Let’s give three cheers to the state’s annual natural gas impact fee allocation and the benefits our community gets from it every year! Every June the Public Utility Commission announces the impact fee collection and distribution – with a significant portion going back to Pennsylvania counties and local governments to help fund important community projects. In fact, in the 13 years of the impact fee, more than $2.88 billion has been generated to support Pennsylvania.

Our Northern Pennsylvania communities have benefited greatly from the natural gas industry. Not only has it brought new jobs and development, but the unique-to-Pennsylvania impact fee has generated substantial revenues to go back to our local communities and important environmental projects across the state. These fee revenues have been used to fund a variety of infrastructure projects in our region – including updating the levee in the Borough of South Williamsport, the Diahoga Trail Development and Cayuta Creek Bank Stabilization Projects in Bradford County and the Gregg Township Municipal Authority Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade. Funds have also been put toward community recreation projects for the public to utilize and enjoy, including: updates at Kiess Memorial Park and Young’s Woods Park in Lycoming County, Turtle Creek Park in Union County and the Coates Avenue Recreation Facilities Project in Tioga County.

Impact fee revenues have helped to fund all these projects. The impact fee is working, ensuring that communities benefit from the natural gas extraction in their regions and across the state.

VIVIAN ALTMAN

Westfield

Submitted by email