Record natural gas prices drive increase in Act 13 impact fee distribution in Butler County
Infrastructure and park projects across the county are being funded this year with Act 13 natural gas well impact fee distributions driven by record high gas prices and an increase in the number of wells last year.
In addition to an increase in the county's well count from 563 in 2021 to 594 last year, the price of gas rose from $3.84 per unit to $6.64, the highest price since the state began assessing fees on producers in 2011, according to the Public Utility Commission, which collects and distributes the money.
Based on the 2022 well count and gas prices, the county will receive a little over $3 million, and the 57 municipalities in the county will receive a total of nearly $5 million, the Marcellus Shale Coalition announced last month.
In 2022, the county received $2.4 million and the municipalities received about $4 million, which was based on the 2021 well count and gas price.
Statewide, this year's Act 13 distributions totaled $278 million — a $44 million increase over last year.
“2022 saw the highest level of prices, so the impact fees collected from producers was at the highest level,” said David Callahan, president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, an industry advocate.
