CLEVELAND, July 20 (UPI) -- Labor growth in Ohio, the state hosting the Republican nominating convention, is in parts thanks to the extraction of natural gas, an industry leader said.
Jack Gerard, president and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, boasted of the benefits for Ohio of a strong energy sector.
"The energy renaissance that's transforming our nation is bringing great benefits to Ohio including jobs in the state," he said from the sidelines of the nominating convention in Cleveland. "In fact, over 255,000 jobs are supported by the oil and natural gas industry in Ohio."
Part of the Utica shale natural gas basin sits beneath Ohio and production in the five years ending in 2015 has increased by a factor of 12 so that now, Ohio accounts for about 2 percent of the nation's total marketed natural gas.
Related
A state report from third quarter 2015, the last period for which the state provides data, found industry employment was up 102 percent from the same quarter in 2011. Wages across all core shale-related industries was $29,600 per year greater than the four-quarter average for all other industries in the state.
A report last year from the U.S. Energy Information Administration found net natural gas production from new wells drilled into U.S. shale reserves is not enough to counter the expected decline from legacy wells.
At the time, EIA found only the Utica shale basin in Ohio was expected to post an increase in short-term production of the seven shale reserve areas it measured.
Donald Trump secured the nomination as the party's presidential nominee Tuesday in Cleveland. He's adopted an energy platform that aligns squarely with policies embraced by the API.
