“The Marcellus Shale Impact Fee continues to deliver millions to county and local governments across the 23rd Senatorial District,” according to a news release from state Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township, chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

“The Impact Fee not only funds critical projects locally but also a wide variety of important environmental projects in communities throughout the state,” Yaw said, according to the news release. “The natural gas industry has been a great partner in creating new jobs and opportunities, and today’s announcement is another reminder of the importance of this industry in Pennsylvania.”

Since 2011, the Impact Fee has generated more than $2.88 billion in tax revenue to support county and local governments. Yaw’s district has received nearly $500 million for counties and municipalities during that time.

In the most recent round of funding based on natural gas production in 2024, $164.5 million was distributed statewide. Of that, nearly $25.1 million will be sent back to counties and municipal governments in the 23rd Senatorial District.

The disbursements announced today by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) include distributions of $2,539,402 to Lycoming County’s government for the year — $53,044,416 received by the county since 2011 — and $4,382,830 for 2025 to municipalities within Lycoming County — with a total of $81,525,605 since 2011.

Sullivan County’s government received $460,060 and municipalities within Sullivan County received $773,440 for 2025, with the respective totals since 2011 being $7,344,843 and $12,435,272. Tioga County’s government received $2,182,798 and communities within Tioga County received $3,832,828 for 2025, with the respective totals since 2011 being $45,195,889 and $77,575,969.

Union County is getting $27,621 while Bradford County and the municipalities within Bradford County are getting $10,888,873, according to the news release.

“Pennsylvania-produced natural gas continues to benefit communities all across the Commonwealth,” said Marcellus Shale Coalition president Jim Welty, according to the news release. “Each day, Pennsylvanians benefit from cleaner air, more affordable energy, tens of thousands of jobs directly in the industry and a stronger position on the world stage thanks to domestic natural gas production and use.”

The Impact Fee is assessed on natural gas companies, in addition to regular business taxes paid by the companies. The disbursements are based on a formula established in Act 13 of 2012 to ensure communities that are affected by natural gas drilling receive their fair share of funding for projects like road and bridge repairs, housing and other local infrastructure needs.

Beyond monies being sent directly to local governments, revenue from impact fees have funded a wide variety of projects in the region including rehabilitation of the levee in the borough of South Williamsport, the Muncy Creek streambank restoration and protection project and the Basin Street/Susquehanna Riverwalk Connection in Lycoming County, among others.