More southeastern Ohio land opened for oil, gas leasing
State officials approved fracking bids for nearly 15,000 acres on Monday, which environmental advocates claimed is the most significant expansion of fracking in state history.
From the 22 bids considered, the Oil and Gas Land Management Commission agreed to open up 12,963 acres in the Egypt Valley Wildlife Area, 1,843 acres of Jockey Hollow Wildlife Area and an additional 513 acres at Salt Fork State Park.
Those leases would send $241 million in upfront payments to the Department of Natural Resources, $200,621 to the Department of Transportation and $17,202 to the Department of Rehabilitation & Corrections. The departments could add to that total amount through incentives and royalties if oil or gas is produced.
Among those selected by commissioners during a rowdy public meeting, Gulfport Appalachia LLC and Grenadier Energy III LLC were awarded several of those bids, receiving the exclusive right to lease the mineral rights on thousands of acres.
In return, the state gets a 12.5% royalty paid based on how much production occurs at a leased site. State agencies that lease the mineral rights receive royalties and incentives from the developer.
Commissioners also turned down several nominations for Egypt Valley in addition to a right-of-away along State Route 515 and Interstate 70 in Guernsey County.
Advocates with Save Ohio Parks — who have repeatedly requested a statewide fracking moratorium — again expressed frustration with the fracking of state lands, warning of potential consequences for those in southeastern Ohio both now and in the future.
Save Ohio Parks Board President Cathy Cowan Becker contended the state is looking to fracking to meet the energy needs of data center developers.
And while noting that a 2025 energy law (HB 15) made some improvements to the state’s energy landscape, she criticized language that allowed large energy users to get fast-tracked approval to build major energy facilities.
“It's on the data center's property, and data centers can now get these enormous gas combustion plants and gas fuel cells approved in just 60 days,” she said during a press conference before the meeting. “The process does not need to include any public notice, any public hearing, any consultation with local officials.”
Others also took issue with two pieces of recently enacted legislation regarding carbon sequestration wells and updating oil and gas laws (HB 170 & SB 219).
Industry groups praised both laws upon their signing, with the American Petroleum Institution-Ohio calling HB170 a win for energy development and environmental stewardship" and the Ohio Oil and Gas Association calling SB219 one of the most comprehensive updates to the state's regulatory framework in more than a decade.
Save Ohio Parks member Randi Pokladnik, however, argued that HB170 grants the Department of Natural Resources broad authority over what she described as a “relatively new, unproven technology.”
Despite claims that it could reduce the amount of carbon emissions entering the atmosphere, she suggested carbon capture and sequestration “will not make a dent in the emissions of climate-changing gasses.”
“It will, however, provide substantial revenues for polluting industries and help data centers greenwash their image,” Pokladnik contends.
Terri Sabo, who lives outside Salt Fork State Park, added that in her view SB219 could harm many of her neighbors since it gives the commission 90 days to decide on a nomination to lease public lands.
Before DeWine’s signature, the commission had 180 days to make a determination.
“Our parks belong to us, and we should have a say,” Sabo, a Save Ohio Parks member, said. “Instead, our lands are being destroyed by the oil and gas industry.”