PA Environment Digest Blog

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Natural Gas Price Spikes, Availability Drove Electric Rate Spikes Senate Committee Told

Frederick Bresler, Vice President of Market Operations for PJM, said Tuesday severe winter weather caused record natural gas price spikes and delivery problems that were responsible for about half the electric generation outages on the coldest day of the winter on January 7 forcing the cost of electric from an average of less than $40 per MwH to more than $1,000 per MwH for suppliers, higher than the cap PJM allows generators to charge.

Bresler’s remarks were made before the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee during a hearing to look into the causes and potential solutions to the electricity price spikes consumers suffered during the coldest parts of this past winter.

Natural gas prices during January were spiking from $60 to $100 per MMBtus, when the average price was below $5 per MMBtus a few weeks earlier, according to Bresler.

Twenty-two percent of the PJM’s electric generation capacity was forced out of operation on January 7 due to mechanical breakdowns or natural gas fuel shortages, according to Bresler. Of the 40,000 MW of forced outages, 9,700 MW were due to natural gas unavailability, 9,300 MW from natural gas delivery curtailments totalling 19,000 MW. 13,700 MW of coal-fired power plants and 7,500 MW of other generation were out for mechanical breakdowns.

Bresler did note increased natural gas penetration into electric generation has already reduced the wholesale price of electricity by nearly half, but there is a need to address electric generation coordination and natural gas infrastructure to make it as available as possible.

Click Here for a copy of Bresler’s presentation.

In response to a question from Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Lehigh), Minority Chair of the Committee, Bresler said PJM’s counterpart in New England did not experience the same sort of volatile price spikes because they were able to require generators to switch from natural gas to back up fuels like oil. As a result, Bresler said PJM is investigating whether it should implement a minimum require quantity of natural gas supply or back up fuel for generators.

Sen. Robert Tomlinson (R-Bucks), Majority Chair of the Committee, expressed concern about the closure of coal fired power plants in Western Pennsylvania and whether the PJM grid can handle the closures.

Bresler said PJM’s electric transmission problems are usually west to east and acknowledged natural gas delivery problems are affecting eastern electric generation, which he indicated will be alleviated by planned pipeline expansions to be completed in the next several years.

Robert Powelson, Chair of the Public Utility Commission, said the Commission has received more than 12,200 inquiries from customers who saw a 12-fold increase in their electric bills over last year’s costs. He summarized the steps the PUC is taking to require additional disclosures for customers so they can make better decisions about rates offered by electric suppliers.

In the case of the rate spikes, Powelson said there is the need for natural gas and electric coordination pointing out there are no pipelines from the natural gas development regions of Pennsylvania to the urban areas like Philadelphia.

Testimony on the variable electric rate issue was also provided by Tanya McCloskey, PA Consumer Advocate, John Evans, PA Small Business Advocate, Leah Gibbons, Director of Regulatory Affairs for NRG Retail Northeast, Ron Cerniglia, Director of Governmental and Regulatory Affairs for Direct Energy, Dennis Urban, Vice President of Finance and Regulatory Affairs for PPL Electric Utilities, Charles Fullem, Director of Rates and Regulatory Affairs for FirstEnergy and Dick Webster, Vice President of Regulatory Policy and Strategy for PECO.

A video of the hearing is available on the Committee website.

PA Resources Council Receives Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award

Gov. Tom Corbett Tuesday announced the PA Resources Council received a 2014 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in recognition of PRC’s successful tailgate recycling programs in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

PRC Executive Director Robert Jondreau will receive the award at an April 22 ceremony in Harrisburg, when DEP leadership will recognize PRC and 18 other businesses, agencies, organizations and individuals for developing innovative environmental programs or implementing projects that balance environmental stewardship and economic development.

“It’s not often that you can get Eagles fans and Steelers fans to agree on anything, but on this they definitely agree: They love tailgate recycling,” according to Jondreau. “Still, we gave each effort its own identity by dubbing the program ‘Recycle A Lot’ in the east and ‘Let’s Tackle Recycling’ in the west.”

