CNX Nears $128 Million in Cumulative Pennsylvania Impact Fee Payments
July 1, 2026
By Positive Energy Hub Staff
Pennsylvania's natural gas industry fuels the Commonwealth's economy in ways that go far beyond affordable energy costs, reliable electricity generation, job creation, and attracting investment.
One of the most direct examples: Act 13's impact fee, which has returned more than $3.12 billion to state and local governments since 2012 — funding the roads, bridges, parks, and emergency services that communities depend on every day.
Following 2025 impact fee collections, CNX has now contributed nearly $128 million of the overall total.
What Is the Impact Fee?
Pennsylvania's impact fee is a per-well tax on unconventional natural gas development, assessed annually by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PA PUC). Paid on each well for 15 years on a declining scale, the fee is distributed directly to the counties and municipalities where development takes place — as well as all 67 Pennsylvania counties through the Marcellus Legacy Fund. It funds roads, bridges, parks, emergency services, affordable housing, stormwater systems, and environmental programs.
CNX's 2025 Contribution
In 2025, CNX paid approximately $11.2 million in impact fees across its southwestern Pennsylvania operating counties of Allegheny, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Washington, and Westmoreland. These payments are depicted below.
A Model That Works
PA PUC Chairman Steve DeFrank put it well: "The impact fee continues to provide significant and sustained support for Pennsylvania communities — especially those directly affected by natural gas development. More than a decade into Act 13, this funding continues to bolster local infrastructure, environmental projects, and public services across the Commonwealth."
Pennsylvania's impact fee model is first-in-the-nation for a reason: it ensures that the communities hosting natural gas development share directly in its benefits, while also providing support across the Commonwealth through the Marcellus Legacy Fund.
Read more about Pennsylvania's impact fee in the fact sheet below. Additional information – including county- and municipality-level distributions, producer payments, and historical data – is available on the PUC’s Act 13 website.
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