Opportunity Knocks
for the Mountain
State... Will We
Answer?
John. R. Kelly
potential oil and gas production in West Virginia.
In addition, we must encourage the construction of
pipelines, as well as building new processing facilities
in the state as the next logical step to further develop
and capitalize on our abundant natural resources. By
increasing the number and size of these facilities, we
create a tremendous need and opportunity for additional
jobs for West Virginians.
The development of Marcellus and Utica Shale
Today, West Virginia, like so many other states, is
may well be the financial savior for West Virginia.
struggling
for additional income. Our highways and
The petroleum industry has estimated that the Marcellus
secondary roads are in shambles. Our schools rank 48th
play contains 489 Trillion Cubic Feet of recoverable
natural gas, and over 3.4 Billion barrels of oil (based on in the nation. Our high school graduation rate is 8th
2011 US Geological Survey estimates). Recently, it was from the bottom. Our per capita income currently ranks
48th in the nation, and West Virginia is the only state in
estimated that Utica contains 785 Trillion Cubic Feet
the nation to have a negative
of recoverable natural base,
population flow.
and 1,960 Billion barrels of
If we as a state are going to
recoverable oil.
Now is the time to start
turn the tide and bring West
the conditions
Simply stated, these
Virginia to the forefront, our improving
that
exist
in
our state. Every
two natural gas deposits, in
Legislature
and
citizens
must
day we wait, is a day West
combination, are the largest
in the United States, [