A Presentation By Sidney Coffee Senior Advisor to the America’s WETLAND Foundation

1. A Presentation By Sidney Coffee Senior Advisor to the America’s WETLAND Foundation Former head of the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Coastal Activities and Chair of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority November 2008

2. WHAT IS AMERICA’S ENERGY COAST? America’s Energy Coast is a regional approach aimed at achieving energy and environmental sustainability The two cannot be separated- onshore support of offshore energy activities depends on a sustainable environment

3. WHY LA IS CRITICAL TO THE NATION • LA hosts almost 80% of the nation’s domestic offshore oil and gas supply • Nearly 1/3 of ALL oil and gas comes through LA and connects to 50% of America’s refining capacity • LA’s port system is the largest by tonnage in the world

4. WHAT HAPPENS IN THE GULF IMPACTS AMERICA

5. THE PROBLEM Each year 17 square miles of wetlands vanish in coastal Louisiana… …a rate equivalent to a football field of land every 38 minutes

6. THE PROBLEM And parts of the Texas coast are eroding at the rate of 10 feet a year…

7. THE PROBLEM The threat is obvious- why is there still no real national commitment to protect and sustain this valuable area? The Chandeleur Islands Before Katrina After Katrina

8. AMERICA’S WETLAND Home to dozens of threatened and endangered species and our nation’s largest flyways… … America’s WETLAND is one of the most significant estuaries in the world

9. AMERICA’S WETLAND FOUNDATION • Established by former LA Governor Mike Foster • A private, non-profit organization Our Goal: to create a national educational campaign to inform the public about Louisiana’s land loss crisis and why the loss could have national impacts

10. LAND LOSS CAUSES

11. ADVANCING COMMON INTERESTS IN THE REGION • The Gulf Coast’s four energy-producing states contribute: • 90% of the nation’s offshore energy production • 30% of its energy supplies and • 30% of its seafood Launched by the America’s WETLAND Foundation, AEC is a unique initiative to bring divergent interests together to help educate America, shape public policy and speak with a shared voice in Washington

12. AMERICA’S ENERGY COAST GOAL: To create a positive, balanced national dialogue on America’s energy future and to raise the level of influence and recognition of the Gulf Coast region as critical to the nation

13. AMERICA’S ENERGY COAST Four state territory of the Gulf’s energy producing states: TX, LA, MS and AL Comprised of leaders from government, industry academia and NGOs Priorities are to: • Promote community resiliency • Conserve and restore natural resources and coastal environments • Secure sustainable energy

14. AMERICA’S ENERGY COAST EVERYONE has a seat at the table: • API • BG America • CCA • Chevron • Conoco-Phillips • Ducks Unlimited • Environmental Defense • Pew Center on Climate Change • The National Wildlife Federation • The Nature Conservancy • Shell And other coastal interests, including: • Ports & Navigation • Maritime industry • Fisheries • Local municipalities • Academia • State & Federal agencies

15. ACCORD FOR NEW SUSTAINABILITY In July 2008 AEC released the Accord for New Sustainability of America’s Energy Coast The Accord identifies actions needed to sustain energy production in the Gulf of Mexico in an environmentally sound coastal landscape, protecting the communities, work force, and the national assets necessary to support this activity Available online at americasenergycoast.org

16. AEC POLICY FORUM Action Agenda will be unveiled at the AEC Policy Forum this Fall - Tuesday, December 2 - 9:30- 11 a.m. - Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars, Washington, D.C. - Register online at www.americasenergycoast.org or call 202-691-4289 - Free, LIVE webcast will also be available

17. AEC POLICY FORUM • Action Agenda will include: • Sustaining built and environmental infrastructure • Ensuring affordable and available insurance for coastal communities who form the backbone of support for the offshore industry through their workforces, infrastructure, and services • Making conservation of wildlife habitat a national imperative • Developing guidelines for climate stewardship • Resolving inconsistencies in Federal policies

18. LOUISIANA’S WORKING COAST US NATURAL GAS PIPELINE TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS

19. LOUISIANA’S WORKING COAST COMBINED TRUCK FLOWS SHIPPED DOMESTICALLY FROM LA

20. LOUISIANA’S WORKING COAST US NATURAL GAS PIPELINE NETWORK

21. THE BOTTOM LINE America’s Energy Coast is our nation’s laboratory for sustainability

22. www.americasenergycoast.org www.americaswetland.com 1-866-4WETLAND