Dominion Resources, the company at the head of the Marcellus and Utica shale, is busy developing the fracking industry in eastern Ohio.

Thomas Farrell II, CEO of Dominion Resources, recently explained how the shale gas industry will change the United States’ energy source. Despite concerns regarding environmental impacts from fracking, Farrell assured that fracking is the new face of energy.

According to The Plain Dealer, the sheer volume of the Marcellus and Utica shales could easily allow the U.S. to gain all of its energy from within the country’s borders instead of importing energy, as the country has done for about four decades. This will move the U.S. into the ranks of high-volume oil producing countries like Saudi Arabia.

Eastern Ohio in particular has already seen the profit from the shales improve economies in cities such as Youngstown.

Via: Shale gas is invigorating the U.S. economy and will make America an arsenal of energy, says Dominion chief executive