Pennsylvania Republicans unveil bill to reauthorize well remediation program

With their home state of Pennsylvania estimated to have more orphan wells than any other state in the nation, U.S. Reps. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) and Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) introduced legislation to reauthorize a federal program for five years at $50 million each year that addresses orphaned, abandoned, or idled wells on federal lands.

The Plugging Orphan Wells and Environmental Restoration (POWER) Act, H.R. 8332, which Rep. Thompson sponsored with lead original cosponsor Rep. Reschenthaler on Sept. 21, also would establish a program to provide grants to states and tribes to address orphaned wells, according to the text of the proposed bill.

“We have both an economic and environmental responsibility to ensure abandoned wells are plugged,” Rep. Thompson said on Sept. 23. “The POWER Act will ensure these legacy sites are appropriately handled in order to protect the environment while also stimulating jobs in the oil and gas sector. This will be a win-win for Pennsylvania.”

If enacted, H.R. 8332 also would establish a new grant program for environmental restoration and reclamation of orphaned wells on state, private and tribal lands that would be authorized at $400 million each year for five years. 

Rep. Reschenthaler also pointed out that H.R. 8332 would provide new economic opportunities for southwestern Pennsylvania’s oil and gas workers, who are struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“In Pennsylvania, we already have a skilled and knowledgeable workforce ready to remediate the estimated 200,000 orphaned wells across the state,” said Rep. Reschenthaler. “By providing federal funding to plug these wells, we can support the creation of good-paying jobs for hardworking Americans while addressing environmental and safety hazards in our communities.”

H.R. 8332 is cosponsored by six other Pennsylvania Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), and has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee.