October 2021 GO-WV News

NEWS

The Voice of the Gas and Oil Industry

October 2021

Sports Weekend provided bragging rights, fun

Those attending the 2021 Sports Weekend activities at Bridgeport Country Club (BCC) enjoyed great weather, golf, shooting and food.

On Friday, September 17, GO-WV members and guests enjoyed a great breakfast, provided by SLS Land & Energy Development, before heading to the golf links. All registrants received a complimentary vest sponsored by Apex Pipeline Services, Inc. Ergon, Inc. sponsored beverage stations.

The four-person scramble golf tournament featured a shotgun start at 9:00 a.m. at BCC course.

We thank our hole sponsors, who are listed on page 12.

Lunch, sponsored by Antero Resources, was

served at BCC. Skill prizes were awarded to the golfers and door prizes, sponsored by Diversified Energy, were given! Entertainment was sponsored by USI Insurance.

For those attending the game on September 18, they saw a game for the ages as the Mountaineers defeated VT in Jeff Isner a 27-21 thriller.

Co-Vice President Golf tournament winners and Program Chair were: 1st place Phil Reale, Chris Williams, Anthony Reale and Jimmy FeSports Weekend Continued on page 13

2021 Tax and Accounting Seminar set Nov. 17 Make plans now to register for the 2021 Tax and Accounting Seminar which will take place virtually on Wednesday, Novermber 17. Class takes place from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For many years, Arnett Carbis Toothman LLP has presented in-person seminars for the Independent Oil and Gas Association of WV (IOGA; now GO-WV, the Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia, Inc.), the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association (PIOGA), and the Southeastern Ohio Oil and Gas Association (SOOGA.) In 2020, due to Covid-19 restrictions, a change was made from in-person to a one-day virtual format co-sponsored by all three organizations, covering tax and accounting issues affecting West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. This year’s seminar will continue with the virtual format.

The following important and timely topics are on the agenda: • General Tax Updates for 2021 – Federal and State, including issues now being addressed in Congress, and at the individual states’ level.

• Oil & Gas Industry Tax Updates for 2021

• CARES Act • Paycheck Protection Program – Forgiveness, Tax, and Accounting Considerations • Purchase/Sale, Valuation, Succession and Estate Planning • IT Security Attendees are eligible for CPE and CLE credits.

The cost is $100 for members of GO-WV, PIOGA and SOOGA. The cost for non-members is $150.

Oil and gas investors, operators, royalty owners, service companies and accounting and legal professionals will benefit from attending this seminar.

Click here to register for the Tax and Accounting Seminar. The registration deadline is November 12. We hope you can attend!

After you register, you will receive an email on Monday, November 15, 2021 with the schedule and instructions for connecting to the event. If you do not receive information for the tax seminar on November 15th, please check your spam folder or contact Janet Gould at janet.gould@actcpas. com or 304-472-5550.

Tax & Accounting Seminar Continued on page 9

INSIDE

2 Tom Westfall 3 Katrina Bowers 4 Charlie Burd 5 Greg Kozera 6 Association news 7 Kathy Hill 8 Industry events 9 Michael Forbes 10 Thomas Downs 11 Member news 12 Sports Weekend sponsors

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Tom Westfall GO-WV Co-President

Halbritter exemplifies the best our industry offers On September 18, the oil and gas industry honored Marc Halbritter as the 2021 West Virginia Oil & Gas Person of the Year. And for a number of good reasons.

We often discuss the economic benefits our industry provides to the State of West Virginia, and the energy independence we help deliver, but we don’t often recognize some of the other important benefits that our industry, or any strong industry, brings to the citizens of this state and this country.

Marc is a prime example of a leader who has continued his lifelong learning, mentored many of us and provided support to his community throughout his entire career, all from the foundation of a good job, good coworkers and an industry that heavily emphasizes employee development. He has helped the oil and natural gas industry, and all of us, become better stewards of our resources in so many ways.

The ongoing development of professional engineers, accountants, business specialists, tradespeople and lawyers, like Marc, is an overlooked societal benefit that industry often fosters. What we don’t talk about nearly enough is the value of on-the-job training, continuing education and mentorships so our learning doesn’t die on the vine.

