WEST SUNBURY, PA — Pennsylvania this week embraced a significant environmental and public health milestone. Under the watchful and strategic administration of Governor Josh Shapiro, the Commonwealth recorded the plugging of its 200th orphaned or abandoned well. This historic event bespeaks Governor Shapiro’s relentless efforts to strengthen public health, foster job growth, and address climate change head-on.
Shapiro’s administration has thus far surpassed the past nine years in well-plugging, chalking up the 200th after just 14 months in office. The pace at which these orphaned and abandoned wells are being plugged has accelerated. For instance, the 100th well plugging occurred nine months after Governor Shapiro took the helm, and in less than five months since then, an additional 100 wells have been effectively sealed.
Governor Shapiro commented on the feat saying, “This is a smart, commonsense way to combat climate change, promote public health, and create jobs. In the coming days, I’ll be announcing a commonsense energy policy that further protects the public, creates energy jobs, and grows our energy economy so that we can lower costs for consumers and build on our Commonwealth’s legacy of energy leadership.”
Keen environmentalists may understand that significant greenhouse gas emissions stem from these wells. Approximately 350,000 orphaned and abandoned wells are scattered across Pennsylvania, contributing nearly 8% of the state’s total methane emissions. Methane gas stands as a major contributor to global warming and air pollution, both detrimental to the heart and lungs, and it boasts eighty-six times the warming potential of carbon dioxide.
Jessica Shirley, the DEP Interim Acting Secretary, acknowledges Pennsylvania’s sizable role in the world’s energy and economy. She commented, “Orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells represent over a billion-dollar liability for the Commonwealth that DEP is tackling head on – and the Shapiro Administration is approaching this moment as a major opportunity to create jobs and improve public health and the environment.”
The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) supports the Commonwealth’s environmental and health healing. It funds well-plugging projects aimed at eliminating the worst environmental and public health hazards. The IIJA has already facilitated $28 million in contracts for plugging projects under the Shapiro administration. Plugging these wells has resulted not just in environmental protection but also in significant job creation.
One of the small businesses benefiting from this is the Penn Mechanical Group. This family-operated business, headquartered in Indiana, PA, employs 150 Pennsylvania workers and has been a key player in the plugging projects. Tyler Shank, the Vice President of Penn Mechanical Group, voiced gratitude for the opportunity to participate in this program and expressed pride in reaching this milestone.
The Commonwealth has not only focused on the plugging of these abandoned wells but also in dealing with operators who abandon wells. Through emergency plugging contracts, the DEP has consistently stepped in to safeguard public health. The IIJA funding, along with existing state funding, continues to aid in these efforts.
The need for remedial action in Pennsylvania is vast, but the Shapiro administration demonstrates unyielding endeavor in rectifying the state’s environmental challenges, stimulating economic growth, and safeguarding public health. As Representative Tim Bonner said, “Good stewardship of our natural resources will continue Pennsylvania’s leadership in the energy sector, strengthen and grow our skilled workforce, and result in a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment for our land and our people now and for generations to come.”
Indeed, to tackle climate change and secure a greener future for the Commonwealth, the plugging of these orphaned and abandoned wells stands as a potent step along an important journey. The monumental achievement of closing the 200th well under Governor Shapiro’s administration signals a firm commitment to public health, job creation, and climate change mitigation in Pennsylvania.
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