SEEKING SUPPORT — Hancock County resident Matthew Cole approached county commissioners Thursday, asking them to provide support for the growth of the natural gas industry in the county. Cole said he believes such growth can provide additional revenue to support Hancock County Schools. -- Craig Howell

NEW CUMBERLAND — One Hancock County resident is hopeful investment in a particular industry could get the county’s school system back on even footing.

Matthew Cole approached county commissioners Thursday, asking them to consider providing support to the natural gas industry, saying he believes the tax revenue brought in as a result could be the saving grace for the future of Hancock County Schools.

“I believe we are at a critical moment,” Cole said, referring to recently announced financial issues within the school district which led to the termination off the district’s financial director and ongoing discussions of potential staffing cuts and school consolidations. “This situation has kept me up at night.”

Noting he has worked within the oil and gas industry for 16 years, and lived in Hancock County for the last 10 years, Cole said the last time he has heard of any investment from the oil and gas industry in the area was 2021, pointing to a planned project by Southwestern Energy — now part of Expand Energy.

That project, proposed for Weirton would have been located off of Park Drive in a northern area of Brooke County. The Weirton Zoning Board of Appeals denied a conditional use permit for the company to install its drilling platforms at the site, leading to more than two years of legal battles which resulted in the West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals ruling only the state has authority over permitting and regulation over oil and gas operations in West Virginia.

Cole pointed to Marshall County as an example of what could be done through the industry. According to records found online through the West Virginia Auditor’s Office, Marshall County projected $1.1 million through its Gas and Oil Severance Tax for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 fiscal years, while Hancock County listed $100,000 for the same tax in 2024-2025 and $105,000 for 2025-2026. Brooke County, meanwhile, listed $100,000 in Gas and Oil Severance for 2024-2025 and $200,000 for the current fiscal year.

Cole said he believes it is an issue of infrastructure and investment, rather than geology, keeping oil and gas from growing in the county, and asked the commissioners to find a way to encourage such investment.

“This is my Hail Mary, but’s it’s practical,” Cole said.