Funding from the Alcoa Foundation and collaboration with a multitude of partners enabled PRC to design, develop and launch a program to collect recyclables from tailgating fans attending Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles home games.

During a two-and-a-half-year period following the launch in December 2010, PRC also forged partnerships with the Pitt Panthers, Pittsburgh Pirates and National Hockey League. The NHL 2011 and 2012 Winter Classics were held in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia respectively.

PRC staff and volunteers engaged and educated more than 500,000 pre-game/event tailgating fans in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia – and recycled more than 142,000 pounds of aluminum, glass, plastic and cardboard containers, for an average of more than 4,000 pounds per event.

"Organizations that have developed innovative projects to improve the environment in Pennsylvania deserve recognition," DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo said. "Gov. Corbett and I are proud to continue this tradition of recognizing the organizations and individuals that show Pennsylvania's economic development does not come at the expense of the environment."

For more information, visit the PA Resources Council website.

March State Revenue Collections $100M Below Estimates, $176M Below For Year

Pennsylvania collected $4.2 billion in General Fund revenue in March, which was $20.7 million, or 0.5 percent, less than anticipated, Secretary of Revenue Daniel Meuser reported Tuesday. Fiscal year-to-date General Fund collections total $20.5 billion, which is $96.3 million, or 0.5 percent, below estimate.

But it’s worse than that according to Secretary Meuser.

“While March tax collections appear to be only $20 million short of estimate for the month and $96 million short, fiscal-year-to-date, an early transfer of $80 million in liquor store profits to facilitate cash flow disguises the fiscal reality,” said Meuser. “Considering the timing issue behind the liquor store profits, we’re really about $100 million short for the month and $176 million under for the fiscal year." Click Here for more details.

Gov. Corbett Announces 2014 Environmental Excellence Award Winners

Gov. Tom Corbett Tuesday announced that 23 organizations involved in 19 environmental projects from across the state will receive the 2014 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council will host a dinner to honor the award winners April 22 at the Hilton in downtown Harrisburg. Click Here for ticket and sponsor information.

“The recipients of this year’s award represent a few of the many dedicated Pennsylvanians who have committed their businesses, schools and other organizations to be good stewards of the environment,” Corbett said. “Their efforts are key to ensure that Pennsylvania’s air, land and water are clean for generations to come.”

Any Pennsylvania business, school, government agency, trade organization, non-profit organization or agribusiness that has completed projects to promote environmental stewardship and economic development was eligible to apply for the award. The winners were selected by the Department of Environmental Protection.

“Each year, it’s inspiring to learn about the innovative, environmentally friendly projects from across the state,” DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo said. “This year’s award recipients are protecting Pennsylvania’s environment with creativity and ingenuity.”

The winning projects include tailgate recycling, abandoned mine drainage (AMD) abatement, rain gardens and the use of alternative energy, among others.

The Award winners are--

-- Collier Township, Allegheny County, pursued the Rooftop Photovoltaic Electrical Generating System Project, a renewable energy project that will reduce over one million pounds of carbon dioxide gas emissions over time. The project consists of 132 glass tube solar modules installed on a nearby roof. This 22kW photovoltaic system is estimated to generate a net savings of approximately $75,000 over its lifespan by selling back to the local utility company via a “grid-tied” system.

-- Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, Allegheny County, did a pond restoration project in the Woodlands of the World Garden where there is a pond once polluted with AMD. A passive treatment system was installed with a drainable limestone bed that neutralizes acidity and removes metal contaminants before clean water is released into the pond.

-- Shell Appalachia, Allegheny County, created an Environmental Impacts Assessment with a web application that is used as a tool to help reduce risks associated with field development. This application allows planners in all facets of Shell Appalachia to choose from a library of spatial data layers including social, environmental, biological, regulatory, analytical (baseline water and air quality) data and critical infrastructure layers.

