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.
Researchers looked at millions of Medicare records and found elderly people living downwind of fracking sites had a 3.1 percent increased risk of dying prematurely.
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.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland was in Pa. to discuss funds from the new infrastructure law to reclaim abandoned mine sites. Pennsylvania expects to receive $3.8 billion over 15 years.
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."
