Events

Webinar: Fueling the Economic Recovery Through Manufacturing – October 28, 2020

Williamsport, PA – Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation, in cooperation with Marcellus Drilling News and Natural Gas Now hosted a Think About Energy Briefing webinar on Wednesday October 28, 2020.

Today’s webinar featured Pennsylvania Representatives Mike Reese, Representative John Fritz, Representative Josh Kail and Executive Director for the Builders Guild of Western PA Jeff Nobers.

The webinar provided attendees with a look at the recently announced “Commonwealth’s COVID Comeback” legislative package. The pro-jobs, recovery focused initiative is designed to help rebound the economy by incentivizing manufacturing with no new taxes or fees.

George Stark, Director, External Affairs, Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation, moderated today’s discussion. “The global pandemic has highlighted the United States reliance on imports. As we look to rebuild the economy, it is great to see a pro-active approach from our legislative body in Pennsylvania. The legislative package that our guests are discussing today is a step to rebuilding our economy,” said Stark.

Representative Mike Reese (R-59) discussed the role of government in helping to grow the economy.

“We recognize the need for the government to create an environment for success,” said Reese. “My part of this package focuses on combining the Education Committee and the Commerce Committee in a bipartisan way to bring together our great resources in the workforce and the economy we have in Pennsylvania.”

Reese urged people to get involved to help move the package of bills forward.

“Contact your Representatives and Senators tell them this is important to you to make sure we have a foundation set for a brighter future for all of us,” concluded Reese.

Representative Jonathan Fritz (R-111) emphasized that all industries need predictability and stability to succeed.

“We recognize a huge stumbling block here is a lack of stability and predictably when it comes to regulations, which is so vital to those looking to set roots and invest here,” said Fritz. “This Commonwealth’s regulatory environment scares off business.”

Fritz stressed there is an opportunity to help provide opportunities for kids coming out of high school and college. “We need to focus on reversing the brain drain in parts of Pennsylvania. And the best way you can do that is by making sure there is a variety of good, family-sustaining career opportunities. How do you get there? Ask how we can help bring investment here.”

Representative Josh Kail (R-15) explained the importance of the legislative package in how it will create opportunities for future generations in energy and manufacturing.

“We want to make sure our children have the job opportunities to stay here,” said Kail. “When we say we want jobs here, they need to be jobs that pay and those that facilitate job growth like manufacturing, petrochemicals, energy.”

“A focus on making sure Pennsylvania has these opportunities has only been heightened by COVID-19. It became important to look at what we could do to help the economy as we come out of the pandemic,” said Kail. “Now we are seeing that reshoring manufacturing is a matter of national security. The package of legislation will help promote that reshoring using our resources here like brownfield sites, a strong workforce and abundant energy,” concluded Kail.

Jeff Nobers, Executive Director for the Builders Guild of Western Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh Works Together, highlighted the importance of natural gas development to the economy.

“The basis of any successful economy is readily available and abundant energy; the only thing that can stop us from prospering is having policy and regulatory decisions made based on incomplete and often inaccurate information,” said Nobers.

Nobers went on to discuss the importance of the Commonwealth’s COVID Comeback legislative package. “If we don’t do this, there are 49 other states that will,” said Nobers. “Using domestic energy to make these products domestically is more environmentally friendly than relying on other countries with less stringent environmental protections.”

To learn more about the Commonwealth COVID Comeback legislative package, visit http://www.pahousegop.com/comeback. For more on today’s Think About Energy Briefing and the briefing series’ history, please visit www.thinkaboutbriefing.com.

 

About Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. (NYSE: COG) – Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation is an independent oil and gas company engaged in the development, exploitation and exploration of oil and gas properties exclusively in the continental United States. Cabot continues to refine its operating focus, narrowing its natural gas development effort to the Marcellus Shale in northeast Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www.cabotog.com.

About Marcellus Drilling News – Marcellus Drilling News (MDN) helps people & businesses profit from Northeast shale drilling. MDN provides a free daily email alert with the industry’s top headlines delivered to subscriber’s inbox. For more information, visit www.marcellusdrilling.com.

 About Natural Gas Now – The Natural Gas Now blog is intended to promote responsible natural gas development as a vehicle to achieve American energy independence, promote rural economic development  and, thereby, give farmers and other landowners the basis for keeping their land in its farm, forest or other open space uses. For more information, visit www.naturalgasnow.org.

 About Think About Energy Briefing – Think About Energy Briefing is an educational program to help communities understand the environmental and economic opportunities afforded by the Appalachian Region’s abundant natural gas reserves. Originating in 2013, the briefing brings together individuals and businesses to hear from top industry representatives, public officials, natural gas producers, midstream companies, utilities, trade associations, educational institutions and ends users. Learn more at www.thinkaboutbriefing.com.

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Speakers

  • Representative Josh Kail
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    Representative Josh Kail

    A lifelong resident of Western Pennsylvania, Josh Kail is a legislator who will work to protect taxpayers, reform Harrisburg and bring family-sustaining jobs to the 15th Legislative District. Pro-life and pro-Second Amendment, Josh is committed to defending constitutional liberties.

    He has long understood the importance of controlling taxes while modernizing education, as well as the need to put an end to job-killing overregulation and to apply conservative solutions to our state’s challenges.

    For the 2019-20 legislative session, Josh was appointed to serve on the House Education, Children and Youth, Commerce, Gaming Oversight, and Liquor Control committees.

    Prior to running for office, Josh worked as an attorney representing small and mid-sized businesses and worked as a solicitor for various local governments. He also did work for Beaver County’s Children and Youth Services.

    Josh is a graduate of Geneva College and Regent University School of Law. He and his wife, Abby, and their six children live in Beaver, Pennsylvania.

