Pennsylvania’s abundant natural gas resources continue to benefit our region. In fact, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission recently announced disbursements of shale impact fee tax revenues – which totaled nearly $225 million for 2013 – to local counties and municipalities across the commonwealth, bringing the three-year total to more than $630 million.
Luzerne County, Lackawanna County and each county’s municipalities, for example, received $308,000 and $224,000 this year alone, bringing each county’s total impact fee revenues to more than $848,000 and $628,000, respectively. From making important infrastructure investments, to purchasing new safety equipment and helping improve strained local budgets, these revenues are helping our communities and improving our quality of life.
Without question, shale development is breathing new economic life into our region while protecting and enhancing our environment through lower-cost, clean-burning natural gas. We’re creating more jobs and providing the energy we need to keep our economy strong. And a new poll shows that Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly support more jobs over new energy taxes.
Unfortunately, some elected officials and those seeking office want to pass new energy taxes that could hurt job creation, stifle manufacturing and increase energy costs.
Let’s continue to see through election-year politics and work together to get this generational opportunity right – now and for years to come.
John Augustine
Community outreach manager
Marcellus Shale Coalition
Pittsburgh
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