“ This is the time to take our coal , natural gas and natural gas liquids and create career jobs . The real prize is to get a job in this industry that starts at $ 60,000 and goes up to six figures and to stay in West Virginia . I want to give West Virginia a chance to grow and see our kids come home .”
The federal government also has a long-term impact on the natural gas industry because it indirectly regulates exports and imports through its control of the permits required to build and operate the terminals necessary for those activities . It should be a priority to return manufacturing to West Virginia .
“ The benefits to West Virginia don ’ t only come from drilling and producing — they come from using the natural gas . We need to be thinking in terms of , ‘ What can we make in West Virginia that people are importing ?’” Hanshaw says .
With the cost of ocean transport , there is much to be gained from making things in a state like West Virginia that has natural gas and the workforce , according to Kozera .
“ If you can make it in West Virginia , the transport cost goes away ,” he says . “ Look at what is being imported . If you can make it , you can probably make it cheaper . Why aren ’ t we making things here ? At the end of the day , if we demand it , we can make it better , cheaper and more dependable . Companies are figuring this stuff out .”
Some are quietly cutting supply chains because of the expense . Ohio and Pennsylvania have smoothed the development process by certifying sites where it ’ s already safe to develop . If West Virginia started doing the same , it would speed up an already lengthy process in creating manufacturing .
“ When it comes to producing electricity by using natural gas instead of coal , it may not be a popular subject in West Virginia , but it ’ s a tremendous opportunity ,” says Charlie Burd , executive director of the Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia .
Federal regulations and environmental impact studies have brought attention to options other than coal . Natural gas burns cleaner and has the potential for lower rates , in part because it is readily abundant .
“ It ’ s way more affordable than solar and wind ,” Burd says , adding that the natural gas is used in producing turbines themselves . “ It ’ s either natural gas produced here in West Virginia or in other states . If it ’ s here , it means more severance , property , payroll and sales taxes , and it would be great for tourism and the hospitality industry .”
Opening doors in the natural gas industry to grow the energy industry itself and bolster manufacturing is a tremendous opportunity for future generations to stay in West Virginia and build a good life .
“ This is the time to take our coal , natural gas and natural gas liquids and create career jobs ,” Kozera says . “ The real prize is to get a job in this industry that starts at $ 60,000 and goes up to six figures and to stay in West Virginia . I want to give West Virginia a chance to grow and see our kids come home .” •
WE CUSTOMIZE OUR SERVICES TO MEET YOUR NEEDS
Founded in 1946 and acquired by The Poca Valley Bankshares , Inc . in 2004 , Hays & Company specializes in revenue distribution for the oil and gas industry .
Hays & Company has a long history of more than 70 years of service to the oil and gas industry . Founder Bernard Hays was instrumental in founding the Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia in 1959 , which continues to be a respected association for the industry today .
Hays & Company ’ s services include :
• Oil and Gas Disbursing
• Oil and Gas Reporting and Filings
• Oil and Gas Year-End Reporting
• Tax Preparation
• Payroll Processing
• Tax Filings
• General Bookkeeping
• Industry-Specific Reporting
Spencer • Clendenin • Charleston
Tax services are also offered at all seven Poca Valley Bank locations .
P . O . Box 649 , Spencer , WV 25276 ( 304 ) 927-2650 • haysandco @ haysandco . com
www . haysandco . com
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