The emphasis on education in our primary and secondary school systems is important to any society. We encourage our young people to pursue education beyond high school graduation. Our industry applauds the recent emphasis on trade and technical schools and community colleges, in addition to traditional colleges and universities.

In fact, GO-WV offers scholarships to the children of our members to attend in-state four-year schools, as well as the ConServ scholarship for community and technical colleges.

We know that many of our young people want to work with their hands and develop real functional skills. They also look for role models within their schools and communities. As oil and gas workers go through on-the-job training, they invariably become good examples and mentors for those who follow. On-the-job training can take various forms, from initial company-specific training for new employees to pre-shift safety meetings to GO-WV’s annual safety seminar for all types of industry employees. Lawyers, like Marc, are required to achieve a certain level of continuing education to renew their license to practice, as are engineers, accountants and other licensed professionals. GO-WV is supportive of this professional development and we’re sponsoring a tax and accounting seminar in November that several types of professionals can use for continuing education requirements.

The best of our industry

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Continued on page 15

2021 OFFICERS

Presidents: Ben Sullivan/Thomas Westfall Vice Presidents: Maribeth Anderson/Jeff Isner Secretary: Jason Harshbarger Treasurer: Kelly Moss BOARD MEMBERS

John Bane, EQT Corp.

Jim Crews, MPLX Carrie Crumpton, CNX Resources Ryan Cunningham, Cunningham Energy Doug Douglass, ConServ Inc. Kevin Ellis, Antero Resources Jon Farmer, Arsenal Resources Michael Forbes, Greylock Energy Marc Halbritter, Blue Racer Midstream David Haney, E&H Manufacturing Holly Hannold, XTO Jon Hildreth, Roy G. Hildreth & Son Brittany LaPorta, TC Energy Brett Loflin, Northeast Natural Energy Rhett Metz, Energy Transfer Christine Mitchell, Dominion Energy Michael Poole, Highlands Drilling Jim Pritt, Union Oil & Gas Bob Radabaugh, S&R Gas Ventures Mollie Schall, Crestwood Mistream Chris Weikle, SWN Members Emeritus: Ben Hardesty, Alta Energy Lloyd Jackson, Jackson Management Bob Orndorff, Dominion Energy

Katrina Bowers Babst Calland Attorneys at Law

New court ruling relates to retroactivity of flat rate royalty law In Williams v. EQT Corp., No. 43-2020-C-26 (Ritchie Co. Cir. Ct. W. Va. Aug. 26, 2021), the Honorable Michael D. Lorensen, sitting by appointment in the Circuit Court of Ritchie County, West Virginia (“Court”), entered an Order finding that the 2018 amendments to W. Va. Code § 226-8(e) (“Flat Rate Statute”) did not apply retroactively to permits for oil or gas wells (“permits”) issued before the effective date of the amendments to the Flat Rate Statute.

The plaintiffs, successors in interest to a 1913 lease providing for a flat rate payment of four hundred dollars per year for each and every natural gas well drilled on the leasehold estate (“Lease”), challenged deductions by an operator for severance tax and certain post-production expenses from their royalties.

The West Virginia Legislature addressed the issue of flat-rate leases in 1982, when it enacted the Flat Rate Statute prohibiting the issuance of permits where the right to produce was based upon a lease providing for a flat-rate royalty, unless the permit applicant submitted an affidavit certifying that it would pay the lessor no less than one-eighth of the total amount paid or received by or allowed “at the wellhead” for the oil and gas extracted, produced, or marketed (“permit procedure for flat-rate leases”). Id. at *5-6.

In 2017, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia addressed the payment of royalties pursuant to flat-rate leases and held that royalty payments subject to the Flat-Rate Statute “may be subject to pro-rata deduction or allocation of all reasonable post-production expenses actually incurred by the lessee.” Id. at *6 (quoting Syl. Pt. 8, Leggett v. EQT Prod. Co., 239 W. Va. 264, 800 S.E.2d 850 (2017)).

The following year, the West Virginia Legislature amended the Flat Rate Statute with its passage of Senate Bill 360, which became effective May 31, 2018. Williams at *7. Similar to the original Flat-Rate Statute, the amended Flat-Rate Statute retained the permit procedure for flat-rate

leases. However, unlike the original Flat-Rate Statute, the amended Flat Rate-Statute replaced the “at the wellhead” language with a requirement to pay a one-eighth royalty based on the first unaffiliated sale, free from post-production expenses. Id. at *8. The amended Flat-Rate Statute contained no provision stating that the amendment should be applied retroactively. Id. at *9.

In determining that it was “clear” that the 2018 amendment should not be applied retroactively to permits issued to the operator prior to the effective date of the amendment, the Court focused on four factors. First, Senate Bill 360 does not include any language demonstrating an intent for retroactive application. Second, Senate Bill 360 by its own language stated that it was to be effective ninety days from its passage. Third, the permit procedure for flat-rate leases in the amended Flat-Rate Statute provided that “no such permit shall be hereafter issued . . . .” Id. at *11 (quoting W. Va. Code § 22-6-8(d) (emphasis added)). Fourth, language in the initial version of Senate Bill 360 noting that it was intended to “clarify” the royalty owed was removed and replaced with a caption stating that Senate Bill 360 was “modifying the permit issuance prohibition” in the final version of the bill.

Id. at *11.

This decision aligns with a decision from the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia finding that the 2018 amendments to the Flat-Rate Statute do not apply retroactively. Corder v. Antero Res. Corp., No. 1:18CV30, 2021 WL 1912383, at *13 (N.D.W. Va. May 12, 2021)

Get your GO-WV license plate now!

See page 12.

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Charlie Burd GO-WV Executive Director

From the Burd’s Nest: Inside GO-WV Just two short months ago, in my August 2021 GO-WV newsletter article, I identified the new leadership team and outlined the initial committee structure. As you can imagine, with nearly 600 members, it’s virtually impossible for me to personally reach out to every single member company and all their representatives to make sure they are aware of the important issues that may affect them. Nor is it possible to inform them on the discussions that occur on such issues during committee meetings. So…to that end, in this month’s article I will attempt to provide a brief overview of those issues, by committee. Here goes!!!

• Communication and Education: 2021-22 Leadership: Chair: Maribeth Anderson, Antero Resources) and Vice Chair: Holly Hannold (XTO) This committee is extremely active and oversees all GO-WV external communications efforts, website design and content, Facebook, twitter, and other media outlet management and postings. Just recently, a subcommittee from within the committee interviewed and selected FTI Consulting to lead our public relation efforts. While you may not notice, on September 30 the Association rolled out a newly revamped and fully modernized website--one that will be more functional, will allow us to develop and implement more future service and member options and is easier to navigate. This committee meets on an as needed basis via ZOOM and conference call.

• Environmental & Safety Committee: 202122 Leadership: Chair: Bob Radabaugh (S&R Gas Ventures) and Vice-Chair: Luz FalconMartinez (Antero Resources) This committee is extremely active and oversees all activities related to environmental compliance and spearheads GO-WV’s safety seminars and workshops. Current initiatives include the constant monitoring of water, air, and wastewater regulations, well plugging, endangered species, AST Act and compliance,

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activities related to US Fish and Wildlife protocols, and more. This committee meets monthly via ZOOM and conference call.

• Government Affairs Committee: 2021-22 Leadership: Chair: Chris Weikle (Southwestern Energy) and Vice Chair: Greg Hoyer (Diversified Energy) This committee is extremely active and oversees all activities associated with federal and state legislative initiatives. Paramount to this activity is working closely with WV House and Senate leadership and all 100 WV House of Delegate and 34 Senate members. Working in coordination with GO-WV members, industry allies, and our lobbying team, this committee assesses and recommends legislation and oversees the lobbying efforts to achieve successful outcomes. The GA Committee meets weekly during the 60-day WV Legislative Session held annually mid-January to Mid-March) and as needed outside of that 60-day session and during interim meeting of the Legislature or during “Special” legislative sessions.

• Insurance Committee (membership restricted to those on the Health Insurance Program): 2021-22 Leadership: Chair: Sam McKown (C.I. McKown & Son) and Vice Chair: Stanley Masoner (Petroleum Resources) The Insurance Committee is responsible for managing and overseeing all aspects of the Association Health Insurance Plan, including choosing an appropriate health insurance issuer and an appropriate health insurance products for the Association Members, and for overseeing such other insurance products as may be sponsored by the Association. The Insurance Committee works with insurance experts and legal counsel to ensure compliance with all state and federal laws regulating insurance sponsored by the Association.

