Energy leaders reflect on industry’s direction at Range Resources event
Brad Hundt/Observer-Reporter
A 20th anniversary of anything is an occasion for reflection and stock-taking, and on Wednesday, leaders in the commonwealth’s energy, policy and business industries discussed where the energy industry is headed amid what they believe are strong tailwinds coming from Washington, D.C.
At what was billed as an “energy and economic opportunity event” at Range Resources’ Southpointe headquarters sponsored by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry and the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, the consensus seemed to be that the Trump administration is looking favorably on the fossil fuel industry, but Pennsylvania still had ground to make up if it wanted to be more competitive with other states.
“The future is coming at us,” said George Stark, a former director of external affairs at Coterra Energy. “We have the opportunity to develop the resources that we have and develop them for the next generation. We need to figure out what comes next.”
In the two months since the second Trump administration began, it has looked favorably upon the fossil fuel industry, pausing federal permits for wind farms and declaring a natural energy emergency in order to “unlock America’s full energy potential.” Kristina Montgomery, director of retail policy for the power company Vistra Corp., explained that policy changes in the nation’s capital are “coming fast and furious,” adding, “the tone has been set by Washington, D.C.
Christopher Koop, public affairs manager for Energy Transfer, agreed.
“This administration has made unleashing American energy a high priority for the next four years,” he said.
Many of the participants in two panel discussions hoped that there would be reforms when it comes to permitting, regulatory certainty and policies that, in their estimation, would promote growth.
This week, a bill was approved by the Senate in neighboring Ohio that its supporters say would lead to the development of additional power plants fueled by natural gas. Stark said the Buckeye State has “a very, very favorable legislature,” and that Gov, Mike DeWine “understands the importance of utilizing Ohio energy.”
According to Luke Berstein, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, “The reality is, we have to be more competitive.”
The 20th anniversary of natural gas drilling in Washington County arrived last year, and Erin McDowell, senior vice president and general for Range Resources, said the arrival of the industry in the region has brought “enormous economic development.”
“Think about what we’ve done for the last 20 years,” McDowell explained.