Joe Hoeffel: Double Revenue from Marcellus Taxes; Moratorium on New Permits

By JOE HOEFFEL 2010

Joe Hoeffel, Democratic candidate for governor of Pennsylvania, announced today his position on the Marcellus Shale:

“As governor, I will seek a severance tax which will double the projected revenue from Governor Rendell’s currently proposed tax to provide Pennsylvania with $300 million in its first year,” said Hoeffel.

“The extraction of Marcellus Shale natural gas represents an entirely new economy and has the potential to create thousands of jobs. But drilling in the Shale also opens up new environmental concerns with extremely serious consequences for all Pennsylvanians.”

“Our commonwealth is getting a lousy deal,” continued Hoeffel. “The gas will be there for a long time – We need to get it right. We must cover the immediate costs of the industry and make sure Pennsylvania communities thrive long after all the natural gas has been mined. The silver lining is that we can learn from other states and create a fair tax with maximum benefits.”

“The tax must be used wisely. A severance tax won’t last forever: once the gas is gone, the tax revenue ends. Pennsylvania must devote some of the severance tax money to protecting the towns experiencing a boom economy during the gas rush from experiencing a bust economy later.”

Hoeffel will dedicate portions of the severance tax to fund:

DEP’s inspection and enforcement operations;
new wastewater treatment facilities;
the renewal of Growing Greener;
communities affected by drilling in their efforts to meet the infrastructure and housing costs the industry has brought them;
AND our community colleges, expanding programs and educational sites to build a strong, adaptable workforce throughout the state.

Bolstering our community colleges will help prepare Pennsylvanians for thousands of skilled jobs in the natural gas industry and environmental protection. Community colleges will also prepare our workforce for jobs in green energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, technology, health care, and other fields which will long outlast the Marcellus Shale natural gas.

“Because our regulations are not adequately protecting our drinking water, it’s time to slow down and do the right things in the right order, ” said Hoeffel. “That’s why I support a moratorium on issuing new drilling permits until new wastewater regulations are in place and enforceable.”

Hoeffel also supports a moratorium on the leasing of additional state lands for drilling until a comprehensive study of all state land is performed to prioritize which land is most critical to protect.

“With environmental regulations that protect our water, a severance tax which allows our towns to adapt to their new industry and a plan in place to protect our state land, Pennsylvania can take pride in its natural gas industry. Landowners, towns, and the commonwealth will prosper. Many Pennsylvanians will be employed working on gas wells and in treatment facilities. And most importantly, Pennsylvania will be prepared for the day the drilling ends. If we prepare, the boom won’t turn into a bust.”

“The Marcellus Shale needs a traffic cop.” concluded Hoeffel. “It’s time for Tom Corbett and my opponents in the Democratic Primary to join me in calling for responsible drilling, safe drinking water and overall environmental protection.”

To learn more about Joe Hoeffel’s campaign for governor, go to: www.joehoeffel2010.com

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