Appalachiaâs natural gas boom turned out to be an economic bust that local and state officials can rebound from if they embrace the rising clean energy economy.
Thatâs the bottom line of two bottom-line-focused reports released Tuesday by nonprofit think tank Ohio River Valley Institute making an economic case for transitioning away from fossil fuels, especially natural gas development that has failed to convert production into prosperity.
âWe know that the Appalachian natural gas boom hasnât just failed to deliver growth and jobs and prosperity so far. We now know that itâs structurally incapable of doing so,â Ohio River Valley Institute senior researcher Sean OâLeary contended during a webinar on the reports Tuesday. â[That] means that a lot of economic development strategies in the region need to be rethought.â