PA Environment Digest Blog: Sen. Gene Yaw Announces He Received The Marcellus Shale Coalition 2023 Shale Gas Advocate Award [After Calling Gas Infrastructure Health, Safety Proposal ‘Stupid’]

On November 29, Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) announced he is the recipient of the 2023 Shale Gas Advocate Award from the Marcellus Shale Coalition.

Sen. Yaw said the Shale Gas Advocate Award honors MSC members and other individuals for their outstanding leadership and exceptional contributions in advocating for the development, transportation, and use of Pennsylvania’s natural gas resources.

“The Marcellus Shale industry has been a great partner in ensuring consumers have access to the affordable, reliable energy they depend on, along with creating new jobs and economic opportunities at a time when many households are struggling,” Sen. Yaw said. “As a legislator, I take very seriously my role in advancing measures that I believe will unleash Pennsylvania’s energy potential while improving our environment and protecting it for future generations. I am thankful to the MSC for this wonderful recognition.”

Sen. Yaw, Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, said he was instrumental in helping create legislation establishing the Marcellus Shale Impact Fee, now known as Act 13 of 2012.

Since its inception, the impact fee has generated more than $2.5 billion in tax revenue to support county and local governments and fund critical economic development and environmental projects.

Sen. Yaw also said he had measures enacted into law that help expand access to natural gas service for underserved and unserved households, as well as reduce surface impacts from unconventional gas wells.

Working with former Gov. Ed Rendell and fellow legislators, Sen. Yaw said he also helped to craft the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) fund.

This program expands housing opportunities in Pennsylvania thanks in large part to impact fees collected from natural gas companies.

Sen. Yaw said he continues his ongoing work related to responsible energy development and protecting the reliability of the PJM electric grid.

“Senator Yaw has been a steadfast advocate for developing Pennsylvania’s natural resources in a safe and responsible manner,” Dave Callahan, Marcellus Shale Coalition President, said. “In doing so, he has advanced the interests of his constituents and communities, who benefit from shale gas development, while helping Pennsylvania achieve historic improvements in its environmental, conservation and energy security efforts. All Pennsylvanians who support affordable, clean, and domestic energy development – along with a safe and reliable energy grid – owe Senator Yaw an immense debt of gratitude.”

Founded in 2008, the Marcellus Shale Coalition works with exploration and production, midstream and supply chain partners in the Appalachian Basin and across the country to address issues regarding the production of clean, job-creating, American natural gas from the Marcellus and Utica Shale plays.

Click Here for Sen. Yaw’s complete announcement.

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-3280 or sending email to: gyaw@pasen.gov.

Recent Oil & Gas Articles:

-- Sen. Yaw, Republican Chair Of Senate Environmental Committee, Calls Bill To Reduce Shale Gas Industry Impacts On Health, Environment ‘Stupid’ [PaEN]

-- The Daily Item Guest Essay: State Senator Calls Natural Gas infrastructure Public Health And Safety Bill 'Stupid' - By Scott and Jessica Mathias, Health Care Providers [PaEN]

-- PA Manufacturers Assn. Opposes Bill To Reduce Natural Gas Infrastructure Threats To Public Health, Safety; Praises Sen. Yaw’s Position [Who Called The Bill ‘Stupid’]

-- DEP Issued At Least 472 Violations To 90 Conventional Oil & Gas Operators; 20 NOVs To 10 Shale Gas Operators For Abandoning Their Wells Without Plugging Them So Far In 2023 [PaEN]

-- DEP Issues Record 5,653 Notices Of Violation To Conventional Oil & Gas Operators So Far In 2023; ‘Culture Of Non-Compliance’ Continues [PaEN]

-- Shale Gas Operators On Track To Have More Violations In 2023 - Frozen Gas Infrastructure; Explosion; Pad Fire; Uncontrolled Gas Venting; Frack Outs; Major Spills; Pipeline Crashing Thru A Home Highlight 2023 So Far [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Nov. 18 to 24 - 5 More Abandoned Conventional Wells; 2nd Spill At Same Shale Gas Pad This Month; Village Of Reno Wastewater Cleanup Slow Going [PaEN]

-- The Derrick: DEP: Little Headway In Reno Oil Well Wastewater Cleanup In Venango County [PaEN]

-- State Dept. Of Health Pushing For Changes To Reduce Adverse Health Impacts From Natural Gas Development [PaEN]

-- House Committee Hearing On Increasing Safety Setbacks Zones Around Natural Gas Facilities Heard About First-Hand Citizen Experiences On Health Impacts, From Physicians On Health Studies And The Gas Industry On Job Impacts [PaEN]

-- New NERC Winter Reliability Assessment Finds Elevated Risk Of Blackouts In Extreme Weather Conditions; Natural Gas Supplies Still Vulnerable To These Conditions With 'Devastating Consequences' [PaEN]