The American Petroleum Institute today rolled out its policy recommendations for the national political conventions, and good recommendations they are.

The report, released at a news conference at the National Press Club, goes by the title, "American Made Energy -- Report to the Platform Committees." In the report's opening and comments at the event, API President Jack Gerard posed the key questions:

The question is not whether we will continue to need oil and natural gas. We will. The question is: will we use our own vast energy supplies or rely on others? Will we improve our energy security as a result of developing abundant domestic supplies of oil and natural gas on federal and private lands, onshore and offshore?

The four policy areas requiring action:

1. Commitment to Access

2. Common Sense Regulatory Structure

3. Invest in America’s Future

4. A Sustainable Energy Future

Today's recommendations reinforce API's efforts to elevate energy as a campaign issue this year, represented most prominently by its Vote4Energy.org initiative. To which we say, keep it up!)

Video of the news conference, which was followed by a panel discussion, will be available at the EnergyTomorrow.org website.

API's Mark Green also tweeted up a storm during today's event at @EnergyTomorrow

News coverage ...

• The Hill (blog), Oil lobby gives wish-list to Dems, GOP
• "FuelFix (blog), "API pitches agenda for political parties: More drilling, more access"
• Crain's Cleveland Business, "Ohio is an energy lottery winner"
• ‎The Hill (blog), "Former Dem senator: Obama will eventually green-light Keystone"