From the Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program

GRANVILLE – A new poll commissioned by the Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program (OOGEEP) shows that 70% of Ohioans support natural gas and oil development in Ohio.

The news comes as energy prices have risen sharply in recent months, driven by strong ongoing demand for natural gas and oil and geopolitical unrest in Europe that has limited the energy supply.

“These numbers are proof that Ohioans overwhelmingly support the production of clean and reliable energy right here at home,” said George Brown, executive director of OOGEEP. “Recent global events have made it clear that producing more natural gas and oil domestically, including in Ohio, is essential to ensuring a stable and affordable source of energy.”

The poll also found that inflation is a major concern for Ohioans, with 88% of respondents reporting they are worried about its effects on their finances. Government policies and overspending is considered to be the primary cause of inflation by a majority of those polled.

Other notable findings from the poll include:

• 82% of Ohioans polled believe natural gas and oil is essential to their everyday lives.

• 71% of respondents had a positive or neutral opinion of the natural gas and oil industry.

• A majority of Ohioans oppose a ban on natural gas and oil development in Ohio.

“Ohioans have made their opinions clear, they want natural gas and oil development here in Ohio. Investing in homegrown energy means more than just production though, it means investing in pipelines and other essential energy infrastructure to get product where it is needed,” said Brown.

In 2020, OOGEEP launched the Essential Ohio Energy campaign to educate Ohioans about the importance of Ohio made natural gas and oil to everyday life. To date, the public awareness campaign has resulted in over 16 million impressions across the state, and the message is clearly resonating with Ohioans. Learn more at EssentialOhioEnergy.com.

The poll was conducted Jan. 18-24, 2022 and surveyed 697 Ohioans on their opinions of the natural gas and oil industry. It carries a margin of error of ± 3.7%.

About OOGEEP: The Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program (OOGEEP) is a non-profit statewide education and public outreach program. Created in 1998, OOGEEP provides a variety of programs throughout the State of Ohio on behalf of Ohio’s natural gas and crude oil producers. The primary goal of these programs is to educate Ohio’s consumers and leaders by focusing on industry research, teacher workshops, scholarships, science fair, firefighter training, career and workforce development, landowner and guest speaker programs.