WETZEL COUNTY, W.Va. — The country’s biggest producer of natural gas continues to give back to the communities in which it works.
Expand Energy contributed $20,000 to the Wetzel County Emergency Management Agency to help with its daily operations on Tuesday.
It’s part of Expand’s broader initiative, which has invested more than $145,000 in first responder and critical community programs throughout the Ohio Valley in 2025.
“As the largest producer of natural gas in the country, Expand Energy is so excited to be able to give back in a meaningful way,” said Stephanie Paluda, community affairs manager, Expand Energy. “And to make sure that Wetzel County is safe protected and that the office of emergency management has all the tools that they need to do the best job that they can.”
The funds raised for donation are a part of the company’s “Expand for Good” program, which has the goal of supporting first responders in the Ohio Valley. The natural gas giant has been donating funds locally for several years.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Jay Thomas Deputy, OEM director, Wetzel County. “We have a lot of work that goes on in Wetzel County for gas and oil and Expand has been a partner since before they were Expand when they were Southwestern. “
Other county EMA organizations receiving donations include Ohio and Marshall in West Virginia and Monroe and Guernsey in Ohio.
The donations given across the Ohio Valley in 2025 follow last year’s charity clay shoot, where $146,000 was raised for the program.