120 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Here are 120  new stories in the PA Environment Digest about individuals, groups, local governments, farmers, businesses, watershed groups and many more working all across Pennsylvania to restore and protect the environment and show others the beauty that surrounds us.

Thank you for your leadership!

-- Westminster College Honors Student Research And Creative Works At 18th Student Symposium On The Environment  [PaEN]

-- Kensington Teens Win $17,000 Grant To Turn Trash-Filled, Empty Lot Into Public Garden To Prevent Dumping In Philadelphia  [PaEN]

-- Unionville H.S. Rowing Club Finds New Home With Chester Water Authority On The Octoraro Reservoir; Student Service Projects Help Protect Reservoir  [PaEN]

-- Slippery Rock University: Luzerne County Student Helps Improve Sustainability At Slippery Rock University ​

-- The Power Of Master Watershed Stewards - Program Accomplishments In 2025; Sign Up For Spring Training Now; More Extension Resources  [PaEN]

-- Republican Herald: Schuylkill County Conservation District Volunteer Audrey Wells Hosts Sketchers Nature Walk To Spark Connection With Outdoors  [PDF of Article]

-- York Dispatch: Community Mourns Passing Of Former York Water President Jeff Hines After Brief Illness

-- Fly Fishing Magazine: Big Spring Creek Conservationists Fight To Save Wild Trout From Warehouse Development In Cumberland County 

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: PA River Of The Year Finalist Chillisquaque Creek Offers Microcosm Of Issues And Opportunities For Bigger Susquehanna River System

-- Educators Invited To Southwest PA Environmental Literacy Coalition Online Meeting Jan. 6  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: MarkWest Liberty Midstream Reports 69,000 Gallon Pipeline Construction Fluid Loss Into Mine Voids Under Washington County; 476,600 Gallons Lost So Far  [PaEN] 

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Dec. 13 to 19 -- Shale Gas Abandoned Well Violations Hit 70; Conventional Well Not Plugged For 2,045 Days; MarkWest Loses Another 69,000 Of Pipeline Drilling Fluid To Mine Voids  [PaEN] 

-- PennLive: PA DEP Staffing Lagging As State Faces Natural Gas Fracking, Air, Water Pollution Issues: Report 

-- Inside Climate News - Kiley Bense/Peter Aldhous: Tracking Oil And Gas Industry Waste In Pennsylvania Is Still A ‘Logistical Mess’  [Part I] 

-- Inside Climate News - Kiley Bense/Peter Aldhous: 20 Years Into Shale Gas Fracking, Pennsylvania Has Yet To Reckon With Its Radioactive Waste [Part II] 

-- Inside Climate News - Kiley Bense: Pennsylvania Is Still Cleaning Up Decades’ Worth Of Abandoned Coal Mine Pollution, Now It Must Contend With Millions Of Tons Of Oil & Gas Waste  [Part III]

-- Inside Climate News Video: Reporter Kiley Bense Talks About Her 3 Part Series On Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Waste [Video] 

-- Spotlight PA/Inside Climate News: Outdated, Disconnected Systems Leave PA Unable To Comprehensively Track Toxic Oil And Gas Industry Waste

-- Farm and Dairy: Shale Gas Well Pad Setback Petition Finally Moves On To PA DEP For Study 

-- Warren Times: US Forest Service Closes American Refining Group Facility In Highland Twp., Elk County, Declares Them Unsafe Due To Hazardous Materials, Structurally Unsound Buildings [PDF of Article] 

-- PUC Approves $50,000 Penalty Settlement With Peoples Natural Gas Following 2022 Johnstown Pipeline Damage, Fire Incident

-- WTAJ: Peoples Natural Gas To Pay Up For 2022 Pipeline Fire Incident

-- WHYY: Delaware City Refinery Failed To Immediately Report Accurate Butane Emissions

-- Environmental Groups, Our Children’s Trust Appeal Air Quality Permit For Homer City A.I. Data Center 4.5 GW Natural Gas Power Plant In Indiana County  [PaEN]

-- Indiana Gazette: Environmental Advocates, PA Youths Appeal Permit For 4.5 GW Natural Gas Power Plant For 3,200 Acre Homer City A.I. Data Center Campus

-- Our Children’s Trust Files Appeal Of DEP Air Quality Permit For Homer City A.I. Data Center Power Plant

-- Public Citizen: President’s LNG Gas Energy Export Policy Costs Households $12 Billion In First 9 Months Of 2025  [Warning]

-- Bloomberg: American LNG Export Boom Means Goodbye To Cheap US Natural Gas

-- Inside Climate News: LNG Gas Exports Driving Up Americans’ Energy Bills, Report Says

