Fears Obama Will Delay Windfall
Updated: 3:51am UK, Friday 02 November 2012
By Gary Mitchell, in Ohio
Farmers fear they could be denied a multi-million-dollar windfall from oil and natural gas reserves beneath their feet in Ohio because of Barack Obama's desire for cleaner energy.
Landowners in the east of the state, many of whom have been struggling to make ends meet, are enjoying a huge reversal of fortune thanks to a natural gas boom.
Keith Burgett, 69, who was among the first to have a well drilled by oil firm Chesapeake a year ago and whose land is earmarked for several more sites, told Sky News the windfall was "like winning the lottery" - but he believes Mr Obama could try to stop it if he wins a second term in the White House.
Oil and gas exploration firms have leased parts of farmers' properties, handing over upfront payments of hundreds of thousands of dollars with the possibility of more in royalty cheques as fuel is pumped out.
Some property owners now expect to rake in millions as more in royalties wells are pumped - but only if the government does not intervene with more regulations.
The boom has contributed to Ohio's economic recovery, something Mr Obama has been keen to remind voters about - even as Mitt Romney's campaign adverts accuse the president of destroying Ohio's coal-mining industry.
Mr Burgett, a vet whose sons now deal with the daily running of his 600-acre cattle farm, has 12 grandchildren aged between two and 17. Their university education could be paid several times over by the money he is set to earn from fracking over the next 20 years.
He said: "A lot of the farmers were struggling around here. These lease payments are a tremendous amount of money. I'm a vet and we do all right, but it's been a tremendous blessing for my family.
"He doesn't say exactly this, but Obama is not happy with what we're doing here. I think he could get in the way."
More than 100 wells are waiting to be exploited in the "fracking" hotspot of Carroll County alone.
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is where rock layers are cracked open with water pressure to free reserves of oil and natural gas. Critics say it causes air and water pollution.
The president has previously said the natural gas industry could create 600,000 jobs by the end of the decade. However, he has also said the US cannot drill its way to energy independence and is pushing for other forms, such as solar and wind power. The Obama administration has been considering federal safeguards for fracking.
Jim Long, 66, lives near Dr Burgett - they jokingly call each other oil barons - and said he had "no faith" in Mr Obama.
A month ago Mr Long and his wife Martha, 63, were told Chesapeake wanted to start drilling on their land and they received a significant upfront payment.
Mr Long, whose farm equipment business has suffered in recent years, said: "Obama has some kind of agenda with green policy. I worry he's got an agenda to slow down these wells. Behind the scenes he is working on a way to put controls on us.
"Between him and Romney it's about picking the lesser of two evils. I don't know enough about Romney, but at least he's a successful businessman."
Only a few years ago, many farmers in this area were "beating and scratching the earth for a living", said Amy Rutledge, from the local chamber of commerce.
"A lot of them will keep farming because it's all they've ever known," she said. "They're holding onto the money because they're not sure what's going to happen in future."
She doubts that any government administration would put a total halt on fracking.
Before the fracking boom, unemployment in Carroll County was running at 13.9% in 2009, above the national average. Now, it is below 7% - below the national average.
Jobs and new companies are pouring into the area - although higher rents have been squeezing minimum-wage workers.
James Brock, an economics professor at Miami University in Ohio, told Sky News fracking, along with the revived car industry, was part of an "economic renaissance" in the state, where both candidates have days to win over crucial undecided voters.
He said Mr Obama had stayed out of the industry's way, which allows him to take credit for growth.
"For Romney, that's not great because he's trying to paint the picture of the economy in this terrible position," he said.
"It makes it hard to predict votes. It's what makes Ohio especially interesting as a swing state – there's so much optimism now and the only question is: Which candidate will benefit?"
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