On March 12, 2025, The Marietta Times published a front-page feature highlighting reports praising the role of oil and natural gas in the Mid-Ohio Valley. These reports celebrated Mahoning and Trumbull counties as Ohio’s top producers of natural gas. Yet, just a day later, the newspaper acknowledged a harsh reality — despite all the glowing projections, the economic benefits remain largely invisible to the communities living amid the gas boom.
Mahoning County, home to Congressman Michael Rulli, still struggles with a poverty rate of 17.6% and unemployment at 6.6%. That’s well above the national averages of 11.1% and 4.1%, respectively. In short, as The Times put it, “Something about this process is broken.”
And what’s broken is clear — massive oil and gas corporations are pulling billions in profit from the region, while Appalachia sees little in return.
Fracking’s Dirty Legacy
Washington County, Ohio, finds itself at the center of this imbalance. While the region doesn’t reap major rewards from natural gas extraction, it bears the brunt of its environmental impact. It leads the state in handling production waste — the toxic byproduct of fracking, also known as brine waste. Deep Rock Disposal recently applied for a permit to establish yet another injection well in Warren Township, despite growing opposition from residents and local leaders.
Even as community members request public meetings to address their environmental and health concerns, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources refuses to engage directly.
Economic Hype vs. Reality
Fossil fuel supporters have long touted natural gas as a golden ticket to prosperity in northern Appalachia — spanning eastern Ohio, West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, and western Pennsylvania. But a 2025 study by the Ohio River Valley Institute (ORVI) paints a much bleaker picture.
Instead of job growth and booming communities, the report found stagnant or declining economies. In 30 counties producing natural gas across the tri-state area, employment dropped by 1%, while national employment rose by 14%. Population in these areas fell by 3%, in contrast to a 10% growth nationwide. Income growth in Appalachia now trails the national average by more than 30%.
The promise of hydrogen as the next frontier — particularly through projects like ARCH2, meant to produce hydrogen from methane — has also fizzled. As financial realities hit, many projects have been canceled or scaled back, reinforcing concerns about the sustainability of these energy ventures.
What’s Driving the Demand for Gas?
While natural gas production continues, its main use isn’t helping local households. A large portion will power newly constructed gas-fired power plants, particularly to serve the growing electricity needs of massive data centers. Additionally, more gas will be converted into liquified natural gas (LNG) for export — with expanding port infrastructure playing a key role.
The increasing demand could drive up utility prices for local consumers, even though the gas is sourced from their own backyards.
A Different Path Forward: Sustainable, Labor-Intensive Growth
So, if natural gas has failed to deliver, what could replace it as a genuine engine for economic development?
A compelling alternative comes from ReImagine Appalachia, a group proposing the development of a wind-turbine component manufacturing hub in the region. Instead of building turbines, the region could focus on making their parts — including the massive blades, generators, and battery components that power them.
With over 8,000 parts in a single wind turbine, the potential for labor-intensive, high-wage jobs is significant. The Ohio River would offer a logistical advantage, allowing oversized items like turbine blades to be transported by barge.
Meanwhile, researchers at the University of Kentucky and West Virginia University are exploring ways to extract rare-earth minerals — essential for clean energy technologies — from coal ash.
The push toward clean energy manufacturing could create lasting economic opportunities while avoiding the environmental toll of fossil fuel extraction.
