WASHINGTON –  The Empowerment Alliance has received overwhelming support from Ohio lawmakers who have made their commitment to a clean future for all Ohioans by signing the Declaration of Energy Independence, which is a commitment from signers to low-cost, clean, and abundant energy that will lead to full American energy independence.

The Ohio signers include the following:

Governor Mike DeWine, Senator Rob Portman, Attorney General Dave Yost, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, Congressman Steve Stivers, Congressman Bob Latta, Congressman David Joyce, Congressman Bill Johnson, Congressman Anthony Gonzales, Congressman Bob Gibbs, Congressman Warren Davidson, and Congressman Troy Balderson have all signed the Declaration of Energy Independence.  

Nationally, over 1000 national leaders have signed the Declaration of Energy Independence. Further, TEA’s grassroots network, The Blue Energy Nation, has over 13,183 Ohio supporters and over 100,000 supporters nationally. 

“With the overwhelming support of Ohio policymakers, The Empowerment Alliance can continue to educate Ohioans on how natural gas is a low-cost, abundant, and clean energy choice that can power America to full energy independence. Ohio is already leading the way in natural gas production, and we look forward to continuing to advocate for this consumer-friendly and job-creating natural resource,” said Jim Nathanson, Executive Director of The Empowerment Alliance.

BACKGROUND

-Nearly 400,000 new Ohio jobs: From 2011 to 2018, shale-related industry employment increased 7.8 percent, employing over 389,000 Ohioans. Average wages across the shale-related industries also increased to $98,613 – over $49,000 greater than the average for all industries in the state.​

-A ban would cost 700,000 jobs: Ohio would lose an estimated 54,000 jobs in the upstream oil and gas industry from 2021-2025 if a hydraulic fracturing ban was put in place. Overall, By 2025, a hydraulic fracturing ban would cost Ohio 700,000 jobs.

-700 new businesses and $78 Billion In Investments In Ohio: From 2011 to 2018, 700 new businesses have been established across Ohio to support the shale industry, bringing in over $63.9 billion in new investment. From 2011 to 2018, shale-related investment in Ohio reached $78 billion.

-$40.4 billion in savings: Ohio natural gas consumers have saved over $40.2 billion between 2006 and 2016 simply as a result of the decreasing price of natural gas – with residential users saving almost $15 billion, while commercial and industrial users saved upwards of $25.3 billion.

-A ban would mean $5,625 in cost of living increases: A hydraulic fracturing ban would cost a residential consumer in Ohio $5,625 in the cumulative cost of living increases from 2021 to 2025.

-14 times more production in 5 years: In 2018, natural gas production in Ohio increased by more than 14 times its 2013 level, rising from less than 0.6 percent to 5.5 percent of the nation’s total production during that period.

-30 percent of the country’s gas supply: Ohio’s Appalachian Region currently produces 30 percent of the country’s natural gas supply, a growth of 900 percent since 2010.

-A ban would mean billions in losses for the Ohio economy: By 2025, a hydraulic fracturing ban would result in a $245 billion loss in gross domestic product, $119 billion loss in household incomes, $20.6 billion loss in state and local tax revenue for Ohio.

-A cleaner Ohio environment: Since 1990, Ohio’s emissions of key pollutants have decreased across the board, including a 16 percent reduction in CO2 emissions.