-- Cumberland County’s Energy Efficiency Program included replacement of boilers at the courthouse, old courthouse and old jail; replacement of the cooling tower at the courthouse; installation of energy efficient lights; installation of energy efficient motion sensors on vending machines; installation of low-flow faucets and toilets; replacement of hot water usage with an ozone system for laundry at the Claremont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and county prison; and installation of an energy management system which provides remote computer access to the county’s HVAC systems.

-- Central Dauphin School District’s Energy Conservation Program, Dauphin County, has helped the district save money and reduce energy consumption, as well as reducing its carbon footprint. The district partnered with Cenergistic, Inc. to identify feasible means for reducing energy use in its buildings.

-- Phoenix Contact, Dauphin County, came up with the SunPlug-Solar Powered Electric Vehicle Charging Station Project to prove that electrical vehicles can be re-charged with solar power and without burdening the electrical grid. A solar canopy that is the size of a typical parking lot with 12 high-performance solar panels generates 2.7 kW and is supported with battery storage of 4 kW and a 4.2 kW off-grid inverter to charge electric vehicles.

-- SKELLY and LOY, Inc., Dauphin County, conducted the Allison Hill Automotive Brownfields Remediation Project. The former Allison Hill Automotive site was a 6.2-acre property with multiple vacant buildings that were an eyesore to the local community, an environmental hazard, and a tax liability to the City of Harrisburg. The restoration work included removing and disposing of hazardous wastes, abating materials containing asbestos, and demolishing the buildings. Fencing was installed around the site to improve security and to restrict direct contact to contaminated soils during the cleanup process.

-- Environment Erie’s St. George Rain Catcher Project was a successful partnership of non-profits, private businesses, government and students. A rain garden was planted on the property of a local church to reduce stormwater runoff. Students from the partnering school were able to use the development and construction of the rain garden as a learning tool.

-- PPL Renewable Energy, LLC partnered with the Borough of Chambersburg and IESI PA Blue Ridge Landfill in Franklin County to develop the Blue Ridge Renewable Energy Plant. This unique project consists of a 6.4 MW landfill gas-to-energy plant.

-- Armstrong World Industries’ Recycling Program for Vinyl Composition Tile Flooring in Lancaster County is the first program of its kind to recycle installed Armstrong vinyl flooring products as well as qualifying competitive vinyl products. Under the program, vinyl flooring is recycled in a closed-loop, post-consumer stream with reclaimed material incorporated into new flooring products.

-- City of Lancaster decided to improve stormwater management and traffic safety through its Plum and Walnut Green Intersection Project. The project integrates green infrastructure with enhanced pedestrian amenities and a roadway realignment that improves traffic safety. The project included a porous paver patio area, rain garden, and five porous paver, angled parking spaces in the area previously occupied by a troublesome merge lane, as well as a public art component – a cistern that collects rainwater from a local business’ rooftop.

-- PPL Renewable Energy, LLC created a partnership with Lycoming County and the Federal Bureau of Prisons to work on a public-private-public project at Lycoming County’s Landfill. The entities worked together to develop and construct two co-located landfill gas-to-energy power plants. The project improved its energy efficiency and created jobs.

-- North Penn Public School District, Montgomery County, created an Energy Management Program that combines operational changes, behavioral changes, demand response, energy efficiency savings and community engagement. The district has saved on energy expenses and created a program that educates and engages students and staff in energy conservation and efficiency.

-- Pennsylvania Horticultural Society of Philadelphia worked with local partners to create the Community Farm and Green Resource Center at Bartram’s Garden along the shore of the Schuylkill River in the low income neighborhood of Southwest Philadelphia. The farm and resource center includes a full-scale greenhouse, community garden spaces, an orchard of 90 fruit trees, a farmers market and an entrepreneurial jobs training and leadership development program for local high school students.

-- Robindale Energy Services, Inc., Westmoreland County, created the Seanor-GFCC Project to remove approximately 305,097 tons of waste coal from the Loyalhanna Creek Watershed. Robindale entered into a contract with DEP to remove all usable waste coal, restore the site to approximate original contour, topsoil and re-vegetate the affected area to establish positive surface runoff, thus eliminating the acidic runoff to the streams and enhance the area throughout the Rails to Trail segment at no cost to DEP.

