VA Deserves a Piece of the Pie
March 31, 2011
Our country needs more energy. Our government needs more revenue and more Americans need jobs. So why are we not addressing these problems by increasing the production of more oil and natural gas domestically?
The oil and natural gas industry contributes $95 million daily to federal treasury, and the millions of jobs it supports pay on average more than $47/hour – or about $97,000 annually. This is double that of other occupations.
The unemployment rate in Virginia is 6.4 percent. In the Tidewater region, which would be positively affected by the development of oil and natural gas off of Virginia’s coastline, the rate is even higher at 7.6 percent.
This could change however if our own natural resources could be explored and retrieved. Look at what Marcellus Shale development has done for Pennsylvania. Even Chemung County in New York, a state doesn’t yet allow Marcellus Shale development, has seen tremendous economic growth as a result of it being close to Pennsylvania which does.
Instead of employing people internationally and funding foreign governments who may not always share our values for their oil and natural gas, why not use what we have here in the United States? Why not bring jobs and revenue to Virginia at a time we all agree it is badly needed? With billions at stake, Virginia deserves to be a part of America’s energy future.
Virginia Energy Forum
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