It's time for frackers to finally pay their fair share.
For too long large oil and natural gas companies have been been riding roughshod on our environment, all while giving back little to the communities around them.
it's time they pay a fair and reasonable tax—similar to what frackers pay in most other gas-producing states—that can be invested into developing clean energy and energy efficiency programs that will help cut global warming pollution.
That would help our communities and help protect our environment!
Right now, Pennsylvania is the only gas-producing state in the country without a severance tax. That means oil and gas companies are able to suck incredibly amounts of profit out of Pennsylvania's Marcellus and Utica shale formations without funding programs that will help protect citizens from fracking and slash our dependence on fossil fuels.
Frackers will never pay their fair share if we don't put on the pressure, though. Add your name today to call for Pennsylvania to finally enact a long-overdue, commonsense severance tax.
Dear [Representative],
I am writing to express our support for Governor Wolf's proposal to enact a fair and reasonable tax on the extraction of natural gas that can be invested into programs to develop clean energy and energy efficiency programs that will help cut global warming pollution.
Last fall, voters sent a clear message they want programs that will protect our streams and forests from fracking and other polluters. Invest in building a clean energy economy by expanding solar power and saving money through energy efficiency. But without this additional funding, these programs will continue to fail” or something like that.
The gas industry is not overburdened with taxes in Pennsylvania. In many cases, companies pay no tax on net profits, due to federal energy incentives. And since most of Pennsylvania's gas is exported to other states, 80 percent of the revenue from a severance tax would come from out of state.
It's time the gas drillers paid their fair share for our schools, economy and environment. The Commonwealth's taxpaying families want a good economy and a clean environment and should no longer have to shoulder an unfair tax burden to maximize the gas industry's profits.
I urge you to support Gov. Wolf’s severance tax proposal that ensures drillers pay their fair share that helps ensure clean energy and energy efficiency is funded; the Department of Environmental Protection can protect communities.
Respectfully,
[Your name]
