The list of sponsors for the West Virginia Oil and Gas Expo includes an unlikely name. Mon General is found nestled among the gas producers, excavation and mining companies, banks and insurance agencies listed as sponsors on the WVONGA Expo promotional webpage. ”What’s a hospital doing at a gas industry convention?” you ask.
The Mon General Foundation is a nonprofit that accepts charitable contributions in support of the Mon Health System and its cornerstone Mon General Hospital. It is not clear which branch of Mon General paid for the sponsorship. Sponsorships cost from $1,000 to $10,000.
A quick check of the list of members of the Board of Mon Health Systems provides a clue about why this hospital is involved in promoting an oil and gas Expo. Glenn Adrian is the new Chairman of the Monongalia Health System Board of Directors. Mon Health Systems is the parent company Mon General Hospital. Adrian is a principal in Enrout Properties LLC, along with his brother, Kevin Adrian, and William Bland. Enrout owns the Morgantown Industrial Park and the surface and mineral rights there. The industrial park is the site of the controversial Northeast Energy Marcellus wells.
It appears inappropriate for an organization which accepts charitable contributions to publicly endorse an industry and to direct monies toward promotion of that industry. It is particularly ironic in this case since gas production has often been associated with negative health impacts. See The Human Story page of this website.
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Editor’s Note: The State Journal recently reported that Chesapeake has withdrawn the $25,000 previously donated in support of the Morgantown Farmers Market pavilion project. Now an Expo is planned for the purpose of touting the economic benefits of the industry. It looks like the carrot and stick stratagem is being employed in Morgantown. DJF
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