This week, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Interim Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley joined Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro at an onsite celebration recognizing the plugging of the 200th orphaned or abandoned well in the state in the last 14 months.
Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), DEP received an initial $25M grant in August 2022 to plug orphaned and abandoned wells. The state has combined federal funding with state funding to contract for approximately $28M in well closures since the beginning of 2023.
DEP is eligible under the BIL to receive as much as $400M over the next decade. The state is looking to continue to supplement federal funds, as the Governor has included $11M in state funds to supplement the federal funding during in FY24-25.
Pennsylvania has an estimated 350,000 orphaned and abandoned wells that contribute nearly 8% of the state’s methane emissions. Addressing these wells can significantly reduce Pennsylvania’s greenhouse gas output
