Business, Government Legal News from throughout WVEQT Is Where Energy Meets Education

Much has been written and said about natural gas drilling in the Marcellus shale. As a leading natural gas producer in the Appalachian basin, EQT has a unique perspective in the conversation — not only because of the business we are in, but also because of the simple fact that we live and work here in your community.

Many of our more than 1,800 employees are your neighbors, friends and family, and we believe that most people understand the economic and employment potential of natural gas development. We all want good-paying jobs in the hands of local people, and we need to work together to develop the training and educational resources that will establish our region as a center of excellence in new natural gas development.

That commitment to helping our communities grow and prosper is why EQT places so much emphasis on supporting local educational initiatives. It takes approximately 410 people representing 150 different occupations to drill a single natural gas well. Multiply that by the number of natural gas wells drilled in the state, and the positive financial impact on local economies is significant.

As a major employer, we understand the enormous social and economic impact of filling those jobs locally. But it takes an abundant and well-prepared work force to keep up with the job creation that the natural gas industry can bring to a region, and education plays a crucial role in the long range planning for meeting those needs.

Through the EQT Foundation, we strive to identify and support innovative programs that introduce students to the myriad of employment options that are emerging in this region. We also seek out programs that encourage students to strengthen their core skills in math, science, literacy and technology so they are better prepared to explore fields such as petroleum engineering, physics, chemistry, geology and environmental sciences, as well as the many trades that now also require strong technical skills. 

Examples of EQT's commitment to providing students with unique educational opportunities are numerous. Through a partnership with West Virginia Public Media and the PBS KIDS GO! Young Writers contest, EQT is encouraging West Virginia students in kindergarten through third grade to explore their creativity by creating original short stories with illustrations. 

Projects supporting Riverworks Discovery, the Clay Center for Arts & Sciences and the creation of the Education Pavilion at the annual Jamboree at the Mill are giving elementary and middle school students the opportunity to have hands-on exposure to many aspects of science. 

And our signature EQT Students of Excellence Program is providing much-needed financial help to high school students throughout the state of West Virginia who are pursuing a formal college education. 

While we hope that some of the students touched by these and similar programs will ultimately pursue careers in energy — perhaps even at EQT — our main concern is helping them start early to prepare for the jobs that are available now and those that are coming. 

Our region is primed to grow, and the natural gas industry is the catalyst for that growth. We just need to be ready to help it reach its full potential by providing a local, abundant and well-trained work force. EQT is using education as the key to making that happen.

Charlene Petrelli is the vice president and chief human resources officer for EQT Corp.and president of the EQT Foundation.