Burd’s Nest Continued on page 16

Greg Kozera Learned Leadership LLC

The power of influence This week’s leadership lesson with my high school soccer players was influence. We have taught leadership to our boys for over 20 years.

Most important is our players’ success in life after soccer. My wife’s heart doctor is a former player and part of the first team to get leadership lessons.

Leadership of our captains is essential since there are no time outs or stoppages except for injury.

The coach has limited ability to send in plays or instructions. The captains get the team refocused or make corrections if needed. Our captains start the season as boys. It is exciting to watch them become young men and strong, confident leaders.

Leadership expert John Maxwell defines leadership as the ability to influence and develop people regardless of an individual’s title or position. We manage things. We lead people. Over the years in corporate America, I worked for many effective managers who could handle processes, equipment and other “things,” but not many were leaders.

Some resorted to commanding, being “the boss” or using management by memo instead of looking people in the eye and helping them change their behavior. Influence is about affecting the development and behavior of people.

When I was promoted to an assistam manager, my predecessor was promoted and being transferred. He closed the office door and said, “Here is one of your most important tools as a manager.” He produced a small black book with each employee’s name on a page. “When you catch or hear about someone doing something wrong like late to work, not wearing their PPE or any number of other offences you write it down in the book.” I questioned, “Then you talk to them about it?” The man was horrified. “No, you never talk to them until you have to fire them! They don’t know about this book or what is in it.” I learned after he left that everyone knew about the book and was paranoid about what might be in it about them. Getting rid of the “black book” was one of my first management decisions. The second was showing the employees it was gone.

I chose to work with people face to face and develop them. As we learned to influence people, rather than command or scare them into compliance, our results improved in all areas. Moral was higher. So were profits. People made better choices. Wearing PPE was a choice made to come home safely to their families, not because of a rule. Our facility began to win safety awards. Influence is powerful. How can we become influential leaders rather than managers or commanders?

Here are some thoughts that can be applied in business, sports and to world problems; • Have a big dream. Have a vision of the future. Tell your people. People want to be part of success. They are attracted to successful leaders with a dream.

• Have the skills, develop the skills and find people who can help you achieve your dream.

Build an effective team. Become an effective communicator.

• Be a person of integrity. Be someone who is honest and can be trusted to do what is right.

Be someone who does what you say you will.

• Treat everyone with dignity and respect.

Care about people. Use the words please and thank you frequently. Appreciation is powerful.

• Criticize sparingly. Praise frequently. For praise to be effective it must be sincere, specific and for an action people have control over.

People repeat praised actions.

• Smile. Keep a positive attitude. Believe in your people and believe you can achieve your dreams.

• Lead by example. Show people the way.

Don’t just tell them. People are more influenced by what you do rather than what you say. Be a person of action.

• Have passion for your dreams and the success of your people.

• Think win/win. If we expect to win and succeed we must first help others to win and Power of influence Continued on page 17

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Association News

GO-WV license plates are now on the road; do you have yours yet?

The first of the new oil and natural gas industry license plates are now on vehicles and on the road around West Virginia!

Shown here with the first four plates are, top, from left: • Charlie Burd, GO-WV, plate GO-0001;

• Ben Sullivan, Diversified Gas & Oil Corporation, plate GO-0002.

• Kyle Mork, Greylock Energy, plate GO-0003; and • Marc Monteleone, Waco Oil & Gas Co., Inc., plate GO-0004.

Governor Justice unveiled the official license plate last month in a ceremony at the Capitol.

You can order your plate today using the form on page 12.

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Kathy Hill

Ergon

Monthly Appalachian Basin crude oil prices

Premium Service for Your Premium Product.

Whether buying or transporting crude, Ergon Oil Purchasing’s integrated network of assets offers diversity to the market. Through Ergon’s refineries, network of terminals, barge and trucking fleets, we understand the needs of the crude oil industry.

