West Virginia’s natural gas and oil sector has directly contributed to more than 17,000 jobs in the state, in addition to $714 million in severance payments, according to the Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia (GO-WV). 

Natural Gas Production

“The facts are clear: our industry is driving economic prosperity in West Virginia,” said GO-WV Executive Director Charlie Burd. He also noted that the industry is “injecting crucial investment” into the state. 

“In total, the sector employs more than 17,000 direct jobs in the state. Indirect jobs in West Virginia are over 73,000, according to a study by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and contribute nearly $13 billion to the state’s economy,” according to GO-WV officials. 

West Virginia, the nation’s fourth largest natural gas-producing state,...