-- The Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company, Mehoopany Plant in Wyoming County installed a 64MW gas fired co-generator that produces electricity, steam and hot air for its operations with some excess electric for sale. The operation is completely self-sufficient, using natural gas extracted on the property to power the co-generator.

-- Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy, Montour County Conservation District, Northumberland County Conservation District, Tioga County Conservation District, Union County Conservation District and Fish and Boat Commission’s Division of Habitat Management partnered together on the Northcentral Stream Restoration Project. The partners used proven in-stream stabilization structures, such as log vanes and mudsills, and agricultural best management practices, such as walkways and fencing. The group was able to implement practices with 18 landowners on 13 streams in four counties.
-- Pennsylvania Resources Council, Inc., in Delaware and Allegheny counties developed the Tailgate Recycling Initiative to target large-scale special events and promote recycling. The Resources Council designed, developed and implemented a program to collect recyclables from tailgating fans attending Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles home games. In addition to the collection effort, the council also used the program to educate the public about the benefits of recycling.

-- Trout Unlimited, Inc. launched its AMD Technical Assistance Program in 2005. The program provides free technical services to assist Growing Greener-eligible entities in their efforts to improve water quality in AMD-impacted streams toward the ultimate goal of restoring fish and other aquatic life and whenever possible, removal of the stream or stream segment from the DEP’s Impaired Waters List.
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council will host a dinner to honor the award winners April 22 at the Hilton in downtown Harrisburg. Click Here for ticket and sponsor information.

$35 Million In Grants By William Penn Foundation For Delaware River Watershed

The William Penn Foundation Tuesday announced a $35 million multi-year initiative to protect and restore critical sources of drinking water for 15 million people, many in major cities including New York, Philadelphia, Camden and Wilmington.

` The grants fund an unprecedented collaboration of leading conservation organizations who will align their work to protect land, restore streams, test innovative approaches in ecologically significant places, and monitor results over time.

The organizations include the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Open Space Institute and more than 40 additional national and regional partners.

The projects will permanently protect more than 30,000 acres, implement more than 40 restoration projects, pilot new incentives for landowners and businesses, provide replicable models for other locations in the watershed, and develop long-term water quality data for the watershed at an unprecedented scale.

The Delaware River watershed covers more than 13,500-square miles spanning New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. In addition to being a major source of drinking water, the watershed supports an array of water-related economic enterprises valued at $25 billion per year, as well as hemispherically significant habitat.

Deforestation from commercial, residential, and energy development, chemical runoff from farms, and storm water runoff in cities severely threaten the health of the watershed.

This commitment of private funding to the Delaware River will complement the delivery of Federal and state conservation programs to make the most of taxpayer dollars and to accelerate the pace of restoration and protection.

“Healthy landscapes with working farms and forests in the Delaware River watershed produce abundant food and fiber and support vibrant rural economies. They also provide clean water, clean air, and valuable wildlife habitat that benefit their own communities and urban neighbors,” said Jason Weller, Chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. “This partnership highlights how a cooperative approach for applying conservation activities on private and public land is essential for everyone in the watershed—whether they live in urban or rural areas.”

"EPA values collaborative initiatives like this that help organizations build greater capacity and leverage critical resources needed to tackle the next generation of water protection issues," said EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. "This new initiative will support efforts led by other active partners, such as the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, in advancing science, research and restoration work to protect the entire bay and river watershed. Building healthy and resilient watersheds is essential to protecting our nation's water resources, and ensuring a sustainable future for the communities that depend on them."

"The Delaware River Watershed is a critical resource for communities in New Jersey, New York, and the entire region," said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. "Every day, millions of people depend upon the watershed as a source of drinking water, for agricultural uses, and for recreation. Preventing pollution from entering the Delaware River and its watershed is the single most effective strategy to ensure that the watershed is protected."