1.800.278.3364 eopsales@ergon.com

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Industry Events

Upcoming events planned for 2021 November 7-9, 2021 IOGCC Annual Conference Inn at Loretta, Sante Fe, NM Info: https://iogcc.ok.gov November 17, 2021 Oil & Natural Gas Accounting/Tax Seminar Virtual format Info: www.gowv.com January 19-20, 2022 GO-WV Winter Meeting Marriott Town Center Hotel Info: www.gowv.com

Industry Intelligence. Focused Legal Perspective.

HIGH-YIELDING RESULTS.

December 6-8, 2021 Dug East/Marcellus-Utica Midstream Conference David L. Lawrence Convention Center Pittsburgh,, PA Info: www.hartenergyconferences.com February 21-21, 2022 NAPE Summit 2022 George R. Brown Center, Houston, TX Info: napeexpo.com/summit March 23-34, 2022 WV Construction and Design Show Charleston CCC, Charleston, WV Info: wvexpo.com/ May 9, 2022 GO-WV Spring Swing Golf Outing Berry Hills Country Club, Charleston, WV Info: www.gowv.com

Meet our attorneys at babstcalland.com.

Whether it’s a state or federal regulatory matter, local land use or zoning challenge, acquisition of title and rights to land, or jointly developing midstream assets, we help solve complex legal problems in ways that favorably impact your business and bring value to your bottom line.

June 20-22, 2022 IPAA Annual Meeting The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, CO Info: www.ipaa.org/events/annual-meeting-2022/ August 7-9, 2022 GO-WV 2022 Summer Meeting The Greenbrier, White Sulfur Springs, WV Info: www.gowv.com

CHARLESTON, WV I PITTSBURGH, PA I SEWELL, NJ STATE COLLEGE, PA I WASHINGTON, DC

8 Babst_DrillAd_IOGA_4.5625x9.25_2021.indd 1

9/8/21 1:03 PM

Michael Forbes Membership Chair

GO-WV Board welcomes one new member in September Please join the GO-WV Board of Directors in welcoming this member approved in September:

Blockchain Power Corporation Mark Goode 215 Lucia Court Jupiter, FL 33478 Cell: (202) 465-5564 mark@blockchain-power.com www.blockchain-power.com

ISP

Tax & Accounting Seminar Continued from page 1

For more information regarding refunds, program cancellation policies or for any other concerns, please contact one of the following: Lori Miller Smith at LMillerSmith@gowv.com or 304-344-9867; Deana McMahan at deana@pioga. org or 724-933-7306, ext. 23; or Billie Leister at mail@sooga.org or 740-374-3203.

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Thomas Downs WeatherBELL Analytics

WeatherBELL’s end of 2021 outlook

For more information about WeatherBELL’s services and to get the hot-off-the-press forecast updates, please visit our website www.weatherbell.com or contact us at sales@weatherbell.com.

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The last three months of 2021 should produce some big swings. After a very warm summer and September in most parts of the country, October and the first part of November should follow suit.

After that, the global pattern since spring has set up the hurricane season and the early part of the winter season. If that trend holds, and we expect it to, a big flip will occur in the East sometime in November and for at least the first half of December.

In the West, we expect warm conditions to establish themselves for the last three months of 2021. Overall, we should see weather similar to the end of 2020, but with some subtle differences.

Member News

Marc Halbritter honored as 2021 WV Oil & Gas Person of the Year Marc Halbritter was honored September 18 as the 2021 WVOil & Gas Person of the Year at the annual WV Oil & Gas Festival in Sistersville.

Below, Debbie and Marc Hallbritter enjoy their bouquet of fall flowers. At right, GO-WV Executive Director Charlie Burd presents Halbritter’s plaque. Lower right, the Halbritters are shown with Queen Emma Kitchen of the 2021 WV Oil & Gas Festival. Below left are shown former recipients of this award. From left, they are Lloyd Jackson, Jr., representing Lloyd Jackson, Sr. (1997), Kenny Mason (2010), Marc Halbritter (2021), Ben Hardesty (1992) and Charlie Burd (2017).

