PIOGA reacts to ruling declaring portions of Act 13 unconstitutional.

 

Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association President and Executive Director Louis D. D’Amico today issued the following statement regarding the ruling of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Act 13:

“The Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association disagrees with the decision by the state Supreme Court regarding the constitutionality of provisions of Act 13. We are encouraged, however, by the strong working relationships established between our industry and the overwhelming majority of local and county governments that host our members’ drilling and midstream operations, both historically and with the recent growth of unconventional natural gas development. We expect those partnerships will continue, regardless of this decision, and will continue to work in a productive and open manner with those governments and their constituents to safely develop our energy resources and support the Commonwealth’s economy.

“We are concerned, however, with those municipalities which have been unwilling to develop relationships with the industry, and the future damage that will be done to the rights and property of the industry, as well as the rights those property owners within those municipalities wishing to benefit from the development of natural gas on their land.

“We also have serious concerns about the uncertainty that will be created by this court ruling on investment in natural gas development in Pennsylvania. There is little doubt that significant capital investment will leave Pennsylvania for states with greater clarity in their political and regulatory policies. Such a loss of investment will seriously impact the positive impacts that natural gas development has brought to Pennsylvania, including the loss of manufacturers considering a move to Pennsylvania to take advantage of the cheap and abundant energy this industry is supplying.”

Download: