Ohio’s natural gas and oil industry is committed to a dual track of lowering the industry’s carbon footprint while maintaining reliability and affordability, according to panelists at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce’s recent energy conference. Participants were confident that this is achievable through an all-of-the-above energy portfolio that unleashes domestic oil and natural gas while capitalizing on renewable innovation.

On Thursday, energy leaders from across the value chain gathered for the Ohio Chamber’s “Energy Supply Chain: Present & Future” conference. Participants included oil and natural gas producers, pipeline operators, policymakers, renewable companies, and more, with questions largely centering on the energy transition and how various resources fit into the sustainable future.

See more of the highlights from the day where Energy in Depth was reporting on the ground:

Ohio’s Proximity to Marcellus and Utica Shale Provides Endless Resources

A key point reiterated was how Ohio – and the larger Appalachian region – is blessed with an abundance of natural gas resources by sitting on top of the Marcellus and Utica shales.

The region’s Shale Revolution has provided enormous direct and indirect economic benefits for the state including new markets, jobs, wage-growth, and more.

Jackie Stewart with Encino Energy, one of Ohio’s largest oil and natural gas producers, emphasized this point:

“The majority of our oil produced here in Ohio are going to Ohio refineries. Ohio made natural gas is running through these pipes…that means huge economic benefits.”  (emphasis added)

Adam Parker from pipeline company Enbridge added:

“We [the energy industry] exist to fuel our quality of life…from charging our cell photos to heating our homes. All of us working together are a key enabler for Ohio’s economy.”

Vince Parisi with Columbia Gas also highlighted the energy industry’s economic impact to Ohio:

“We’re investing in our system to make sure our customers have that safe and reliable energy system that fuels economic development. Connection of our pipes to those end use customers, to those people that create jobs and help our economy is critical.”

To hit this point home about the role Ohio energy plays in everyday Buckeye lives, Matt White with IGS said:

“Energy is important. If you look at the advancement of human society, we’ve lifted billions of people out of poverty.…we need energy to continue our lifestyle and continue lifting people up.”

Ohio Energy Providers are Ready to Unleash American Energy

A regulatory environment that provides certainty and stability for the industry was another key topic throughout the conference. While highlighting innovative steps taken to drive down methane and carbon emissions, industry leaders argued that a stable and fair regulatory environment allows for increased domestic production and the market to flourish.

Encino’s Stewart emphasized this point that EID has also covered extensively – if American energy is unleashed, it is cleaner and more affordable than when it’s done so overseas:

“These are uniquely American innovations…that’s why American producers are producing cleaner natural gas than anywhere in the world. So why would we not double down on that?…We’re ready, we want to unleash American energy. And we can and we will if we’re allowed to – and we’ll do it the cleanest the world has ever seen.” (emphasis added)

Heath Knakmuhs with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Energy Institute also emphasized the impacts policies can have on consumers, referencing California’s recent blackouts and grid instability, as well as New England’s impending winter crisis due to insufficient pipeline capacity as “canaries in the coal mine.”

Knakmuhs argued that these cases should serve as a cautionary tale to policymakers and activists, warning about:

“…environmental groups pushing the retirement of what are environmentally friendly assets without anything to step up in its absence.”

This could lead to grid instability for a shortage of needed power. Instead, industry leaders from across the value chain emphasized the symbiotic relationship that exists between energy resources.

Oil and Natural Gas Complement Renewable Technologies, Not an Either/Or Calculation

The overarching theme from the day was how many of these energy resources work hand in hand, not against each other, and that the future energy transition requires an all-of-the-above approach, including oil, natural gas, hydrogen, solar, wind, and more.

While highlighting Marathon Petroleum’s sustainability efforts, Tracie McCall said:

“It’s about diversification, there’s room for everyone. It really comes back to affordability…The reality is wind and solar technology wouldn’t exist without fossil fuels. The solar cell wouldn’t exist without a fossil fuel. That blade on a wind turbine wouldn’t exist without fossil fuels…you still need fossil fuels at the core…it’s about balance.” (emphasis added)

Enbridge’s Adam Parker emphasized the industry’s evolution that has led to a lower carbon footprint while still meeting energy needs:

“It’s not an ‘either or’ calculation. It’s an ‘and.’ Overtime our energy mix has always evolved…at our foundation we exist to improve quality of life. And we evolve with the times.” (emphasis added)

And when asked by moderators about the role natural gas will play in the future energy transition, industry leaders agreed that natural gas is here to stay, specifically highlighting natural gas’ ability to solve renewable’s intermittency challenges, something EID has covered time and again.

Here’s Matt White with IGS:

“Natural gas plays a very important role in supplying our energy future…fortunately we have an abundance of natural gas here in Ohio…natural gas is a relatively clean energy source, cleaner than oil and coal. As we transition to a renewable energy future, natural gas will still be that reliable fuel. It’s fundamentally needed for us to transition to renewable energy because we can’t just make that transition overnight.” (emphasis added)

Bottom Line: Ohio industry leaders agree that an all-of-the-above energy policy is necessary for energy security and independence. Energy producers in the Buckeye State and across the country are continuously innovating, proactively bringing down their carbon footprint, deploying pioneering partnerships, and welcoming and working with new technologies – all while meeting families’ energy needs.