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As many Americans rush to file last minute tax returns today, it serves as an important reminder that proposals for higher energy taxes threaten countless good-paying jobs, small businesses and potentially schools, our region’s manufacturing rebirth, as well as shale’s broad economic benefits.

Here are five – of the many – #ShaleTaxFacts to consider.

  1. $830 Million: The natural gas industry is on track to pay $830 million in special impact taxes through April 2015. (Pa. PUC)
  1. 100%: All 67 Pa. counties – regardless of whether drilling exists in the county – receive revenue from the Commonwealth’s special natural gas impact taxes. Local communities rely on these critical tax revenues to fund infrastructure improvements and other projects. That’s why local leaders throughout the Commonwealth are telling Harrisburg that the impact tax structure is “working and needs to stay.”
  1. $2.3 Billion: Safe shale development has generated $2.3 billion in tax revenue for the Commonwealth since 2008. (Pa. Dept. of Revenue)
  1. $700 Million: Pennsylvania has generated more than $700 million in bonus payments and royalties from shale development on state-owned lands. (Pa. DCNR)
  1. Even Higher Energy Taxes Risk Jobs: Higher energy taxes risk good-paying jobs and could squander shale’s generational opportunity. That’s why Pennsylvanians – from union leaders to small businesses – are deeply worried that “higher energy taxes will ‘knock the legs out of industry.’ ”

And here’s a bonus – and critically important – observation from a top regional union leader.

  1. LiUNA’s Dennis Martire: “If you excessively tax the shale industry, you risk hurting employers, workers and communities across this state.” (Pittsburgh Business Times, 4/7/15)

Harrisburg should focus on growing jobs and finding more ways to harness our abundant natural gas resources, especially through boosting manufacturing – not even higher energy taxes, which will make the Commonwealth even less competitive. Become a United Shale Advocate today and join tens of thousands of other Pennsylvanians in letting your voice be heard!