-- Reuters: Energy Transfer Scraps Development Of Lake Charles LNG Gas Export Project In Louisiana Due To Concerns About Looming Global Oversupply

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Pennsylvania Energy [Natural Gas] Will Make America Affordable Again - By US Secretary Of Commerce Howard Lutnick  

-- PJM Electricity Auction Prices Again At Cap Imposed By Gov. Shapiro’s Lawsuit Settlement, Without It Prices Would Be 59% Higher Driven By A.I. Data Center Demand; Grid Reliability Now Questioned  [PaEN] 

-- Utility Dive: PJM Capacity Prices Hit Record High As Grid Operator Falls Short Of Reliability Target; 6.6 GW Shortfall Could Trigger Reliability Backstop Auction 

-- Utility Dive: FERC Members Raise Alarms About PJM Failure To Meet Reliability Target; Next Load Forecast Could Be Significantly Lower Due To Stricter Vetting Of Data Center Projects

-- Reuters: Prices In PJM Power Auction Hit New Record, Signaling Higher Utility Bills Ahead 

-- Bloomberg: Pressure Mounts To Fix PJM Grid As Electricity Costs Hit New Highs 

-- Bloomberg: Latest PJM Power Auction Set To Deepen Affordability Concerns

-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: PA, NJ, DE Could See Increased Risk Of Power Outages Due To PJM Supply And Demand Crunch On Regional Grid 

-- Bloomberg: New York Utility Says Queue For A.I. Data Center Power Users Has Tripled  [Will Pull More PA Power]

-- WGEM: Illinois State Regulators Warn Of Impending Energy Shortfalls As PJM Capacity Prices Rise Again

-- KSDK: A.I. Data Centers Are Sucking Illinois’ Power Grid Dry, Official Report Warns [PJM Service Area  [Warning]

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: Pennsylvanians Have Until Dec. 22 To Comment On Proposed PUC A.I. Data Center Model Tariff For Utilities

-- PUC Votes To Develop Rulemaking To Modernize Electric Interconnection Regulations; Proposed Rule Due In March  [PaEN] 

-- PJM Outlines Long-Term Electric Transmission Plan In FERC Filing 

-- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Orders PJM To Allow A.I. Data Centers To Connect Directly To Power Plants, Expedite Connections For Shovel-Ready Projects, Enhance Load Forecasting  [PaEN]   [Warning]

-- AP: FERC Orders PJM To Allow A.I. Data Centers To Plug Right Into Power Plants In Scramble For Energy 

-- Utility Dive: FERC Orders PJM To Craft New A.I. Data Center Colocation Connection Rules

-- Reuters: FERC Directs PJM To Set New A.I. Data Center Rules On Direct Connection To Power Plants

-- PA Capital-Star: FERC Says More Clarity Needed On How A.I. Data Centers Connect To Power Sources

-- Utility Dive: Electric Utility Large Load Tariffs Could Streamline Interconnection By Shrinking Queues, Report [Now, Anyone With An Acre Of Land For A Data Center Is Putting In An Interconnection Request] 

-- Altoona Mirror: Groups Urge Shapiro To Dial Back Support For A.I. Data Centers [PDF of Article]

-- Morning Call/Inquirer: Poll: How Pennsylvanians Feel About A.I. Data Centers: 70% Concerned About Water Use; 71% Concerned About Electricity Use 

-- Post-Gazette: Survey Says Pennsylvanians See The A.I. Revolution As A ‘Significant Threat To Humanity’ 

-- Scranton Times Chris Kelly Opinion: Welcome To ‘Data Center Valley’ - 84 A.I. Data Center Structures Proposed In Lackawanna County [PDF of Article]

-- Nonprofit Quarterly: A Canary In A Coal Mine: Amazon’s Luzerne County A.I. Data Center

-- Republican Herald: PPL Plans New 37-Mile High Voltage Line Between Sunbury And Frackville To Service A.I. Data Centers [PDF of Article]

-- LancasterOnline: Lancaster City Fire Dept. Making Plans For A.I. Data Center Battery Fires, Based On Experiences In Virginia [PDF of Article]

-- KDKA: PA Lawmakers Exploring How To Regulate A.I. Data Centers, Which Drive Up Resident’s Utility Bills

-- Pottstown Mercury: Sen. Pennycuick, Rep. Ciresi Say State Efforts Will Continue To Regulate A.I. Despite President’s Executive Order

-- WITF: Republican Attorney General Dave Sunday Says He’ll Defend State A.I. Laws From President’s Administration

