COLUMBUS — State and local government leaders and an advocate for the oil and gas industry disputed testimony given to the U.S. House Subcommittee on the Environment on Thursday.
Prior to the hearing, local officials said they see great potential in the industry. Belmont County Commissioner J.P. Dutton said the board of commissioners has been responsive to residents’ issues with companies operating in the region and that commissioners have opposed placing injection wells for waste disposal near populated areas along U.S. 40. His colleagues agreed.
“I still have faith that the oil and gas industry is alive and well in Belmont County,” Commissioner Jerry Echemann said. “One good part about oil prices going up is that it helps the oil and gas industries. Those companies want to see prices rise, so that should spark more activity. It’s unfortunate that at the gas pump we’ve been paying about 40 cents a gallon more since President (Joe) Biden got elected, but it is going to help our oil and gas companies that operate around here if oil prices are higher. I don’t want them to go too high. I’m like everybody else. But I think oil and gas is here to stay in Belmont County, and I’m happy about that. They’ve done a lot for the county, and I’m behind them.”
After the hearing, Ohio Sen. Frank Hoagland, R-Mingo Junction, released a statement regarding the panel of speakers as a whole.
“Far left attempts to vilify the significant economic opportunities brought by the oil and gas industry are patently false and an out of touch attack on this valley and the people who call it home. Additionally, other sectors and small businesses have grown with Ohio and the gas industry. Liberal think tanks privately funded by millionaires don’t care about whether people here at home have reliable jobs that pay well, or what the cost of gas is, or if people have access to a secure energy grid when they flip the light switch. Thankfully, the Ohio General Assembly does, and I will make sure we keep it that way.”
Mike Chadsey, spokesman for Ohio Oil & Gas Association that advocates for the industry, watched the three-hour discussion.
“Today’s congressional hearing that focused on industry taxes and our environment was long on grand-standing and buzzwords and short on facts. Despite the misinformation that Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib claimed, folks in the Ohio Valley know that Ohio is proudly leading the nation in carbon emission reductions thanks to increased natural gas production used for electricity generation. The bottom line is that natural gas is part of the climate change solution, not part of the problem. Our shared goal is to continue to be good stewards of the land, air and water while powering our rebounding economy,” he said in response.
“When comparing natural gas to renewables, one cannot simply look at only the challenges of gas and only the positives of wind and solar. Each has its upsides and its challenges. The great opportunity with Ohio is that we are an energy rich and energy diverse state powering our manufacturing and transportation, and that is a good thing. Consumer choice and the free market are both very important and should be driving decisions, not fear, uncertainty and doubt,” he continued. “Over the last several months companies within the oil and gas industry were afforded the same opportunities as every other industry during the pandemic to seek relief to try and help keep people on the payroll and the lights on. Had that not happened many of our companies both large and small would not be here today. As this community health crisis continues, the natural gas industry has a major role to play to support those on the front lines with plastic face shields, medicine and thousands of other items to keep people safe.”
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