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Sports Weekend Sponsors

Thanks to our Sports Weekend sponsors 2021 Sports Weekend Diamond Sponsors

2021 Sports Weekend Bronze Sponsor

2021 Sports Weekend Hole Sponsors

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Sports Weekend

Continued from page 1

aly, all of the Law Offices of Philip A. Reale; 2nd place Wes Mossor, Troy Green, Adam Gissy and Jason Lockard, all of SLS Land & Energy Development; and 3rd place Carlton Osbourne, Nat Lancaster, Brandon Riggs and Jerry Wells, with Paramount Safety Supplies. Other skill winners were: Closest to the Pin #8, Anthony Reale; Long Drive #10, Neil Kimbler; Closest 2nd Shot #11, Mike Fedio; and Longest Putt #18, Bob Runions.

Skins were won by the teams from the Law Offices of Philip A. Reale and SLS Land & Energy Development.

At right, are three of the Key Energy Services foursome (Brian Smith, Neil Kimbler and Gary

King; (Mike Stefano - not shown)), lower right photo features Kathy Hill of sponsor Ergon Oil Purchasing, while some of those enjoying lunch are shown bottom left with Jeff Isner, Rick Smith, Trevor Shaffer and Eric Vir are shown center left.

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DMV-54-GO Rev 05/21

West Virginia Department of Transportation

Division of Motor Vehicles

1-800-642-9066 dmv.wv.gov

Application for a Gas & Oil Association of WV License Plate PLATE SAMPLE

A) Applicant/Owner(s) Information ·

Use Name(s) of Owner(s) as shown exactly on current registration card that you wish to register the license plate.

Applicant’s Name Name(s) on Registration Street Address STATE

CITY

ZIP

B) B) Vehicle Vehicle Information Information Year

Make

Title No. Current Plate No.

VIN No.

C) Insurance Information

/

Effective Dates of Policy From:

/

To:

/

/

Policy No.

Insurance Company NAIC Number

Insurance Agent

D) Applicant Certification I certify that all information on this application is true and correct and if I cease to be in good standing with the above organization, I will immediately return the special license plate to the Division of Motor Vehicles.

(X) SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT

DATE

/

/

Phone No. (

)

E) Application Information 1. Anyone is eligible to apply for a Gas & Oil Association of WV license plate.

2. A vehicle must be Class A and have a West Virginia title and license plate in the name of the applicant before a special plate can be issued.

3. The current license plate must be returned to the Division of Motor Vehicles after the special plate is received. After issuance of the special plate, the exchanged plate is canceled and cannot be transferred to another vehicle. There are no refunds.

4. A $91.50 fee will cover the cost of the license plate for the 1st year or a portion of the 1st year. This is a flat fee for all applicants and is not prorated. This plate will expire on July 1st every year and have a renewal fee of $66.50.

5. Send the application and the $91.50 check or money order payable to Gas & Oil Association of WV at the address listed below. Please include your personal property tax receipt or an affidavit from the assessor if your registartion is expiring within 60 days of your application.

Gas & Oil Association of WV c/o Charlie Burd 300 Summers St. Suite 820 Charleston, WV 25301 *** OFFICE USE ONLY BELOW THIS LINE OFFICE STAFF INSTRUCTIONS: Insert the plate numbers on the plate diagram to the left and submit this form to the WV DMV for recording and processing. Be sure to retain a copy for your records.

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The best of our industry

Continued from page 2

These various forms of education also develop mentors within a company, an industry or a community. Mentoring can take many forms.

Sometimes leaders help guide and inspire others.

Marc served West Virginia Wesleyan College as a trustee from 2008 to 2016. In 2012, he took the helm as Chair of the Board and he helped the college establish benchmarking standards and pursue several strategic initiatives during his term. You may be mentoring people within your company, a niece or nephew or a neighbor down the street.

You can probably name at least two people who mentored you throughout your career, whether it was teaching you a new skill or how better to use one you have already. While you may not recognize it, at least two people would probably name you among their mentors, as well.

Both traditional education and on-the-job training can provide benefits beyond the workplace.

It’s my guess that most of our members are among the first to help a neighbor in need or volunteer for a community organization. Knowledge and skills used in your career often can be the ones you use to help others, whether it’s serving as an organization’s treasurer, helping build a Habitat for Humanity house or mentoring young people at church, through scouting, a youth sporting team or any number of opportunities. These are ways

your formal and on-the-job education can be used to benefit not only your employer, but your community, allowing the natural gas and oil industry to be an example to others.