    The 15th District includes parts of Beaver and Washington counties.

    Beaver County: Brighton, Center, Hanover, Independence, Potter, Raccoon and Vanport townships; and Beaver and Frankfort Springs boroughs.

    Washington County: Amwell, Blaine, Buffalo, Cross Creek, Donegal, East Finley, Hanover, Hopewell, Independence, Jefferson, Morris, South Franklin and West Finley townships; and Claysville, Green Hills and West Middletown boroughs.

  • Representative Jonathan Fritz
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    Representative Jonathan Fritz

    In November 2016, Jonathan Fritz was elected to represent the 111th Legislative District, which is comprised of parts of Wayne and Susquehanna counties.

    Fritz will serve on the House Aging and Older Adult Services, Appropriations, Commerce and Environmental Resources & Energy committees for the 2019-20 legislative session. He also will serve his first term as a deputy whip for the House Republican Caucus.

    Fritz served two terms as mayor of Honesdale and two terms as a Wayne County commissioner, serving as vice chair.

    As mayor, Fritz dedicated himself to bettering the way of life in in his community, furthered initiatives to prevent drug dealing and drug abuse, battled absentee landlords and focused on removing blight while working to strengthen public safety, improve traffic flow and expand business and cultural opportunities. In his role as county commissioner, Fritz and his fellow commissioners worked hard to prevent tax increases and regulations from stifling families and local businesses.

    Fritz is a product of the private business sector. For many years he was general manager and head of sales for a local tractor and farm machinery dealership, rising to rank in the top 1 percent of salesmen for New Holland North America, Ag Tractor Division.

    Fritz earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Pennsylvania State University.

    His legislative priorities include supporting small business growth, enhancing the state’s natural gas industry, strengthening area emergency response organizations and protecting local economies from environmental over-regulation.

    Fritz lives in Honesdale with his wife, Donna, and their three children.

  • Representative Mike Reese
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    Representative Mike Reese

    On Jan. 1, 2019, Rep. Mike Reese was sworn into his sixth term in office as state representative and will continue to make it his priority to ensure that the 59th District is a great place to live, work and raise a family.

    This session, Mike was selected by his colleagues to serve in a leadership position as House Republican Caucus Secretary.

    Born in Mount Pleasant Township and a graduate of Mount Pleasant Area Junior-Senior High School, Mike attended Duquesne University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a concentration in history. In 2004, he earned a master’s degree in business administration from Seton Hill University.

    To continue his strong business and education background, Mike worked in the admissions office of the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg and was a teacher and counselor at the Pressley Ridge School, a non-profit organization that offers innovative and diverse services to help children and families facing difficult and challenging circumstances. He also worked for Westmoreland County Community College as an adjunct member of its business faculty.

    Additionally, Mike served as chief-of-staff for Westmoreland County commissioners Terry Marolt and Phil Light.

    Prior to running for office, Mike was the assistant director of financial administration for Westmoreland County.

    Throughout his tenure in the House, Mike’s legislative goals have remained the same; control state spending, make government more transparent and make Pennsylvania more business friendly. Mike has introduced and supported legislation that minimizes the size of state government and controls spending, while creating a stronger business climate.

    He has voted to reduce the size of the Legislature, privatize Pennsylvania’s retail and wholesale liquor system, and has worked to improve charter and cyber-charter public school laws by increasing accountability and transparency as well as revising the funding formula.

    Another issue Mike will continue to fight for are the rights of utility consumers, by challenging the mandatory installation of smart meters by electric distribution companies. He believes that consumers should have a choice to opt-out from being forced to have those meters in their homes and businesses.

    During the 2017-18 legislative session, Mike introduced legislation to provide a support system for students whose parents or guardians are deployed on active duty. On Oct. 24, 2018, House Bill 2052, now Act 119 of 2018, was signed into law.

    Mike and his wife, Angela, live in Mount Pleasant with their three children, Addison, Claire and Michael Eric.

    The 59th Legislative District encompasses part of Somerset County consisting of the townships of Conemaugh and Jenner, and the boroughs of Boswell and Jennerstown. In Westmoreland County, the district includes the townships of Cook, Donegal, Fairfield, Hempfield (part of districts Todd, University and West Point), Ligonier, Mount Pleasant, St. Clair and Unity (part of districts Baggaley, Beatty, Crabtree, Dennison, Kuhns, Marguerite, Mutual and Pleasant Unity) and the boroughs of Bolivar, Donegal, Laurel Mountain, Ligonier, New Florence and Seward.

  • Jeff Nobers
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    Jeff Nobers

    Jeff Nobers joined the Builders Guild in his current role in February 2017. He brings an extensive background in media and public relations, crisis communications, marketing communications and community relations to the position. Among his goals for the Builders Guild is to expand the public knowledge of construction trade unions and contractor associations, heighten the awareness of career opportunities in the trades, and promote the benefits of union construction. Prior to joining the Builders Guild, he was the Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing for the 84 Lumber Company. As the company’s lobbying representative to the National Association of Home Builders Jeff played a key role in the passage of the housing mortgage tax credit act which helped to spur the housing market recovery. Previously he was Vice President of Media and Public Relations at Brunner, Inc., where he developed the agency’s first ever media training and crisis communications programs for clients. Previous experience included: Sr. Account Supervisor/Public Affairs & Crisis Communications at Burson Marsteller; Media Relations Director at Hill & Knowlton PR; and Sr. Account Supervisor at Ketchum Public Relations. A 1979 graduate of Duquesne University with a BA in Journalism, he is married with two children and resides in McMurray, PA. His interests include surf fishing, reading and family traveling.

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