“If the goal is to tax the very product that is helping combat this pandemic, put more Pennsylvanians out of work, burden consumers with higher energy costs, add more layers of taxpayer debt, and to deepen our foreign energy reliance, then Governor Wolf’s plan is the right one.”
Pittsburgh, Pa. – Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) president David Spigelmyer issued the following statement in response to Governor Tom Wolf’s most recent energy tax and taxpayer borrowing-and-spending proposal, which would produce severe economic impacts:
“We all feel the pandemic’s ongoing pain, yet Governor Wolf’s fixation with higher energy taxes will only compound these historically difficult challenges. Increasing taxes on natural gas, one of the most essential products needed to keep us safe and defeat the pandemic, will put more Pennsylvanians out of work, increase energy bills for struggling families, small businesses as well as manufacturers, and further harm our economic recovery.
“Despite rhetoric from some in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s natural gas impact tax has been and continues to be an effective revenue driver for the entire Commonwealth, generating nearly $2 billion in new revenue for communities and statewide environmental programs over the past decade.
“Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry – which supports tens of thousands of good-paying jobs, including many across the union building trades as well as the manufacturing sector – continues to face COVID-related and government imposed economic shutdown headwinds. As a result, the industry’s activity levels by active rigs, wells permitted and new well development are at the lowest levels since 2012.
“We understand that some elected leaders – including in Washington, DC – are dead-set on eliminating responsibly produced American natural gas and oil and the associated economic and environmental benefits. If the goal is to tax the very product that is helping combat this pandemic, put more Pennsylvanians out of work, burden consumers with higher energy costs, add more layers of taxpayer debt, and to deepen our foreign energy reliance, then Governor Wolf’s plan is the right one. Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly want commonsense solutions to repair COVID’s deep economic wounds. We need more Pennsylvania energy and jobs – not higher energy taxes which will destroy both.”
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