Phil Reale on Inner Action Media discussing tax issues:
Charlie Burd discussing industry issues on March 9, 2022
GO-WV executive director talks gas prices, energy independence on West Virginia Legislature Livestream
by Charles Young WV NEWS
Mar 11, 2022
CHARLESTON – Wednesday’s episode of West Virginia Legislature Livestream featured an appearance by Charlie Burd, executive director of the Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia.
West Virginia Legislature Livestream, a live webcast from the Capitol, is a partnership among WV News, The State Journal, lnnerAction Media and West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
Burd, who headed the Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia before the organization merged with West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association in December 2020 to form GO-WV, spoke with host Jim Matuga about rising gasoline prices and achieving energy independence.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to soaring gas prices, with West Virginians paying over $4 per gallon for the first time since August 2008.
“I don’t believe that the prices are going to be reduced any time in the near future,” Burd said. ”The president’s decree stopping shipments of oil from Russia will certainly lead to more escalated prices. As a country, it’s an act or a move that solidifies our leadership in the world.”
The average price of a gallon of gas in West Virginia as of Wednesday was $4.06, according to AAA. The national average price per gallon was $4.25, up from $2.79 a year ago.
The current concern over rising energy prices has renewed calls for the U.S. to become truly “energy independent,” meaning it would not need to rely on foreign imports to meet domestic demand, Burd said.
“We’ve become the third-largest producer of natural gas in the world,” he said. “Only behind the United States as a whole and Russia – fourth would be Iran. Our three states (West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania), produce about 12 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and the U.S. produces about 33 trillion. So we’re about 38 or 40% of that total production.
