New York State needs to reap the economic benefits of President Trump’s National Energy Emergency Declaration by removing barriers to development of the oil and natural gas under our feet.

In 2021, NYSERDA published information that 70-plus % of the total energy used in New York State comes from oil and natural gas sources. (Wind and solar provided less than 5%.) These percentages still hold true today.

Some of the oil and natural gas we use is produced in New York, the rest is transported in from other states (such as the Marcellus development in Pennsylvania). Other states are reaping the economic benefit of oil and natural gas development. New Yorkers need to demand state government remove the barriers to oil and natural gas well development and approval of necessary pipeline projects within the state.

A recent survey showed 95% of U.S. oil and gas production companies have less than 100 full time employees – they met criteria for a small business. These are the type of companies who locate on “Main Street,” live in our communities, provide family sustaining jobs, support existing businesses, increase the tax base through clean, safe development of our natural resources and participate in the data driven economy.

The law and regulatory process in New York has been weaponized to deprive New Yorkers of local production of this reliable, safe, clean and lower cost energy source that supports our lifestyle and economy.

Finally, New York state has attracted a Micron chip factory and there are other companies looking to locate data centers in Western New York.

All of these industries will require large amounts of safe, reliable energy. Today, clean, reliable natural gas is the most likely energy to meet these energy demands. This means more energy will have to be transported into New York to meet these needs.

With the existing barriers to oil and natural gas development in New York State, the oil and gas industry can’t develop the energy under our feet.

Do New York communities want to miss out on energy economic benefits or let Pennsylvania and other states benefit?

Mary Gilstrap is a Mayville resident.