Non-profit

Ohio River Valley Institute

Website:

ohiorivervalleyinstitute.org/

Type:

Think-Tank

Founded:

2020

Executive Director:

Joanne Kilgour

Fiscal Sponsor:

Community Foundation for the Alleghenies

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The Ohio River Valley Institute (ORVI) is a left-of-center think tank focused on the Appalachian regions of Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky. The think tank opposes energy extraction in those areas and promotes development of weather-dependent environmentalist energy sources. The institute uses polling, communications, and research to supports its arguments. 1

The think tank has been criticized for arguing that fossil fuel extraction has no economic benefits for Appalachian counties. 2

The think tank is sponsored by the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, a grantmaking organization in western Pennsylvania, 3 and is funded in part by the left-of-center grantmaker Heinz Endowments. 4

Overview

The Ohio River Valley Institute is a left-wing think thank that was founded in August 2020 by activists and researchers associated with anti-fossil fuel movements. The think tank focuses on the Appalachian regions of Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky. 5

ORVI argues that the fossil fuel extraction economy prevalent in the region—both coal mining and with fracking for natural gas—has not provided economic benefits to the region. It argues that the region needs to embrace “clean” energy and environmental restoration. 6

Economic Growth Research

In February 2021, Ohio River Valley Institute issued a report that claimed that the Appalachian counties that produced the most natural gas lagged non-natural gas producing counties. The report claimed that the region had less personal income and job growth and had lost population relative to other counties. The institute’s report contradicted data from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that showed that economies in the top shale-producing counties outperformed counties in the rest of the state. 7

Officials in Monroe County, Ohio also disagreed with the study’s claims. They asserted that without the oil and gas boom, the county would have never had the tax revenue necessary to upgrade public school buildings, among other infrastructure improvements. 8

Polling on Fracking Ban

In September 2021, Ohio River Valley Institute released a poll that appeared to show majority support for banning natural gas extraction by hydraulic fracturing in Pennsylvania. The poll, conducted by the controversial left-wing pollster Data For Progress, showed that 55 percent of Pennsylvania voters supported an immediate or eventual end to fracking. The poll showed 25 percent supported an immediate end to fracking, 30 percent supported a phaseout over time, and 31 percent supported maintaining fracking. 9 The poll’s findings were different from other surveys that had shown support for fracking. 10

Ties With Other Organizations

Ohio River Valley Institute’s first annual report in 2021 stated that it worked with far-left environmentalist groups such as Concerned Ohio River Residents, the Breathe Project, People Over Petro Coalition, Freshwater Accountability Project, Climate Reality Project, FracTracker Alliance, Center for Coalfield Justice, Pittsburgh United, and others. 11

Leadership

Joanne Kilgour is the executive director of the institute. Previously, she was the director of the Pennsylvania chapter of the Sierra Club. She is an environmental lawyer by trade. Before joining the Sierra Club, Kilgour was the legal director at the Center for Coalfield Justice. She also serves on the board of directors for Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania. 12

Finances

The institute is fiscally sponsored by the Community Foundation of the Alleghenies. 13 It has been partially funded by the left-of-center Heinz Endowments. 14

References

  1. “Ohio River Valley Institute Launched To Promote Clean Energy Economy.” Business Journal Daily. August 19, 2020. https://businessjournaldaily.com/ohio-river-valley-institute-launched-to-promote-clean-energy-economy/.
  2.  Grego, Brittany. “Educators, Financial Officials Dispute Data In Oil And Gas Industry Report.” WTOV. February 24, 2021. https://wtov9.com/news/local/educators-financial-officials-dispute-data-in-oil-and-gas-industry-report.
  3. “Ohio River Valley Institute Fund.” Community Foundation For The Alleghenies. Accessed December 13, 2021. https://cfalleghenies.org/cfa-funds/ohio-river-valley-institute-fund/.
  4. “Year In Review.” Ohio River Valley Institute. Accessed December 13, 2021. https://ohiorivervalleyinstitute.org/year1/.
  5.  “Ohio River Valley Institute Launched To Promote Clean Energy Economy.” Business Journal Daily. August 19, 2020. https://businessjournaldaily.com/ohio-river-valley-institute-launched-to-promote-clean-energy-economy/.
  6. “Ohio River Valley Institute Launched To Promote Clean Energy Economy.” Business Journal Daily. August 19, 2020. https://businessjournaldaily.com/ohio-river-valley-institute-launched-to-promote-clean-energy-economy/.
  7. Legere, Laura. “Report: Shale Gas Boom Counties Saw Little Growth In Local Jobs, Income.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. February 11, 2021. https://www.post-gazette.com/business/powersource/2021/02/11/shale-gas-boom-counties-jobs-income-Pennsylvania-Marcellus-Utica/stories/202102100170.
  8. Grego, Brittany. “Educators, Financial Officials Dispute Data In Oil And Gas Industry Report.” WTOV. February 24, 2021. https://wtov9.com/news/local/educators-financial-officials-dispute-data-in-oil-and-gas-industry-report.
  9. Deto, Ryan. “Majority Of Voters Want Fracking In Pennsylvania To End, Says Poll.” Pittsburgh City Paper. September 8, 2021. https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/majority-of-voters-want-fracking-in-pennsylvania-to-end-says-poll/Content?oid=20153766.
  10. Deto, Ryan. “Majority Of Voters Want Fracking In Pennsylvania To End, Says Poll.” Pittsburgh City Paper. September 8, 2021. https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/majority-of-voters-want-fracking-in-pennsylvania-to-end-says-poll/Content?oid=20153766.
  11. “Year In Review.” Ohio River Valley Institute. Accessed December 13, 2021. https://ohiorivervalleyinstitute.org/year1/.
  12. [1] “About.” Ohio River Valley Institute. Accessed December 13, 2021. https://ohiorivervalleyinstitute.org/about/#undefined.
  13. “Ohio River Valley Institute Fund.” Community Foundation For The Alleghenies. Accessed December 13, 2021. https://cfalleghenies.org/cfa-funds/ohio-river-valley-institute-fund/.
  14. “Year In Review.” Ohio River Valley Institute. 2021. https://ohiorivervalleyinstitute.org/year1/.
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