Letter to the Editor: Natural gas and oil production good for Ohio

Marion Star. Ohio’s state land leasing program is currently underway, working through the comment and nomination process. However, misinformation on what the development of state land will actually look like has been rampant. A clear example is a recent opinion letter that ran in the Marion Star.

The letter argues “Ohio did not vote for this measure.” However, the Ohio legislature passed House Bill 507 due to the state’s overwhelming support of natural gas and oil. A 2022 survey found that 70% of Ohioans support natural gas and oil development in Ohio, furthermore 82% of respondents said that the natural gas and oil industry is essential to their everyday lives.

The letter goes on to make several unsubstantiated claims about the safety of production. Ohio’s natural gas and oil producers follow strict, responsible guidelines when it comes to the environment. A multi-year University of Cincinnati study on groundwater found no impacts from fracking. Additionally, water withdrawals are strictly regulated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

This is not the first time Ohio has entered into a public-private partnership and the results speak for themselves. We know this program has the ability to not only help power our communities but inject life into our local economies, and it can all be done in a safe, responsible way that Ohioans overwhelmingly support. Refusing to harness our natural resources in Ohio would be a mistake.

Bruce Tague, executive director, Ohio Natural Energy Institute