The oil and gas industry is facing its “last cycle,” according to consultancy Ernst & Young. What does that mean? It’s a “time when energy abundance, driven by technology, creates a permanent oversupply that not only keeps prices low but also allows consumers to make new choices about their energy usage.” In this new world, consumer perceptions are critical, writes E&Y in a new report . While most Americans still see fossil fuels playing an important role for decades to come, only about one in three trust the fossil industry — and the younger the generation, the higher the distrust of the industry. Those are some of the top-level findings laid out in the report, the first in a series to explore U.S. consumer attitudes toward the oil and gas industries. It’s based on polling of consumers of all ages, as well as oil and gas executives, starting in […]