongside the industry. That means investing in stronger schools, accessible healthcare, safer infrastructure, and pathways for people to build lasting careers and lives here in the region. When our Permian communities are strong, so is the nation they power.”
The Midland stop on the Great American Energy Comeback Tour gave national leaders a rare, firsthand look at the scale, complexity, and human ingenuity fueling Permian energy production. As the nation debates its energy future, these ground-level insights reinforce the vital role of the Permian Basin in powering America and shaping policies that support economic prosperity, innovation, and energy security for the entire country.
After the tour, the group gathered with community members at the Bush Convention Center for a rally celebrating successes and advancements in American energy. Secretary Wright, Congressman Pfluger, Tracee Bentley, and API President & CEO Mike Sommers delivered remarks highlighting the importance of energy investment and supporting the communities behind this industry. The event also featured Texas BBQ and live musical performances by Highway Home.
About the Permian Strategic Partnership: The Permian Strategic Partnership (the PSP) is a coalition of 26 leading Permian Basin energy companies and two university systems who have joined together to work in partnership with leaders across the region’s communities to address current and future challenges to the responsible development of the vast oil and natural gas resources of the Permian Basin in the states of New Mexico and Texas. The PSP members are BPX Energy, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Crescent Energy, Deep Blue, Devon Energy, Diamondback Energy, Energy Transfer, EOG Resources, ExxonMobil, Halliburton, Helmerich & Payne, Kinetik, Liberty Energy, Mewbourne Oil Company, Occidental, Oncor, Ovintiv, Permian Resources, Phillips 66, Plains All American, ProPetro, SLB, Targa Resources, The Texas Tech University System, The University of Texas System, WaterBridge, and Western Midstream. For more information, visit www.permianpartnership.org.