Congressional, Industry Leaders To Discuss Ohio Energy Sector Job Creation At Summit Hosted By THE HILL

COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, May 2, THE HILL newspaper will host an Ohio Energy Jobs Summit to explore perspectives on potential economic benefits of energy production. Sponsored by the Coalition for American Jobs,  the half-day summit will host energy, policy and economic experts for a balanced discussion.

Ohio voters resoundingly believe that shale energy drilling will bring new jobs to Ohio, according to a January 19 Quinnipiac poll.  When asked in the same poll whether the economic value of shale drilling outweighs the environmental concerns, 64% said yes.  That said, the environmental impact of hydro-fracturing does weigh on their minds with 43% saying it will damage the environment, 16% disagreeing and 40% unsure. 

Event schedule and participants in the half-day event include:

• 8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast and Registration
• 9:00 a.m. Welcoming Remarks THE HILL Associate Editor A.B. Stoddard
• 9:05 a.m. State Elected Official Panel (moderated by A.B. Stoddard)
  • Ohio Senate President Tom Niehaus (R)
  • Ohio House Speaker Bill Batchelder (R)
  • State Senator Lou Gentile (D)
  • State Representative Dave Hall (R), Chairman of House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
• 9:45 a.m. Congressional Perspective: Congressman Bill Johnson (R-OH)
• 10:10 a.m. Manufacturing Jobs and Natural Gas Production Experts Panel (moderated by THE HILL's Energy & Environment Reporter, Ben Gemen)
  • Jeff Daniels, Professor, School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University
  • Jerry James, President, Ohio Oil and Gas Association
  • Jack Shaner, Deputy Director, Senior Director of Legislative and Public Affairs, Ohio Environmental Council
  • Douglas R. Matthews, Vice President-Tubular Operations, U.S. Steel Corp.
• 11:00 a.m.  CEO Roundtable (moderated by A.B. Stoddard)
  • Gary R. Heminger, President and CEO, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
  • Ward J. Timken, Jr., Chairman, The Timken Company
  • Jody Bevilaqua, Executive Vice-President, Momentive Performance Materials Holdings
• 12:05 p.m.  Closing Remarks: Gov. John Kasich (R-OH)

Wed., May 2, 2012
8:30am Breakfast
9:00am-12:30pm Program

Sheraton Columbus at Capitol Square
"Governor's Ballroom"
75 East State Street
Columbus, OH 45215

This event will also be livestreamed on TheHill.com -- #energyjobssummit

MEDIA IS INVITED - MULT BOX WILL BE AVAILABLE

SOURCE THE HILL