War, religion, politics, and guns have been hotly contested topics for decades, even millennia. It hasn’t been until the last decade or so when families, friends, and communities starting debating each other on the steps of state capitols and at dinner tables across the country over all aspects of energy, especially natural resource development.



It’s become an emotional debate, with two sides that feel like the other is not listening. Companies are frustrated,…

Dr. Robert W. Chase, Chair and Professor at Marietta College, gives background on Ohio production data:

"After at least an extra month of guarded anticipation, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (DNR) finally released oil and gas production data on 86 wells producing from the Utica shale during 2012.  Oddly enough, an article from Reuters appearing in Friday’s papers dismisses the Utica play as a bust.  To quote the…

"Last night, voters in the City of Youngstown roundly rejected an ill advised “Community Bill of Rights” charter amendment that threatened the city from regaining its status as the economic powerhouse it once was.  The final vote tally shows the charter amendment was handily defeated by a 57% to 43% margin.  In the end 3,821 voted against the measure while only 2,880 voted to enact the…

Energy Day took place last week in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The event was organized by America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA), the Associated Petroleum Industries of PA (American Petroleum Institute, API), the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) and the Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association (PIOGA). The event was attended by over 300 individuals and representatives of 13 different Chambers of Commerce. We will be…

Energy in Depth's Shawn covers the tedious process of permitting in Ohio:

"A recent article in the Columbus Dispatch, entitled “Drillers: Ohio easy place to do business in,” left readers with the impression that Ohio has a rubber stamp system for permitting oil and gas development, and by extension a lack of proper scrutiny on safety and environmental protection.…

Building on strong numbers from the first quarter of 2013, Utica Shale development in the second quarter of 2013 has been taking off in Ohio. Of course, we see headlines each week in newspapers all over the Buckeye state indicating new jobs, investments,…