Butler County will receive less money from natural gas drilling this year than the last two years.
According to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, the county will receive just over $1.8 million in gas drilling impact fees that were collected from the 2023 year.
Butler remains the seventh highest receiving county in the state for the 2023 year. There are 673 wells in Butler County, according to PUC data. Municipalities set to receive funding include nearly $300,000 to Butler Township, nearly $200,000 to Winfield Township, over $132,000 to Clinton Township, and nearly $130,000 to Jefferson Township.
Statewide, nearly $180 million was generated last year, which is decrease of nearly $100 million compared to the amount received last year from 2022 drilling.
Each township, borough and municipality receives their own allotment but there are restrictions on how municipalities use the money. It’s meant to be spent on infrastructure projects and to assist with human service and emergency response needs. Checks are expected to be issued in early July.