-- PA Capital-Star: PA’s Republican Attorney General, Lawmakers Contend With President’s Order Blocking A.I. Regulations

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Maryland Legislature Overrides Governor’s Veto Of Bills To Study Costs Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions In MD; Economic, Energy, Environmental Impacts Of A.I. Data Centers, Setting Up State Energy Office 

-- Post-Gazette - Laura Legere: US Energy Secretary Touts $1 Billion Taxpayer Loan To Restart Undamaged Three Mile Island Nuclear Reactor To Feed Microsoft A.I. Data Centers  [Warning]

-- WITF: US Energy Secretary Says Restart Of Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant Is ‘Poster Child’ Of President’s Energy, A.I. Agenda [Dedicated To Feeding Energy To Microsoft A.I. Data Centers]

-- PA Capital-Star: US Energy Secretary Says Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant Restart Delivers On President’s Promises [Will Provide Power To Feed Microsoft A.I. Data Centers]

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: US Energy Secretary Visits Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant, Now Helped By Federal Taxpayer Money  [Will Provide Power To Feed Microsoft A.I. Data Centers]

-- Pennsylvania BRIGHT Expands Statewide To Remove Barriers To Bringing Affordable Solar Energy To PA Homeowners Left Out Of Transition To Clean Energy Options  [PaEN] 

-- Philadelphia Solar Energy Association: New Solar Schools Toolkit, Solar Toolkit For Nonprofits, Local Governments Available To Help Deal With Soaring Electricity Costs  [PaEN] 

-- TribLive: Westmoreland County Housing Authority Plans To Lease Former State Prison Site, Warehouse Rooftop For Solar Energy Facilities [‘There’s Only One Direction (Electric Prices) Are Going - That’s Up’] 

-- Scranton Times: Old Forge School District Seeks Proposals For Solar Energy Facility 

-- Planet Philadelphia Radio: Dec. 19: Hopeful Sustainability Projects, 4:00 p.m.

-- Tribune-Democrat Guest Essay: Pennsylvania Must Be Prepared To Meet Energy Challenges After RGGI - By Tom Gilbert, PA Environmental Council  [PDF of Article]

-- PoliticoPro: Carbon Prices Jump After Pennsylvania Opts Out Of RGGI Program [Never Implemented In PA]

-- Inquirer: PA, NJ, DE Among States Suing President’s Administration Again Over Withholding Billions In Electric Vehicle Charging Funds

-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: PA, NJ, DE Join Lawsuit Asking President’s Administration To Release Funds For Electric Vehicle Chargers

-- Utility Dive: Federal Court Agrees To Rehear $14 Billion Federal Climate Funding Freeze Case

-- DEP Invites Comments On Renewal Of The NPDES Wastewater Permit For The BET Associates IV, LLC Anthracite Mining Discharge In Schuylkill, Carbon Counties Affecting 7,479 Acres  [PaEN]

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Core Nature Resources WV Coal Mine Reopens After Year-Long Closure From Explosion, Fire

-- Altoona Mirror: Blair County Planning Commission Opposes Glass Bagging Enterprises Noncoal Surface Mining Permit In Frankstown Twp.

-- Commonwealth Financing Authority Invests More Than $14 Million In Act 13 Drilling Impact Fee Revenue In Watershed Restoration, Recreation, Sewage And Flood Mitigation Projects  [PaEN]

-- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Announces Jan. 15 Deadline To Apply For Major Conservation Assistance Program, Including Regenerative Pilot Program  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension:  Conservation Pros: Join In Ag Literacy Week - March 16-20 

-- LancasterOnline: PA Counties Near Farmland Have Higher Melanoma Cancer Rates, Penn State Researchers Find [PDF of Article]

-- WHYY: Road Salt Remains In PA, NJ, DE Waterways Months After Winter Storms, According To New Stroud Water Research Center Data

-- Reading Eagle: PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Found In Gilbertsville Elementary School Water

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Gilbertsville Montgomery County School In Shadow Of Toxic Boyertown Landfill Finds PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Its Water

-- WHYY: Philadelphia Water Department Wants To Know Whether Your Drinking Water Pipes Are Lead-Free

-- TribLive: Winfield Mobile Home Park Faces Water Troubles Again After Monthlong ‘Do Not Use’ Notice In Butler County

-- LancasterOnline: Environmental Groups Challenge FERC Permit For Cuffs Run Pump Storage Hydroelectric Facility On Susquehanna River In York County

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: ‘PERMIT’ Bill In US House Could Weaken EPA Enforcement Of Chesapeake Bay Cleanup  [Warning]

