The midstream industry operates energy infrastructure that transports natural resources like crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs) to companies that turn these resources into everyday products or into electricity to power homes, hospitals, schools, and businesses. Responsible midstream companies like EnLink are essential to providing reliable energy security to our nation.
The Energy Transformation Is Underway
While the world is moving toward less carbon-intensive energy, responsibly managed fossil fuels will continue to play a critical piece of the energy mix for decades to come. This energy transformation is what EnLink CEO Jesse Arenivas sees as the “Future of Midstream.”
Natural gas is integral to this transformation, as it is a less-carbon-intensive, more efficient fuel. In fact, while U.S. natural gas production increased 91% from 2005 to 2021, total CO₂ emissions declined 18.4%, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration¹. EnLink is primed to play a key role in meeting this demand, as approximately 90% of our current business is driven by natural gas and natural gas liquids.
EnLink is changing how we do business, delivering energy products, like natural gas, that meet demand and power our lives, while also reducing emissions intensity and providing midstream solutions for our customers. We’re becoming more innovative and more efficient to ensure that EnLink will have a long-term, sustainable role in providing the energy the world needs.
EnLink announced in May 2021 our intention to achieve a 30% reduction in methane emissions intensity by 2024 and pursue a pathway to reach a 30% reduction in our total carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) emissions intensity by 2030, both as compared to 2020 scope 1 emissions intensity levels. Click here to read about our emissions reduction efforts and here to read about our Carbon Solutions group, which is growing our carbon transportation business that will support carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects. CCS is a key factor in helping industrial emitters across the globe reach emissions reduction goals. In fact, the International Energy Association expects that CCS will need to account for approximately 37% of all CO₂ reduction from industries to comply with the Paris Agreement².
Industry Regulation and Trade Organizations
The energy industry – and in particular oil and gas – is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the United States, subject to rules and oversight set forth by local, state, and federal governmental bodies. EnLink invests significant time and resources to comply with these important regulations, while delivering oil and gas products that power our daily lives in a safe and responsible manner.
EnLink participates in organizations committed to developing industry standards including the Environmental Partnership, Energy Infrastructure Council (EIC), the GPA Midstream Association, the Texas Pipeline Association, the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, the Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma, and other industry and community associations. EnLink is playing an important role in helping the midstream industry become more transparent and sustainable through our participation in an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) working group of EIC and GPA member companies. The goal of the group is to develop reporting standards and make it easier for stakeholders to find and interpret sustainability data from midstream companies.
Providing Financial Stability
The energy industry has a proud track record of helping keep Americans employed and financially stable by providing well-paying jobs, and EnLink provides the same for our employees. In fact, the lowest 10% of EnLink employees’ earnings in 2022 equated to 125% of the living wage national average³, and our median employee earned over 200% of the living wage national average of approximately $50,000 per year. This compensation model provides our employees with much desired financial stability, while also helping us secure top talent.
Additionally, the energy industry frequently provides opportunities for above-average wages and career success for those without four-year college degrees. Many of our operations personnel bring seasoned experience to these highly technical jobs in lieu of a degree, while others may have chosen to pursue two-year degrees or trade-school certifications. At EnLink, 46% of our highly skilled workforce does not have a four-year degree⁴, nor is it required by their job description. With rising tuition costs and student college loan debt, the opportunity for career success without the additional financial burden of a four-year degree has strong appeal for many. As an additional benefit to our employees, EnLink offers tuition reimbursement for those employees seeking to further their education; see our People section for specific information on EnLink’s benefits.
- EIA U.S. Natural Gas Production and U.S. Emissions by Energy Source
- IEA - Net Zero by 2050, A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector; this report outlines a carbon reduction pathway that is compliant with the Paris Agreement
- As reported May 2022 in Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Living Wage Calculator, the living wage in the United States was $24.16 per hour or $50,253 annually per individual), before taxes for a family of four (two working adults, two children); Glasmeier, Amy K. Living Wage Calculator. 2022. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. https://livingwage.mit.edu/articles/99-a-calculation-of-the-living-wage
- Based on employee reported data collected at time of hire and/or our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion survey conducted in 2021; reflects population as of December 31, 2022.
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The information and data (collectively, “Information”) provided in EnLink’s 2022 Sustainability Report (“Report”) reflects content as of and for the period ending December 31, 2022, unless otherwise indicated. Such Information in this Report is for informational purposes only. EnLink does not make, and hereby expressly disclaims, any representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the Information contained herein. This Report is being published on August 1, 2023, and EnLink has no obligation or duty to (1) update or correct the Information, (2) provide additional details regarding the Information, or (3) continue to provide the Information, in any form, in the future. EnLink reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify, update, change, delete, or supplement the Information from time to time without notice. The Information should not be interpreted as any form of guaranty or assurance of future results or trends. EnLink is not expressly incorporating by reference any of the Information into any filing of EnLink made with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or in any other filing, report, application, or statement made by EnLink to any federal, state, or local governmental authority. This Report contains information based upon EnLink’s role in the broader economy, environment, and society and for the purpose of responding to issues that are important to a wide range of interested parties. While events, scenarios, and efforts discussed in this report may be significant, any significance should not be read as necessarily rising to the level of materiality of the disclosures required under U.S. federal securities laws, which have distinct and specific concepts of materiality.