--- title: "2 new controversies, 1 clear message: Energy must tell our stories" description: The energy industry needs to tell its story better. ALLY Energy is telling the stories of men and women in energy. image: https://www.allyenergy.com/hubfs/Energy%20Stories.jpg --- - [BUILD WITH US](https://www.allyenergy.com/work-with-us) - [GALLERY](http://ally.photos) [![Company logo](https://www.allyenergy.com/hubfs/MJTW%20Assets/logos/ally-energy-logo-2.svg)](https://www.allyenergy.com/) - [ABOUT](https://www.allyenergy.com/about) - [INSIGHTS](https://www.allyenergy.com/resources) - OUR BUILDS - [Houston Energy & Climate Week](http://www.climateweekhouston.com) - [Energy Workforce of the Future](https://www.energyworkforceofthefuture.com/) - [The GRIT Awards & Best Energy Workplaces](https://www.allyenergy.com/2025-grit-awards-best-energy-workplaces-finalists) - [Energy Capital Markets Day on Wall Street](https://www.allyenergy.com/ally-tcs-worley-new-york-marathon-team) - [THE BEE SUITE™](http://www.thebeesuite.com) - [THE ASK](https://www.allyenergy.com/the-ask) - [PRESS](https://www.allyenergy.com/about/press) [Call +1 281-741-5482](tel:+12817415482) - [ABOUT](https://www.allyenergy.com/about) - [INSIGHTS](https://www.allyenergy.com/resources) - OUR BUILDS - [Houston Energy & Climate Week](http://www.climateweekhouston.com) - [Energy Workforce of the Future](https://www.energyworkforceofthefuture.com/) - [The GRIT Awards & Best Energy Workplaces](https://www.allyenergy.com/2025-grit-awards-best-energy-workplaces-finalists) - [Energy Capital Markets Day on Wall Street](https://www.allyenergy.com/ally-tcs-worley-new-york-marathon-team) - [THE BEE SUITE™](http://www.thebeesuite.com) - [THE ASK](https://www.allyenergy.com/the-ask) - [PRESS](https://www.allyenergy.com/about/press) - [BUILD WITH US](https://www.allyenergy.com/work-with-us) - [GALLERY](http://ally.photos) [ALLY](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog) - [Career Search](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/career-search) - [Change & Resilience](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/change-resilience) - [Climate & Sustainability](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/climate-sustainability) - [Creativity & Originality Initiative](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/creativity-originality-initiative) - More - [Critical Thinking & Analysis](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/critical-thinking-analysis) - [Digital](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/digital) - [Diversity, Equity & Inclusion](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/diversity-equity-inclusion) - [Emotional Intelligence](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/emotional-intelligence) - [Energy Insights](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/energy-insights) - [Entrepreneurship Intrapreneurship](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/entrepreneurship-intrapreneurship) - [Explore ESG](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/explore-esg) - [Female Execs of Climate Tech](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/female-execs-of-climate-tech) - [Financial Skills](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/financial-skills) - [GRIT](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/grit) - [Giving Back](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/giving-back) - [Grit Awards](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/grit-awards) - [Growth change challenge leadership](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/growth-change-challenge-leadership) - [Inspiration](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/inspiration) - [Leadership](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/leadership) - [Marathon](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/marathon) - [Member Insights](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/member-insights) - [Negotiation](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/negotiation) - [Parenting & Family](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/parenting-family) - [Problem Solving & Ideation](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/problem-solving-ideation) - [Race in the Workplace](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/race-in-the-workplace) - [Recognition](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/recognition) - [Relationships, Conflict, Power and Office Politics](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/relationships-conflict-power-and-office-politics) - [Running](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/running) - [Social Influence](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/social-influence) - [Storytelling & Personal Branding](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/storytelling-personal-branding) - [The Voices Of Energy](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/the-voices-of-energy) - [Uncategorized](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/uncategorized) - [Wellbeing & Self Care](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/wellbeing-self-care) - [Workforce Development](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/workforce-development) Subscribe Select blog topic Career Search Change & Resilience Climate & Sustainability Creativity & Originality Initiative Critical Thinking & Analysis Digital Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Emotional Intelligence Energy Insights Entrepreneurship Intrapreneurship Explore ESG Female Execs of Climate Tech Financial Skills GRIT Giving Back Grit Awards Growth change challenge leadership Inspiration Leadership Marathon Member Insights Negotiation Parenting & Family Problem Solving & Ideation Race in the Workplace Recognition Relationships, Conflict, Power and Office Politics Running Social Influence Storytelling & Personal Branding The Voices Of Energy Uncategorized Wellbeing & Self Care Workforce Development # 2 new controversies, 1 clear message: Energy must tell our stories Written by: [Katie Mehnert](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/author/katie-mehnert) - [Share](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.allyenergy.com%2Fblog%2Fenergy-must-tell-its-stories) - [Share](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.allyenergy.com%2Fblog%2Fenergy-must-tell-its-stories&title=2%20new%20controversies%2C%201%20clear%20message%3A%20Energy%20must%20tell%20our%20stories&summary=The+energy+industry+needs+to+tell+its+story+better.