News & Legal Updates Archive

President-elect Donald Trump has already begun the process of putting together his cabinet with the announcements of Reince Priebus and Steve Bannon as chief of staff and senior advisor, respectively. With rumors swirling around the remaining cabinet positions, the choice for who should head the Department of Energy has come to the forefront among the energy industry. As Trump’s transition team continues to evaluate potential nominees, it is vital that the next leader of the Department of Energy recognize the potential and realize the benefits of shale in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Political pundits across the country have begun the autopsy of the historic 2016 presidential election. While creative minds will undoubtedly conjure complex explanations for last night’s result, the answer may be quite simple: a dramatic shift in voting within the Appalachian Basin1 played an unquestionably significant role in Donald Trump’s victory. Polling throughout the campaign in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia found the economy to be the top priority among voters, outdistancing any secondary issues by a wide margin. It’s no surprise then that those states would reject the candidate who threatened to shut down one of their greatest economic drivers going forward in favor of the candidate who promised to get out of the way. The numbers do not lie – Appalachian Shale delivered the Presidency to Trump.