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AAA expects roughly 45 million travelers to head out of town and go at least 50 miles from home over the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, breaking a 20-year travel record in the process. The vast majority of these travelers—nearly 90%—are likely to be road warriors, driving cars and trucks fueled by American-made gasoline.

Safety is the top priority for the refining and petrochemical industries. AFPM’s members are committed to maintaining strong safety records while continuously improving performance to protect their people, communities and the environment.

Collaboration is the cornerstone of progress, and when it comes to safety, working together is essential. At AFPM, we believe that sharing knowledge and best practices strengthens our industries and protects the workforce. That’s why we’re proud to participate in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls, May 5 – 9, a dedicated week focused on raising awareness and improving workplace safety.

Bridget Confait-Smith is the Associate Director of Research, Innovation, Technology and Global Sustainability with Westlake Corporation.

Nothing is more important to the refining and petrochemical industries than safety. AFPM’s member companies have strong safety records and consistently work to improve performance to take care of our people, communities and environment.

Narratives that pit the refining and petrochemical industries against electric vehicles (EVs) ignore the symbiotic relationship of these industries. If you review the history of EVs – you will see that refining and petrochemical companies have been foundational to the EV market all along and will continue to be far into the future.

Refiners and petrochemical manufacturers are proving that using oil and gas while reducing emissions is not a zero-sum game. By integrating cutting-edge technologies and developing lower emissions products, they are enabling global communities to enjoy the benefits of life-enhancing fuels and petrochemicals, all while significantly lowering emissions across the economy. This transformative approach is paving the way for a future where energy efficiency and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.

While AFPM members continue to produce the traditional fuels and energy essential for our daily lives, they are also at the forefront of creating liquid fuels with lower lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to reduce emissions throughout the transportation sector.

The downstream segment encompasses refineries and petrochemical manufacturing facilities that process crude oil and natural gas liquids into finished products. There are 131 operable refineries in the United States that manufacture essential energy products, including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.