The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) announced the distribution of $164.5 million in natural gas impact fees collected from producers for the 2024 reporting year. This brings the cumulative total of impact fees collected since 2012 to more than $2.88 billion. Of these funds, $86.5 million will be distributed to municipalities and counties directly affected by drilling activity, $57.7 million will go to the Marcellus Legacy Fund to support statewide environmental initiatives, greenways, and infrastructure projects, and $20.4 million goes to state agencies. As reported last week, the 2024 distribution is $15 million less than last week’s total due primarily to a decrease in new wells by 107 as gas prices were nearly unchanged.  

“The natural gas impact fee provides critical financial support to communities across Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania developed a first-in-the-nation plan to fund communities directly rather than passing money to the state capital first and hoping it made its way to impacted communities,” said Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors executive director David Sanko. “These funds enable townships and other municipalities to invest in key priorities such as water and sewer upgrades, road and bridge improvements, public safety, and affordable housing initiatives.” 

Pennsylvania Treasury is expected to begin issuing payments to townships in early July. For townships that receive impact fees, to learn how much your township will receive in July, go to the PUC’s interactive website by clicking here. To see just your township’s distribution, go to reports and choose Municipality Report. To view all disbursements statewide, choose Reports and then County and Municipality Disbursement.