Saint Francis University : Institute for Energy Publishes a Review on Energy Development

The energy industries have a significant influence on Pennsylvania's landscapes. These energy resources, expectedly, exist on both publicly and privately held land.

The Institute for Energy at Saint Francis University has concluded a year-long research endeavor examining oil, gas, coal, and renewable energy development on Pennsylvania public lands. The objective of the research is to provide both PA citizens and policymakers with accessible information about how PA owned lands (specifically, state parks, state forests, and state game lands) are being used and managed for energy resource development.

Allison Rohrs, Director of the SFU Institute for Energy and lead researcher for the report, states 'This research examines the development of each energy resource on state owned lands and discusses the potential health and environmental risks associated with such development. Additionally, the research provides technical and policy background information about each of the energy resources as well as recommendations.'

Historically, PA public lands have been developed by the coal, oil and gas industries. This is a result of the combination of both mineral ownership laws and state public land policy. In contrast, no utility scale renewable energy projects have been developed on these state lands. Both the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) have been approached by wind energy developers to build wind farms, but all projects have been denied. The agencies cite the lack of explicit state policy (DCNR) and negative environmental/surface impacts (PGC) as the primary reasons not to develop wind projects.

Interactive maps demonstrating where energy development is (and is not) occurring is available at: https://www.fractracker.org/2017/12/energy-development-state-lands-pa/

The research and analysis was generously funded by The Heinz Endowments. For a copy of the comprehensive report, visit: https://www.francis.edu/Institute-For-Energy-Research/