Why Union Labor is Key to Solving PA's Abandoned Gas Well Crisis

Pennsylvania faces a significant legacy challenge, with estimates suggesting as many as 700,000 abandoned oil and gas wells across the Commonwealth, the most of any state except Texas. Southwestern and Western Pennsylvania carry the heaviest burden of these historical, pre-regulation extraction sites dating back to the 19th century.

Many of these wells can leak methane, threaten water quality, and create public health and environmental risks. Pennsylvania has already undertaken important work to identify and plug some these wells, but the enormous scale of the challenge requires sustained, long-term commitment.

Governor Shapiro’s proposed $19 million state investment provides an important start to accelerate this work, but more is required to make meaningful progress.

By combining state leadership with a trained Pennsylvania workforce, strong labor standards, and union apprenticeship programs, we can expand well remediation, create family-sustaining jobs, protect our communities, and build a long-term strategy for addressing Pennsylvania’s orphaned wells.