The PennZone

Harrisburg, PA ~ Under Governor Josh Shapiro's leadership, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has dramatically increased its capping and plugging efforts, reducing methane emissions and improving public health.

The Shapiro Administration has capped and plugged 132 wells in the Governor's first 11 months, more than in the previous eight years combined. This unprecedented focus on well-capping is creating good-paying jobs while protecting public health and reducing planet-warming methane emissions.

"By focusing on capping and plugging these wells, my Administration is making real progress towards tackling greenhouse gas emissions here in Pennsylvania and creating thousands of good-paying, union jobs in the process," said Governor Shapiro. "We must reject the false choice between protecting jobs and protecting our planet. I believe we can do both – we can embrace the Commonwealth's role as an energy leader, create good-paying jobs, and fulfill our constitutional obligation to protect Pennsylvania's clean air and pure water. Let's plug the wells, improve our air quality, and strengthen our communities."

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The efforts to leverage federal funding began under the previous administration with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) signed into law by President Biden. The IIJA has allowed Pennsylvania to receive more than $400 million in funding to cap and plug wells across the Commonwealth. This has already led to a dozen additional DEP staff specifically working on wells in Western Pennsylvania alone.

More than 350,000 orphaned wells across our Commonwealth make up nearly 8% of our total methane emissions. Methane is particularly dangerous because it is up to 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide – warming our planet and contributing to air pollution that damages our lungs and our hearts.

DEP has been using IIJA funding to inspect and inventory more orphaned wells as well as implement a new enforcement strategy for operators who are walking away from their wells without properly plugging them. DEP is also stepping in with emergency contracts where needed to protect public health.

In October 2020, DEP plugged its 100th well at Hillman State Park under an emergency contract with Yost Drilling after receiving reports from local residents concerned about risks posed by abandoned wells.

Thanks to IIJA funding as well as existing state funding for DEP, Pennsylvania is taking steps towards tackling this massive contributor of greenhouse gasses while creating thousands of good-paying jobs in the process.

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