Senate Passes Marcellus Shale Bill

The state Senate has approved a Marcellus Shale bill by a vote of 31-19.

The Post-Gazette reports that it includes a levy on shale.

“The Republican-negotiated measure melds the fee amounts in previous bill(s) into a tiered system pegged against the price of natural gas, which would raise between $190,000 and $355,000 per well over 15 years. That fee is projected to raise more than $190 million retroactively for 2011, rising to $333 million by 2015,” the newspaper reported.

, D-Canonsburg, voted yes—as he said all his southwestern Pennsylvania colleagues did.

The measure now heads to the House for consideration.

Check back with Canon-McMillan Patch for updates.