+ALLY+Energy+is+telling+the+stories+of+men+and+women+in+energy.&source=) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/home?status=2+new+controversies%2C+1+clear+message%3A+Energy+must+tell+our+stories%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.allyenergy.com%2Fblog%2Fenergy-must-tell-its-stories) - [Watch](https://vimeo.com/allyenergy) ![](https://www.allyenergy.com/hubfs/Energy%20Stories.jpg) Two news stories over the past week have shed new light on how important it is for those of us in energy to speak loudly and proudly about the good work we do. First, outdoor recreation company The North Face reportedly [turned down](https://www.cbs7.com/2020/12/11/north-face-turns-back-on-local-oil-and-gas-company/) an order from Innovex Downhole Solutions because it did not want to support an oil and gas business. (The company [acknowledged to Snopes](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-north-face-refuse-jackets/) that it did not fulfill the order but did not say why.) As you may have [seen on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/katiemehnert_north-face-turns-back-on-west-texas-oil-and-activity-6743500540728242176-pCDy/), I was among those calling on The North Face’s corporate leadership to avoid taking an obtuse view. Businesses of all kinds should work with energy companies and their people on joint goals rather than shun them. Second, you may have seen backlash on inaugural festivities. What do these stories have in common? They speak to the false impression that people across the country and around the world have of our industry. Most people still don’t know that oil and gas companies are some of the biggest investors in renewable energy. That they consider decarbonization fundamental to their immediate growth. That Texas is producing more energy from renewable sources than from carbon, and the most wind energy of any state. (For more on this, see [my recent piece in USA Today](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/10/28/trump-oil-gas-focus-misreads-texas-renewable-energy-shift-column/3746161001/).) For far too long, we as an industry have been too insular when it comes to our work cultures and storytelling. We have failed to communicate about what we’re up to and where we stand. As Sproule’s Deb Ryan, one of the [Top Energy Voices of 2020](https://allyenergy.com/ally-top-energy-voices-2020/), said at one of our events this year, we as an industry “are not good advocates for what we do.” ## This leaves a vacuum. It leads to parts of the energy industry being villainized rather than welcome to the table in discussing solutions to move toward decarbonization. And it makes bad actors (like those who would use images of real women in presenting fake identities) seem representative of the sector. Across this industry, all those of us committed to an equitable energy transition are allies. We’re coming together on the [ALLY platform](https://allyenergy.com) to share knowledge, ideas, career opportunities, connections, and more. We’re discussing [racial justice](https://allyenergy.com/how-black-lives-matter-in-energy/), equity, ESG and much more. Be sure to check out our new podcast, [The Voices of Energy](https://allyenergy.com/podcast/). And participate in our live virtual [events](https://allyenergy.com/events/), where you can share your views and ask questions from experts. In the year ahead, let’s resolve to be proactive in projecting the reality of our industry to people across the country and around the world. We power people’s lives -- and together, we can all be part of building a better, stronger future. ## Related Posts [![Why We Need a Few (More) Good Men in Energy](https://www.allyenergy.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/A-Few-More-Good-Men-1-p2sbyj6uqg4wpl4qamx5gsl1siwewxv9v1etjhgqrs.jpeg) Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Recognition Why We Need a Few (More) Good Men in Energy ![](https://www.allyenergy.com/hubfs/Blog%20Authors/ally_one.jpeg) ALLY](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/a-few-good-men-chevrons-hugh-connett-on-inclusion) [![The Pied Piper of Women in Energy](https://www.allyenergy.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/bizwomenlogo-p2saqoztzm4h8at5a6qjocu4ekz4x4ty622krwgqyw.jpeg) Diversity, Equity & Inclusion The Pied Piper of Women in Energy ![](https://www.allyenergy.com/hubfs/Blog%20Authors/ally_one.jpeg) ALLY](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/the-pied-piper-of-women-in-energy) [![Energy 2.0 – Meeting the urgency of climate change](https://www.allyenergy.com/hubfs/89-6C9A1061.jpg) Energy Insights, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Uncategorized Energy 2.0 – Meeting the urgency of climate change Sarah LC Smith](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/energy-2.0-the-takeaways-meeting-the-urgency-of-climate-change) ### Subscribe Here! [![ALLY Energy](https://www.allyenergy.com/hubfs/MJTW%20Assets/logos/ally-energy-logo-on-dark.svg)](https://www.allyenergy.com/) Unleashing the next generation of builders and difference makers. 801 Travis Street, Ste 2101 PMB 1589 Houston, Texas 77002 [+1 281-741-5482](tel:+12817415482) - [About](https://www.allyenergy.com/about) - [Our Press](https://www.allyenergy.com/about/press) - [Our Philanthropy](http://www.alliesinenergy.org) ©2026 ALLY Energy. All rights reserved. - [Help](https://www.allyenergy.com/help) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.allyenergy.com/privacy-policy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Katie Mehnert", "url" : "https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/author/katie-mehnert" }, "dateModified" : "2022-11-27T22:14:42.621Z", "datePublished" : "2020-12-20T22:12:00.000Z", "headline" : "2 new controversies, 1 clear message: Energy must tell our stories", "image" : [ "https://www.allyenergy.com/hubfs/Energy%20Stories.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/energy-must-tell-its-stories", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.allyenergy.com/hubfs/MJTW%20Assets/logos/ally-energy-logo-2.svg" }, "name" : "ALLY Energy " } } ```