The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO), Pennsylvania, reports that natural gas production in 2021 experienced the strongest annual growth of any of the top five gas-producing states. Over 55% more wells were spud in the fourth quarter.
The IFO attributes the high production to unusually high prices for gas. The growth may be partly explained by the high prices, but there is more incentive for the industry here to drill and frack: Pennsylvania is the only major oil-and-gas-producing state without any severance taxes. The gas industry can make more in PA than other states without having to pay for the harm to our environment. This includes respiratory disease from local air pollution, aquifer contaminants that leach into drinking water, and fugitive Methane emissions, which are a major driver of climate change.
All this while the fossil-fuel industry is making billions through fuel consumption and taxpayer subsidies. A more important aspect is that the climate is rapidly changing and there is an obligation to significantly reduce methane emission within the next decade to avoid the worst consequences. Unfortunately, encouraging natural gas production while allowing the industry to avoid paying full compensation for all its environmental and health effects is not going to get us there.
Michael Wright, Glen Rock, Pa.