Natural Gas Will Grow in West Virginia
February 6, 2008
By Scott Rotruck
ENERGY is one of the most critical and defining issues of this century, and West Virginia is poised to be a major source of energy for the entire country.
The Mountain State is blessed with tremendous reserves of natural gas. Natural gas is the cleanest domestic fossil fuel and produces less greenhouse gases than other fossil fuels.
All across West Virginia and the nation, people use natural gas to warm their homes, cook their meals, and heat their water. More than 400,000 West Virginia homes, businesses and industries use natural gas.
Right here in Kanawha County, 3,405 natural gas wells have been drilled, providing an important energy source as well as employment opportunities.
Currently, some 15,000 West Virginians are employed by the natural gas industry, many of them in Kanawha County. These jobs include rig hands, well tenders, landmen, petroleum engineers, geologists and many others.
With the rising demand for natural gas, the industry expects to add another 3,000 workers statewide over the next five years. That means more good-paying jobs for people in our communities.
Natural gas is a vital part of our economy. Last year alone, Kanawha County received more than $10.2 million in severance tax and property tax revenue because of the production of natural gas - with the lion's share of that money going toward local schools.
Clearly, the natural gas industry fuels our homes, businesses, schools and our local economy. Coupled with new drilling projects and building infrastructure, the oil and natural gas industry in West Virginia annually invests more than $1 billion in the state.
The need for reliable sources of energy continues to grow. New data just released by the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission indicates that by 2025, the U.S. demands for energy will dramatically increase for all energy resources.
Specifically, petroleum needs are expected to increase by 47 percent, renewable energy by 46 percent, coal by 30 percent, and natural gas by an incredible 54 percent.
West Virginia is in a unique position both geographically and geologically to meet these energy demands.
With our abundance of natural gas, West Virginia and Kanawha County can help make this state and nation as energy independent as possible.
During his recent State of the State address, Gov. Joe Manchin said that "Natural gas is...a fundamental building block of our state's economy."
He went on to add: "... I challenge us all to do our part to ensure our state and our country have a stable energy supply so that we can control our own destiny and protect our nation's security."
Increased production and use of natural gas is an immediate solution for improving the nation's energy outlook. West Virginia and Kanawha County must stand shoulder to shoulder so we can ensure this vital resource will continue to advance economic growth and lessen our reliance on foreign sources of energy.
This column was submitted on behalf of the West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association, the Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia, and Energize West Virginia. In addition to Rotruck of Chesapeake Energy, it was also signed by David Haney of E & H Manufacturing; Ken Mariani of EnerVest Operating, LLC; Rick Rubin of Rubin Resources, Inc.; Douglas Malcolm of D.C. Malcolm, Inc.; George Patterson of Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love; Rick Smith of Weatherford Fracturing Technologies; Tom Liberatore of Cabot Oil and Gas; Rich Heffelfinger of Rubin Resources, Inc.; and Dave Spigelmyer of Equitable Resources.
