Pennsylvanians’ electric bills, on average, increased more than 70 percent between December 2020 and 2022. While the commonwealth is rich in natural resources—and the second-largest exporter of energy in the nation—onerous regulations get in the way of unleashing the state’s full energy potential. What’s worse, Pennsylvania is heading towards implementing a new tax on carbon that will further kneecap production and increase energy costs for families. Elected officials should preserve Pennsylvania as a national leader in energy by rejecting the new tax and reviewing other costly regulations.

Energy

Governor Wolf’s Natural Gas Tax Proposal

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 2, 2016

Governor Wolf continues to press for a natural gas severance tax despite ongoing layoffs and potential bankruptcies in the natural gas industry.

Fact Sheet

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Energy

Governor Wolf’s Proposed Natural Gas Extraction Tax

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 24, 2015

Gov. Tom Wolf proposed a new severance tax on natural gas extraction, which he claims will generate more than $1 billion annually for public schools. The proposal fails to consider…

Memo

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Energy

Gas Tax Critics Champion, not Oppose, Progress

  • Gordon Tomb
  • June 9, 2015

Recently, Gov. Tom Wolf sent a letter to 17 business advocacy groups opposing his proposed severance tax on natural gas, accusing them of siding “with corporate special interests who simply…

Commentary

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Energy

Natural Gas Severance Tax

  • March 20, 2015

A severance tax must be considered in light of the state’s total tax structure. Pennsylvania taxes the natural gas industry in many ways that don’t exist in other drilling states.

Fact Sheet

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Energy

Shale Gas Fuels Pennsylvania Job Growth

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 26, 2015

It’s indisputable that where there is Marcellus shale drilling there has been robust economic growth. Over the past six years, Pennsylvania counties with Marcellus shale drilling led the state in…

Commentary

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Energy

Green Jobs Threatened by EPA Regs

  • Gordon Tomb
  • November 17, 2014

John Oelbracht has managed the Westwood Generation power plant in Schuylkill County for 10 years. It’s more than a job to him—it’s an undertaking to clean up the environment while…

Commentary

Read More: Green Jobs Threatened by EPA Regs

Energy

Bleeding Green

  • February 20, 2013

A new study from the Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University finds that Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards will costs Pennsylvanians millions in higher energy costs.

Poll

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Energy

Marcellus Shale Impact Fee

  • October 28, 2011

Companies should pay for the cost of government they use.  Many advocates of a new tax simply want more money for Harrisburg politicians to dole out.

Fact Sheet

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Energy

Taxing Gas will Burden Pennsylvanians

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • August 1, 2011

Despite the manufactured fears of disaster and cheers for a unique tax on drilling, Pennsylvania can balance economic growth with environmental protection without imposing a new tax. The true impacts…

Commentary

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Energy

Economic Pitfalls of Taxing Marcellus Shale

  • May 9, 2011

The facts are that in Pennsylvania, Marcellus drillers contributed more than $15 billion in capital investment and have paid in excess of $5 billion in royalties to landowners not including…

Commentary

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Energy

Natural Gas Taxes and Fees

  • May 5, 2011

The Marcellus Shale is a large and difficult-to-drill geological formation roughly a mile or more underground throughout more than two-thirds of Pennsylvania that contains natural gas.

Fact Sheet

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Energy

Citizen’s Guide to Electric Choice & Competition 2011

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 24, 2011

In the late 1990s, Pennsylvania's electricity rates were 15% above the national average, despite the abundance of low-cost coal generation in the Commonwealth. At that time, electricity was sold by…

Fact Sheet

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Education

80 Ideas for a Prosperous Pennsylvania

  • January 17, 2011

Pennsylvania must undergo a rapid transformation to reverse the poor policy decisions that have eroded economic freedoms and brought the state to its present condition.  To provide a roadmap for…

Report

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Energy

Gov., Legislature Should Repeal Costly Renewables Mandates

  • December 30, 2010

A lot can be spun from the results of the Nov. 2 elections, but one fact is uncontrovertible: Pennsylvanians are sick of centrally planned, highly regulated, gimmick-driven economic policy. It…

Commentary

Read More: Gov., Legislature Should Repeal Costly Renewables Mandates

Energy

Never Enough Green for Renewable Energy

  • October 27, 2010

According to Pennsylvania's Public Utilities Commission, the annual cost of ownership for solar energy per kilowatt-hour is over 700% more than the cost of coal, and wind energy is almost…

Commentary

Read More: Never Enough Green for Renewable Energy

Energy

Energy 101

  • September 5, 2010

Pennsylvania has always been a leading provider of America's energy. From timber and coal to the nation's first commercial oil well, and now the Marcellus Shale boom, traditional energy is…

Commentary

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Energy

Traditional Energy Fuels Pennsylvania’s Economy

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 31, 2010

Pennsylvania has always been a leading provider of America's energy. From timber and coal to the nation's first commercial oil well, and now the Marcellus Shale boom, traditional energy is…

Commentary

Read More: Traditional Energy Fuels Pennsylvania’s Economy

Energy

Gas Fuels Growth

  • August 3, 2010

The national economy is in a slump, unemployment remains stubbornly high, and economic growth is being hampered by misguided policies. Meanwhile, Bradford County, Pennsylvania led the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in…

Commentary

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Energy

The Marcellus Shale: A Real Stimulus

  • June 22, 2010

The Marcellus Shale formation is believed to be the largest unconventional natural gas reservoir in America, and its exploration has been coined a modern-day gold rush. A Penn State study…

Commentary

Read More: The Marcellus Shale: A Real Stimulus

Energy

Green Jobs Destroy Good Jobs

  • May 12, 2010

With Pennsylvania's unemployment rate at a 25-year high, Gov. Rendell is pushing "green jobs" at every turn. He has doled out nearly $1 billion to renewable energy projects and wants…

Commentary

Read More: Green Jobs Destroy Good Jobs