Mentorship and on-the-job training can also combine to help people create new ways to do old things, leading to innovations in technology, efficient business practices and management of our human and natural resources at a high level. Any strong industry has employees who are constantly looking for a better way to do things, a more efficient way to do things, ways to “build a better mouse trap”. The government does not develop new products, new technologies, new processes or the innovations that benefit everyone. The government does not typically take the risks that lead to new technologies and innovations; this is often best achieved by strong companies and strong leaders like Marc.

The oil and natural gas industry, as much as any other field, requires great technical aptitude blended with exceptional people management.

Marc demonstrated this throughout his career with Dominion Transmission, Blue Racer Midstream and more. He has navigated changing landscapes with great professionalism and strength, serving as an example for us all. And that is why he’s the 2021 West Virginia Oil & Gas Person of the Year.

R.L. Laughlin & Co., Inc

“Providing Gas Measurement Services since 1970”

Site Automation  Electronic Chart Integration

Meter Sales Gas Analysis

 Meter Installations  Calibrations & Repairs

NOW SERVING YOU IN 3 LOCATIONS: 125 State Rt. 43 Hartville, OH 44632 330-587-1230

5012 Washington St., W. Charleston, WV 25313 304-776-7740

1205 Buckhannon Pike Nutter Fort, WV 26301 304-969-0033

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Burd’s Nest

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While committee reports are given to the Board of Directors, this committee is comprised of the official trustees of the GO-WV Insurance Trust.

Investment Committee: 2021-22 Leadership: Chair: Jon Farmer (Arsenal Resources) and Vice Chair: Marc Halbritter (Blue Racer Midstream) This committee oversees the investment of Association funds in accordance with the Investment Policy Statement adopted by the Board and sets overall financial objectives and investment standards for investments. To assist in its work, this committee works with an investment manager/advisor. The committee meets as often as is needed, but at least quarterly. Meetings are held via conference call and ZOOM. Legal Committee: 2021-22 Leadership: Chair: Mark Clark (Spilman Law) and Vice Chair: Joe Jenkins (Jay-Bee Oil & Gas) This committee is charged with the responsibility of monitoring and assessing a wide variety of issues or potential issues that could affect the operations of member companies or the Association in general. This committee meets monthly via ZOOM and conference call.

Membership: 2021-22 Leadership: Chair: Mike Forbes (Greylock Energy) and Vice Chair: Jim Crews (MPLX) This committee seeks and works to grow the association through new member recruitment and current member retention. It also assesses all new membership application for compliance and continuity of purpose to the Association. This committee meets as necessary via ZOOM and Conference call.

Producer Issues Committee: 2021-22 Leadership: Chair: Doug Douglass (Reserve Oil and Gas) and Vice Chairs: Jim Pritt (Union Oil & Gas) and Eric Vir (Pillar Energy) This committee is extremely active and oversees all producer related issues. Such activities include staying informed on current and potential gathering/processing/metering agreements, WVPSC or FERC rate filings, rate negotiations, review of publicly posted pricing on oil, natural gas and NGL’s, follow-

ing certain pipeline matters related to access, planned maintenance outages, and more. This committee maintains this due diligence at the WVPSC and FERC jurisdictional levels.

The committee also focuses on the impact to producers of any state or federal legislation or administrative policies. This committee meets monthly via ZOOM and conference call.

• Tax and Finance: 2021-22 Leadership: CoChairs: Marc Monteleone (Bowles Rice) and Elizabeth Berg (Altus Group) and Vice Chair: Don Nestor (Individual Member) This committee oversees all matters and aspects related to taxation of members. It works very closely with the WV Tax Department and in conjunction with the GA Committee leadership and lobbying team to achieve success in taxation matters. Currently, this committee is engaged in matters related to the fair and equal taxation of producing properties and is closely monitoring any activities related to increases in severance or corporate taxation.

This committee meets as necessary via ZOOM and Conference call.

Before I close, I also want to introduce our staff-which, in my opinion is the best of any Association anywhere!! While each employee’s BIO is posted on our website at www.gowv.com, here is a brief introduction to all three.

• Lori Miller Smith serves as the Director of Administrative Services and has direct supervisory authority over the staff. She also serves as meeting planner and supervises the administration of the GO-WV Insurance Program.

Any one of these duties is a full-time job and she shuffles and expertly manages all three.

Lori is GO-WV’s longest serving employee.

• Dee Beane is our Coordinator: Office, Member & Database Services and assists in the day to day functioning of the GO-WV. She is likely the first voice you hear if you call the office.

She has been with us since the spring of 2003.

• Katie McCracken is our Coordinator of Insurance Services and has been with us since spring 2018. Katie works directly through Lori to implement the association’s insurance program to approximately 110 GO-WV Burd’s Nest

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Burd’s Nest

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member companies. The insurance program is essential in that it directly benefits companies and their employees with medical, dental, vision and life insurance coverage options. This program is fully ERISA and HIPAA compliant and GO-WV is Highmark’s largest fully insured customer in West Virginia.

On top of this, GO-WV is proud of its many positive working relationship with industry allies such at the West Virginia Manufacturing Association, the WV State Chamber, the WV Land and Mineral Owners Association, the Charleston Alliance, the WVU Industrial Extension Service, the WV Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the WVU Safety Extension Service, WVU Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering department, PierPower of influence

pont Community College, WV Northern College, and many like-minded local, regional and national trade associations like the Independent Petroleum Association of America, the Ohio Oil and Gas Association, the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association and the Marcellus Shale Coalition.

Hopefully you now have a more extensive understanding of our committee structure, a sampling of the projects and initiatives in which we are engaged at many different and sophisticated levels. And, the door is open for you to become engaged in any or all of these committees and activities. Simply email me at cburd@gowv.com and let me know of your interest.

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succeed.

• You will make mistakes. Admit them. Apologize and move forward.

• Be courageous. Take calculated risks. Make the tough decisions. Overcome fear with action. Remember your people are always watching you.

Could the lack of success on global environmental issues be due to a lack of influential leadership? In the proposed solutions, do we hear about people or things? Do the people in positions of environmental leadership do what they ask others to do? Are they flying to conferences in private jets built and fueled by fossil fuels they want to ban?

Do they have multiple homes with large carbon footprints while asking average people to make do with less or take cold showers? Do they rely on the weather-dependent energy sources they promote? Will energy rationing impact them?

At a recent virtual conference, European countries were focused on reducing carbon footprint from farms. They never discussed the impact on food availability and prices. When I asked, “Why,” they admitted food was never considered.

They suddenly understood the concern of their Agriculture Ministers. Impact on people should be part of every proposed climate solution. In Virginia, public documents show the cost of an offshore wind project will add over $800 annually to people’s electric bills. The public, including my adult

grandson in Virginia, has no idea. Why the “black book” type secrecy? If this project is so beneficial. why not tell the public their electric bills will be increasing so they can plan accordingly? Leaders need to be people of integrity. That takes courage.

Influential leaders understand the importance of considering the impact of people in their decision making. Like in business or my soccer team, influential leadership can solve environmental and other issues. People can have affordable, dependable energy and a clean environment with creative, collaborative, modern solutions and not old failed ideas like weather dependent renewables.

A soon to be released Shale Crescent USA study will show the advantages our region has over China for manufacturers because of our affordable natural gas and NGLs. THANK YOU. The study will also show one of the best ways to reduce global emissions is to manufacture in the USA and specifically in the Shale Crescent USA region. Making products here reduces 25,000 miles of ocean transportation pollution on average. Success happens when influential leaders work together focused on a common goal and keep an open mind. The true environmentalists will be thrilled with a cleaner planet. If won’t matter that natural gas is used. The organizations of “antis” still wanting to ban oil gas should not be called “environmental.” We need solutions that solve problems and help people.

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GO-WV Members As USI Insurance Services, we bring over 25 years of industry experience, a proprietary risk analysis process and a local team all supported by the expertise of more than 4,500 professionals nationwide.

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Pete Thackston, Senior Vice President USI Insurance Services 418 8th Street, Suite 301, Huntington, WV 25701 304-638-7281 I Pete.Thackston@usi.comIwww.usi.com

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