There are nearly 27,000 known abandoned wells in Pennsylvania, but estimates put the total at 200,000. These wells are a source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Gas drillers are expected to pay about $234 million dollars in impact fees for 2021, nearly $90 million more than 2020, and potentially the highest payout ever.
The GOP-backed bill would require the state to sell credits created by government-owned renewable energy projects and use the money to plug abandoned oil and gas wells.
The projects replace gasoline or diesel-fueled vehicles with ones that run on cleaner fuels, which can be fossil fuel-based. Enviro group calls the program "antiquated."
The change would require DEP to determine how much of each kind of pollutant can be spilled before a spill is reported. Critics say that's impractical.
Gov. Wolf is likely to veto the measure. The House and Senate would each have 30 calendar days or 10 legislative days–whichever is longer–to try to override it.
