On April 17, Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, announced in a speech at the UpStreamPA Natural Gas Conference in State College he plans to introduce legislation to ban the sale or transport of Pennsylvania natural gas to states that impede the development of natural gas pipelines.
Sen. Yaw said those states include New York, New Jersey and Maryland.
“As lawmakers, we have an obligation to be aware of the competing interests that involve our state and the nation. If only our state neighbors understood this principle,” Sen. Yaw said. “New York, New Jersey and Maryland have worked to limit the expansion of pipelines, which curtails our ability to market Pennsylvania produced natural gas.
“In keeping with the wishes of those states to impede marketing, I intend to introduce a measure, which would prohibit the transportation and sale of any Pennsylvania natural gas that is produced by fracking to those states,” said Sen. Yaw.
Under Gov. Mario Cuomo, New York State has banned high-volume hydraulic fracturing, and its environmental regulators have blocked a major natural gas pipeline originating in northeastern Pennsylvania, which would provide much needed natural gas to the New England states.
The result has forced those states to import LNG [liquid natural gas] from Russia.
“The actions of the New York Governor have, in essence, stalled infrastructure development that is vital to creating new markets for natural gas and its related liquids, not only in Pennsylvania but across the northeast and world,” Sen. Yaw said. “Further, the delay in infrastructure development is contributing to the large price disparity that is putting Pennsylvania gas producers at a disadvantage, while aiding our global natural gas competitors.”
During the forum, Sen. Yaw noted several issues presently being discussed in Harrisburg including a severance tax on natural gas development, legislation adding nuclear energy to the state’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS), environmental permitting issues, and the transportation of fracked gas to surrounding states.
Since 2012, the natural gas “Impact Fee” has generated nearly $1.7 billion in new revenue, noted Sen. Yaw.
“Of the roughly 60 percent of the nearly $2 billion impact fee money that goes to local counties and municipalities, more than $250 million has been directed to my Senate district,” Sen. Yaw said. “If a severance tax is imposed on the industry, the impact fee must remain intact.” I do not know of any time when this much money was sent back to our local governments without a long, involved grant process.”
The annual event brought together over 100 key upstream companies and experts in the oil and gas field. The conference provides attendees with the opportunity to learn about upstream development expected for the Appalachian Basin over the next several years.
For more information on the Conference, visit the UpStreamPA 2019 website.
Visit Sen. Gene Yaw’s website for more information on issues affecting the 23rd Senatorial District in Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Union Counties. Questions should be directed to Nick Troutman, 717-787-3280, or send email to: ntroutman@pasen.gov.
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