LETTER: Natural gas pays off for Pa.
A total of $5.499 million in natural gas impact fees came back to Washington County in 2023 alone, making it the highest paid county in Pennsylvania.
Natural gas has been a game changer for the commonwealth, but Southwestern Pennsylvania has particularly benefited from the development of the Marcellus Shale natural gas reserve.
Not only has our region seen an influx of direct, industry-related jobs and the creation of numerous downstream and ancillary industry opportunities, we have also seen first-hand the results of the increased economic activity. Pennsylvania’s unique impact fee – which is levied on top of other business taxes the industry must pay – is designed to send funds directly back to local communities.
Because our area has a significant amount of drilling activity, we get a significant portion of the annual impact fee allotment. The beautiful thing about the impact fee is while every county is guaranteed some revenues, those areas with drilling taking place get a larger portion. These revenues have been used to fund important infrastructure projects – including water and sewage upgrades, road and bridge projects, grants for fire stations, as well as park and other community improvements.
This year’s total impact fee distribution was $164.5 million. Since it was enacted in 2012, the impact fee has generated more than $2.88 billion, with most of those funds going to local communities across the state.
Natural gas and the state’s impact fee are a win for Pennsylvania. And our communities benefit because of them.
Sonia Stopperich Sulc
Canonsburg