REP. BILL JOHNSON ON NATURAL GAS EXPANSION AND CRACKER PLANT OPENING IN APPALACHIA

The following information was released by the office of Ohio Rep. Bill Johnson:

U.S. Representative Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) released the following statement after Shell announced that the company's new ethylene/polyethylene petrochemical manufacturing complex in Monaca, Pennsylvania is online:

U.S. Representative Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) released the following statement after Shell announced that the company's new ethylene/polyethylene petrochemical manufacturing complex in Monaca, Pennsylvania is online:

"As we speak, ethane a bi-product of natural gas production from right here in Eastern Ohio is being transported by pipeline to the Shell facility in Monaca, PA to be transformed into raw materials used to manufacture thousands of plastic products we use every day. These are products that quite literally, make modern life possible.

"What's even more exciting is that geological experts tell us that our region has enough natural gas right here in the Ohio/Pennsylvania/West Virginia region to support five of these massive petrochemical plants. I believe that - in addition to the new jobs and economic boost the Shell complex has brought to the region more and more plastics and textile manufacturers are going to be looking for ways to come to our region to be near the Monaca plant that produces their raw materials.

"This is a win for Appalachia, and I'm proud to have worked with Shell and other stakeholders to bring this opportunity to fruition. I will continue advocating for American oil and natural gas production, which not only can be used to generate power and fuel our vehicles, but as this project shows, can also serve as the catalyst for reviving American manufacturing."