Bradford Landowners Release Powerful Video: PA Royalty Ripoff

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civil-warA little over a month ago, Bradford County, PA commissioners voted to hire a public relations firm to create a video to force the issue of passing House Bill (HB) 1391, a bill ensuring PA’s landowners will receive a 12.5% royalty check regardless of post-production costs (see Bradford Votes to Hire PR Firm, Targets PA Lawmakers re Royalties). The video is out and it is powerful--watch it below. The video leaves little doubt that Chesapeake Energy has dealt in bad faith with landowners in Bradford County. The local animal care shelter signed a lease with Chesapeake, and instead of getting royalty checks, they've gotten a bill from Chesapeake stating the shelter OWES Chesapeake $30,000! What landowner, in their right mind, will EVER sign a lease with Chesapeake again if others sign and end up owing the company money? It's nuts--and everyone knows it. The purpose of the video is to push passage of House Bill (HB) 1391 which would guarantee landowners receive what they were promised--12.5% royalties from the gas sold. However, the drilling industry continues to push legislators to defeat the bill. Their argument is that the entire industry of already-signed contracts should not be abandoned over the actions of one bad actor. Last Friday the American Petroleum Institute sent a letter to PA legislators (copy below) outlining their reasons. The royalty civil war continues...

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