Nelson: Natural Gas Dollars to Benefit Local Communities

June 27, 2025

HARRISBURG – Rep. Eric Nelson (R-Westmoreland) announced Westmoreland County officials and the county’s municipalities will receive close to $2.5 million from 2024 natural gas impact fees collected through Act 13 of 2012, revenue from unconventional gas wells, commonly called deep gas wells.

The Westmoreland County Board of Commissioners will receive $1.04 million. The 65 municipal governments within the county will receive a combined $1.44 million. The 57th Legislative District will receive over $182,000.

“Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry is a perfect example of how a thriving energy sector has a huge positive impact for our residents. Our local governments are constantly juggling important services with keeping real estate taxes as reasonable a possible and these dollars are intended to help do just that,” Nelson said. “This is, of course, in addition to family-sustaining wage paying careers and the growth of ancillary businesses that serve the natural gas field.”

Overall, Pennsylvania will distribute more than $160 million for the 2024 reporting year. Since 2012, there has been a cumulative total of more than $2.88 billion.

A total of 60% of these funds are allocated to the Unconventional Gas Well Fund, which is distributed to municipalities with wells. These funds would be used for the construction and maintenance of public infrastructure, public safety services, environmental programs, preservation of water supplies, tax reductions, social services, judicial services, career and technical training, accessible housing projects and records management.

The remaining 40% of funds are allocated to the Marcellus Legacy Fund, a portion of which is distributed to all counties, regardless of the presence of wells within their borders. These funds would be used for environmental initiatives and infrastructure projects. The remaining funds are used by the state for emergency response planning, training and other activities; water, storm water, and sewer system construction and repair; infrastructure maintenance and repair; as well as statewide environmental initiatives.

Disbursements to the 57th Legislative District include:

Adamsburg Borough - $279.32
Arona Borough - $385.45
Greensburg City - $19,244.68
Hempfield Township - $148,481.80
New Stanton Borough - $3,720.17
South Greensburg Borough - $3,006.03
Southwest Greensburg Borough - $2,806.70
Youngwood Borough - $4,523.80
57th Legislative District Total - $182,447.95
All 65 Municipal Governments - $1,448,051.47
Westmoreland County Board of Commissioners - $1,045,242.57
Municipalities and County Government Total - $2,493,294.04

Pennsylvania’s Public Utility Commission, charged with collecting, distributing and reporting Act 13 revenue, has submitted the data to the Pennsylvania Treasury, which is expected to begin issuing payments in early July.

To learn more about Act 13 distributions, visit act13-reporting.puc.pa.gov.

Representative Eric Nelson
57th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jordan Frei
724.875.8450
jfrei@pahousegop.com
RepNelson.com / Facebook.com/RepNelson