PA Environment Digest Blog: Friday PA Environment & Energy NewsClips 5.20.22

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House returns to session May 23, 24, 25

Senate returns to session May 23, 24, 25

-- Guest Essay: Funding Crucial For The Future Of Clean Water In Pennsylvania - By Hilary Falk, Chesapeake Bay Foundation & Allyson Gibson, Lancaster Clean Water Partners [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette - John Hayes: Point State Park In Pittsburgh Gets A Visit, Boost From DCNR Secretary [Funding To Pay For $1.4 Billion Maintenance Backlog]

-- Three Rivers Waterkeeper Seeking Active River Users For New 3 Rivers Watch Program In Pittsburgh [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Water Team Stormwater BMP Walks May 27: Greensburg; June 9: Cumberland County; Get Outside In May! Programs [PaEN]

-- Help Celebrate Lancaster County Water Week June 3-11 [PaEN]

-- Delaware RiverKeeper May 20 RiverWatch Video Report

-- Gov. Wolf Awarded More Than $5.2 Million In Community Block Grant Funds For Water, Sewer Projects In 4 Counties

-- House Environmental Committee Meets May 24 On Bills Attempting To Address Local Flooding, Extending Underground Tank Cleanup Programs [PaEN]

-- New Report Finds Solar Energy Installations At PA K-12 Schools Doubled Since 2020; Their Energy Costs Don’t Fluctuate With Energy Markets [PaEN]

-- Sustainable Pittsburgh Reopens Certification Programs To Support, Recognize Sustainability Progress [PaEN]

-- StateImpactPA - Jon Hurdle: Eureka Resources Fracking Wastewater Treatment Plant Called A New Threat To Dimock’s Water In Susquehanna County

-- University Of Houston: Shale Gas Wastewater Could Be Substantial Source Of Lithium To Support Renewable Energy [Eureka Resources] [PaEN]

-- PA State Treasurer Garrity Supports Lawsuit Opposing RGGI

-- Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund Ad Supporting RGGI PA Climate Initiative

-- WHYY: Philly Council Weighing Citywide Contract To Convert Street Lights To LEDs

-- Dept. Of Human Services Extends Deadline To Apply For Low-Income Home Energy Assistance To June 17 [PaEN]

-- UGI Energy Services Provides $200,000 In Scholarships To Private Schools

-- Utility Dive: PJM Sees Need For Thermal Power Plants To Protect Against Blackout Risks Amid Rising Electrification

-- Governor Honors PennDOT, DEP Employees For Developing Pennsylvania’s Litter Action Plan [PaEN]

-- WHYY: Philly Council Passes Bill To Require More Asbestos Inspections In Philly Schools

-- Northeast Recycling Council Call For Papers For Fall Conference Nov. 2-3 [PaEN]

-- May 21 Pennsylvania Bulletin Now Available

-- PennLive - Marcus Schneck: Your Pollinator Garden’s Success May Depend On Bees You Can’t Identify

-- Warren Times: Spongy Moth Spraying Set For Coming Weeks

-- PennLive - Marcus Schneck: Forestry Camp Continues To Give PA Inmates Marketable Skills In Arboriculture

-- TribLive: Monroeville Begins Planning For Westmoreland Heritage Trail Connector Bridge

-- PA Environmental Council To Take On Operations Of Philadelphia-Based Bicycle Adventure Company Bikeout

-- PennLive - Marcus Schneck: Beaver Babies, Roaming Snappers, First Fireflies: What’s Happening In Nature Now

-- PennLive - Marcus Schneck: Bird Migration Nights On The Horizon, Says New Public Forecasting Tool

-- LancasterOnline - Erin Negley: Will Cicadas Swarm In PA In 2022?

-- Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Hosts Berks Sinfonietta June 11 For Music On The Mountain

-- Help Wanted: Manada Conservancy Executive Director

6th Oil/Natural Gas Spike: True Energy Independence Means Renewables

[There Is No Limit On What Oil/Natural Gas Industry Can Make You Pay]

-- Post-Gazette: Record High Gasoline Prices In Pittsburgh, Across U.S. Likely To Remain Elevated As Summer Arrives

-- Reuters: U.S. Power And Natural Gas Prices Soar During Spring Heatwave

“Even before the latest heat, gas futures were trading near a 13-year high as much higher prices in Europe and Asia kept demand for U.S. liquefied natural gas exports strong.

“In Pennsylvania, next-day power at the PJM West hub and gas at the Dominion South hub rose to their highest since the February freeze in 2021.”

-- Bloomberg: European Natural Gas Prices Close At Lowest Since Start Of War In Ukraine

American Rescue Plan Funding

-- Guest Essay: Funding Crucial For The Future Of Clean Water In Pennsylvania - By Hilary Falk, Chesapeake Bay Foundation & Allyson Gibson, Lancaster Clean Water Partners [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette - John Hayes: Point State Park In Pittsburgh Gets A Visit, Boost From DCNR Secretary [Funding To Pay For $1.4 Billion Maintenance Backlog]

-- $11 Billion In Federal American Rescue Plan Funding To PA State Government, Local Governments Has Yet To Be Invested. What’s Your Community Doing?

Other States/National/International

-- Reuters: Ukraine War Raises Fears Efforts To Tackle Methane Emissions From Fossil Fuels Will Be Reversed

-- The Economist: War And The Coming Food Catastrophe

PA Politics - Everything Is Connected

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: PA Senate Republican Election Inquiry Continues, Consultant Contract Extended

-- The Guardian: Sen. Mastriano’s Win Prompts Election Fears In Pennsylvania

-- PA Capital-Star: 40 PA Republican Lawmakers Joined Far-Right Facebook Groups

-- Post-Gazette - Tony Norman: Onward Christian Nationalists, PA Republicans Just Nominated An Unapologetic Theocrat For Governor

-- AP: Dr. Oz, McCormick Tied In PA Republican U.S. Senate Race With 8,700 Ballots To Count

-- LancasterOnline: Lancaster County Republicans Hold Back Challenge From [Far] Right In Midterm Primary