A Closer Look At Pennsylvania's Natural Gas Severance Tax Plan

Democratic Governor Tom Wolf, now in his second and final term, wants to impose a severance tax on natural gas producers to subsidize “Restore Pennsylvania.” The plan has three main components: remove blight—which is found in most communities—provide flood mitigation and improve broadband access throughout the state. The initial plan, which has just been introduced to the Republican-controlled state legislature, seeks to raise $4.5 billion in bonds to be repaid over 20 years from the severance tax.

Naturally, the gas industry and the business community aren’t keen over Wolf’s plan.