Oil and Gas Industry

We are literally sitting on the biggest potential for job growth and business development in Pennsylvania's history. However, for far too long the solution in Harrisburg has been, “tax the gas industry.” That is not the answer. While I believe this industry needs to help us protect our wildlife and natural resources through safe gas exploration, we need to make it work for them as well as the landowners. I will support the landowner first in this discussion. I will always be looking for ways to use common sense and balance that helps our PA economy as well as our residents. 

$14.1 Million in Natural Gas Impact Fees Coming Back to the District
In early June 2018, while serving as your current PA State Representative, it was announced that $14,144,685 in impact fees from the natural gas drilling industry are coming back to the counties and communities that make up the 68th Legislative District. 

Since 2012, impact fee revenues have topped $1.5 billion, and the statewide figures for 2017 represent a 21 percent increase over the previous year’s distribution dollars. 

Impact fee revenues for 2017 resulted in the following disbursements: Bradford County will receive $5,051,257.31 and Bradford County municipalities in the 68th District will receive $2,715,421.55; Potter County will receive $359,070.33 and Potter County municipalities in the 68th District will receive $15,137.84; Tioga County will receive $3,020,364.28 and Tioga County municipalities will receive $2,983,433.70. 

Bradford County is the third and Tioga County the sixth top-producing natural gas drilling counties in the state. The money we receive from the impact fees goes a long way in helping our communities address costly projects without having to implement additional taxes on area residents. 

Fees are collected from the drilling companies with 60 percent returned to benefit our counties and local municipalities affected by drilling. The rest of the money goes into a Marcellus Shale Legacy Fund administered by the state to be used for emergency response planning, training and other activities; water, storm water, and sewer system construction and repair; infrastructure maintenance and repair; as well as statewide environmental initiatives. 

For more information, including a breakdown of municipality impact fee totals, click here.

 

Facts about the Gas Industry in PA:

  • Estimated Value of Natural Gas in PA is $1.64 Trillion. https://www.philadelphiafed.org/community-development/publications/cascade/77/01_economic-implications-of-gas-drilling-in-marcellus-shale
  • Landowners will receive 1/8th of the total value of the Natural Gas. http://www.pacourts.us/assets/opinions/Supreme/out/j-78-2009mo.pdf
  • Supported 178,100 or 3.1 percent of jobs in the state. http://www.pamanufacturers.org/pma-bulletin/state-government-leaders-back-harrisburg-rummaging-funds
  • 12.9 Full time jobs are required per well.
  • https://www.philadelphiafed.org/community-development/publications/cascade/77/01_economic-implications-of-gas-drilling-in-marcellus-shale