Utica shale to be boon for jobs in Ohio, study says
12/25/2012AKRON — Utica shale development will support 143,000 jobs in Ohio by 2020 and 266,000 by 2035 — dramatic increases from the 38,380 jobs today.
That analysis came last week from IHS Inc., a leading global energy research group.
The study’s co-sponsors included the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy, the American Petroleum Institute, the American Chemistry Council, America’s Natural Gas Alliance, and the Natural Gas Supply Association.
The report also showed that Ohio drilling in 2012 added $4.1 billion to the state’s economy. That total is projected to reach $18 billion by 2020.
Drilling produced $911 million in 2012 in state and local tax revenues enue in Ohio, a total that could climb to $4.6 billion by 2020.
“Shale energy is a game-changer for America and for Ohio,” said Karen Harbert, president and chief executive officer of the energy institute.
Linda Woggon, executive vice president of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and executive director of the Ohio Shale Coalition, said: “Ohio is already seeing a significant boost to our economy from shale energy, and this study shows that much more is to come.”
The state has issued permits for 477 wells in the still-developing Utica shale region in eastern Ohio.
To date, 196 wells have been completed, with 45 in production.
The industry expects to have more than 2,000 Utica wells in Ohio by 2015.
The report is online at uschamber.com.