Sept. 5 PA Environment Digest Now Available

Sept. 5 PA Environment Digest now available. Click Here to print this Digest.

Growing Greener Coalition: Heed The Public, Enact A Marcellus Drilling Tax/Fee

The Renew Growing Greener Coalition Thursday issued the following statement from Executive Director Andrew Heath in response to a newly released poll by Franklin and Marshall showing that the majority of Pennsylvanians support taxing companies that extract and sell natural gas, but do not support additional drilling in state forests:
"This poll clearly shows that that the public strongly supports making Marcellus Shale drillers pay for the local and statewide impacts of drilling, and strongly opposes additional drilling in state forests. The poll also seems to indicate that the majority of Pennsylvanians reject suggestions by the industry and its lobbyists and believe that the impact of drilling will be felt statewide.
"The Renew Growing Greener Coalition urges lawmakers to listen to their constituents and impose a severance tax or impact fee on the natural gas industry this fall that not only cares for our shared communities, but also cares for our shared environment.
"The Coalition continues to call on the Governor and Legislature to enact an impact fee with a significant portion of the revenues allocated to restoring funding for Growing Greener to address the statewide conservation, recreation and environmental impacts of drilling." Click Here to read more…