Earlier this week the U.S. Forest Service delayed the lease sale of approximately 3,300 acres in the Wayne National Forest for shale oil and gas drilling. The Forest Service states that conditions have changed since the 2006 Forest plan was developed.
The exploration and development of shale oil and gas is creating thousands of jobs across Ohio and neighboring states, and providing a significant economic boost to the local communities. The impacts of shale exploration and development are felt throughout the economy, from the companies that do the fracturing all the way to the local restaurants and hotels.
Just recently the Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program estimated that drilling in the Utica shale in Ohio would produce up to 204,500 jobs by 2015. These much-needed jobs are put at risk with the delay of the lease sale.
Manufactures remain concerned with how this delay and potential future delays will directly impact their energy costs and ability to compete. Access to affordable sources of energy is directly linked to the competitiveness of manufacturers as they use one-third of our nation’s energy supply.
We are hopeful that this lease sale delay in the Wayne National Forest does not trigger a chain reaction for similar delays throughout the country, potentially locking up an important resource and driver of job creation. Our nation needs jobs and shale development provides a tremendous opportunity for job creation as well as access to an important and valuable new source of energy.
Chip Yost is vice president for energy and resources policy, National Association of Manufacturers.
December 17th, 2011 on 2:25 pm
The oil industry has undergone a revolution. New technology for extracting shale gas and oil could make the US energy self-sufficient in 10 years. This is the beginning of the oil age, not the end. Despite what you might have heard, it is safe and clean, with no danger to ground water or air quality. And, yes, I am an expert.
Also, global warming is now shown -without a doubt- to be a myth.
The boom is already beginning despite resistance from you know who. If the feds will just get out of the way – no subsidies, no bailouts required- a new era of plentiful energy and prosperity could flourish.
BUT, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!*
* J.A. Belushi, circa 1970
November 19th, 2011 on 1:00 am
This president is waging economic war on his own people; we simply cannot stand another four years of this ineptitude.
We are marching headlong into the Dark Ages. While the environmentalists in this country pine for the tenents of the Kyoto Treaty, China and India — countries which have no intent to adopt those tenets — are crushing what little manufacturing base we have left.