-- The Allegheny Front: EPA Hears Competing Views On New Proposed Rollbacks For Federal Wetlands, Water Protections  [Warning]

-- TribLive: US Army Corps Receives Another $32 Million For Nuclear Waste Cleanup In Parks Twp., Armstrong County

-- PennLive: DEP Halts Operations At Lancaster County Mascaro & Sons Compost Plant After Fire Burned For Nearly 2 Weeks Releasing Hazardous Materials Into The Air

-- LancasterOnline: DEP Halts Operations At Penn Twp. Compost Plant During Days-Long Fire

-- Centre Daily Times Guest Essay: How To Help Shape The Future Of Recycling In Centre County - By Amy Schirf, Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority

-- Inquirer: How Pennsylvania Farms 720,000 Christmas Trees A Year

-- PennLive: President’s Tariffs Tank Pennsylvania’s Lumber Industry, Now Seeking A Bailout

-- Post-Gazette/PennLive: President’s Tariffs Tank Pennsylvania’s Lumber Industry; Now It Seeks A Bailout

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Jan. 27 Community Forestry Webinar - Forester's Featured Working Tree Solutions  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension Feb. 13 Webinar On Making Cover Crops Pay - How Regenified Certification Works  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension: Making Cover Crops Pay: Feb. 20 Webinar On Understanding What Each Cover Crop Contributes To Soil Health  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension In-Person Southeast PA Green Industry Conference March 5 In Montgomery County  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension March 16 Webinar On Elm Zigzag Sawfly Update - Frontiers Of Forest Health  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Hosts First Day Hikes On New Year’s Day Across The Commonwealth

-- DCNR Completes Upgrades To Point State Park Fountain In Pittsburgh Ahead Of NFL Draft

-- Commonwealth Financing Authority Invests More Than $14 Million In Act 13 Drilling Impact Fee Revenue In Watershed Restoration, Recreation, Sewage And Flood Mitigation Projects  [PaEN]

-- Pennsylvania Environmental Council Awards $50,000 In Cycling Mini-Grants  [PaEN] 

-- Tribune-Democrat: Sen. Langerholc Announces $150,000 Trail Maintenance Grant For Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority

-- Clean Air Council: Feet First Philly Awards 16 Public Space Enhancement Project Mini-Grants To Improve Walkability In Communities Across Philadelphia

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: PA River Of The Year Finalist Chillisquaque Creek Offers Microcosm Of Issues And Opportunities For Bigger Susquehanna River System

-- Tribune-Democrat: Pittsburgh Foundation Funds Flight Path Upgrades At Flight 93 Memorial In Somerset County

-- WESA: Pittsburgh Greenways To See Pilots In Stewardship, Pollinators, Signage Thanks To Trust For Public Lands 

-- Lehigh Valley-Based Wildlands Conservancy Upcoming Programs: Flying Squirrel Research; Winter Bird Walk; Winter Wildlife Meet & Greet 

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: 2026 Middle Susquehanna Naturalist Calendar Now Available For Order

-- Warren Times: Hearts Content Area Of Allegheny National Forest Backdrop For Author Heather Kaminski [PDF of Article]

-- Post-Gazette - Mary Ann Thomas: Rare Hummingbird At A Pittsburgh Feeder Part Of A New Migration Trend

-- TribLive - Jack Troy: Annual Christmas Bird Count Channels ‘Addictive’ Activity For Scientific Good

-- Morning Call: Hundreds Of Snow Geese Dead At Northampton County Quarry, Suspected Victims Of Bird Flu 

-- Erie Times - Brian Whipkey: About 400 Dead Snow Geese Found In Northampton County Quarry, Avian Influenza Suspected

-- Pocono Record: Will Cold Weather Kill Ticks? You May Be Disappointed With The Answer

Visit the PA Environment Digest website to learn more.

REAL Leadership:

-- 120 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 116 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 110 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 86 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 96 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 69 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 130 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 132 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 131 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 164 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 155 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA 

-- 118 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 172 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 139 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 145 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 129 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 158 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 141 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 192 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 166 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 183 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 161 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 172 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 146 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 153 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 204 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 153 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 149 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA 

-- 139 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 134 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA 

-- 121 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA 

-- 189 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 171 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 136 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA 

-- 111 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 164 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 141 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 126 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 151 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA 

-- 104 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 139 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 101 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 104 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 128 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA 

-- 104 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 5,895 Stories In 2024 - Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

-- 4,258 Stories In 2023 - Environmental & Conservation Leadership PA 

-- 3,190 Stories In 2022 - Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

[Posted: December 21, 2025]   PA Environment Digest