Marcellus Shale Coalition president Dave Spigelmyer issued the following statement Tuesday regarding the Public Utility Commission’s disbursement of 2013’s nearly $225 million in shale impact “fee tax” revenues for local governments:

“Responsible shale development continues to be an economic lifeline for communities across the entire Commonwealth. These disbursements, which have increased more than 10 percent year-over-year, are providing critical revenues streams directly to local governments as well as for important environmental-focused programs.

“Act 13, a commonsense bipartisan law, aimed to strengthen our environmental regulations and ensure that local governments would realize these broad-based benefits, all while keeping Pennsylvania competitive and an attractive state to invest, grow jobs and do business. These tens of millions of dollars in increased tax revenues are proof positive that this law is working.

“While we’re making meaningful, shared gains as Pennsylvania continues to be a top natural gas-producing state – helping to create thousands of good jobs, especially in our manufacturing industry – elected officials should not unnecessarily curb this positive progress with uncompetitive, short-sighted policies. We must continue to lead and demonstrate to the country and the world that Pennsylvania is and will remain the Keystone State.”

NewsClips:

Energy Companies Pay More In Gas Well Impact Fees In 2013

Drilling Impact Fee Revenue Totals $225M For 2013

Drilling Impact Fee Distribution Figures Released

Northeast PA To Receive $36.8 Million In Impact Fees

Lancaster’s Share Of Impact Fee $500,000

Wolf Lobbies Lawmakers To Pass Severance Tax

Wolf Lobbies Corbett, Lawmakers To Pass Severance Tax

Op-Ed: Now Is The Time To Approve Shale Tax, Tom Wolf

DCNR Told Corbett Not To Lease More Forest Land For Drilling

Official Tells Court: No One At DCNR Recommended Gas Leasing

Corbett’s Own Witness Lukewarm To More Gas Leasing

Leasing More State Land For Gas Drilling Not Sustainable

Rendell Appointee: Leasing More State Land Not Sustainable

Letter: Corbett Aide Responds To Patriot-News Leasing Editorial

Poll: Pennsylvanians Favor Drilling, But Not In Parks

Poll: Pennsylvanians Support Fracking, Not In Parks

Poll: Pennsylvanians Favor Drilling, But Not On Public Lands

Voters Back Fracking, But Not In State Parks

Lawmakers Scrambling To Seal Budget By June 30

Deadline Looms For PA State Budget

Brunch Time For Lawmakers, Lobbyists On Budget

Time For Bold Action On Budget In PA

Lawmakers Regard Budget Debate With Apprehension

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Update On Natural Gas Severance Tax Proposals In the Senate, House

6/9/2014