Sierra Club recognizes Jeremy Weber’s research

When the Sierra Club wanted an objective estimate of the cost of cleaning up old oil and gas wells, they turned to Jeremy Weber, an associate professor at Pitt’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. The state of Pennsylvania requires oil and gas companies to put money aside in the form of bonds for clean up and plugging before being allowed to drill a new well. The assurances provide the state with resources to clean up old wells if the companies become financially unable to do so.

The Sierra Club cited Weber’s research in a petition to the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board recommending the state increase bonding requirements for oil and gas wells. Weber, an economist, has researched oil and gas well policy for nearly a decade.

Learn more about his research.