The Foundation partnered with a team of scientists from the Academy of Natural Sciences, to systematically determine where and how to allocate funds for optimal conservation impact while also laying the groundwork for future investment.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for our nationally renowned water quality scientists to work hand-in-hand with leading conservationists who know these geographies inside and out,” said George W. Gephart, Jr., President and CEO of the Academy of Natural Sciences, whose staff of scientists will oversee the watershed monitoring.

Laura Sparks, Chief Philanthropy Officer of the William Penn Foundation, explained that the monitoring data provided by the Academy of Natural Sciences, will enable WPF and other foundations to make more informed, evidence-based decisions going forward.

“We are eager to use the data collected to inform real-time adjustments, analyze the potential of these projects across the watershed, and magnify those results to catalyze widespread action grounded in high-quality science," said Sparks.

Open Space Institute, nationally known for its strategic protection of large landscapes, identified key environmental and advocacy nonprofit organizations that work in the watershed in order to match expertise and capacity with project needs.

“We hope that this effort will galvanize interest and bring forward partners who want to join us. We invite landowners and businesses to work with us to find new ways to protect the watershed that rely on incentives and creative solutions to complement the work of government,” said Kim Elliman, President and CEO of the Open Space Institute, adding that the scale of the initiative requires developing more partnerships and attracting more scientists, advocates, and funders.

“So much is at stake; without significant additional investment, greater scientific understanding, and increased coordination across the watershed, one of our most important national resources, relied upon by millions of people across four states including half of New York City and all of Philadelphia, will continue to degenerate,” explained Elliman.

The initiative identifies eight regional “clusters” of sub-watersheds, constituting approximately 25 percent of the total Delaware River Basin across four states, where analysis has shown that investment in targeted efforts to protect or improve water quality could deliver significant returns.

The sub-watersheds include: Poconos and Kittatinny, New Jersey Highlands, Upper Lehigh, Middle Schuylkill, Schuylkill Highlands, Brandywine and Christina Rivers, Upstream Suburban Philadelphia and Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer. Click Here for a profile of each sub-watershed.

Restoration and preservation efforts in these sub-watersheds not only contribute directly to the water quality in the Delaware Basin, but will also serve as incubators for cultivating a wide range of effective approaches for expanding investment across the watershed, and ultimately in other river basins across the country.

"The dynamic partnership enabling this historic initiative has created a whole much greater than the sum of its parts," said Jeff Trandahl, Executive Director and CEO of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. "Through on-the-ground restoration projects, we will work with this talented group of partners, as well as federal partners including the U.S. EPA, USDA and the Department of Interior, to scale up the impact of this work."

“We look forward to making this work and data available to the public and hope to identify new evidence-based methods for avoiding or mitigating key stressors threatening water quality in major metropolitan areas, specifically urban stormwater runoff, agricultural pollution, loss of forests in essential headwater areas, and aquifer depletion,” said Andrew Johnson, Senior Program Officer for Watershed Protection at the William Penn Foundation.

Natural Lands Trust Preserves 163-Acre ConaMoore Farm In Chester County

Natural Lands Trust announced recently the conservation of ConaMoore Farm, a 163-acre property in East Nantmeal Township, Chester County.

The shady woodlands, rolling pastures, and picturesque buildings of ConaMoore Farm, located along Route 401, serve as the gateway to East Nantmeal Township. The land was once part of a William Penn grant, and has been in the McAfee family for five generations.

In 1987, Chester County proclaimed the property a “Century Farm,” an official designation of the Department of Agriculture that recognizes farms and farm families that have contributed to the Commonwealth’s heritage with productive farms maintained for 100 consecutive years or more.

When the McAfee family members considered taking the steps necessary to preserve their beloved farm, they reached out to the East Nantmeal Land Trust, which, in turn, asked for assistance from Natural Lands Trust. Together, the two organizations developed a preservation strategy that included a 120-acre agricultural easement granted to Chester County and two conservation easements, 33 acres and 10 acres, granted to Natural Lands Trust. Under an easement, property remains in private ownership, but is protected from future development in perpetuity.

“For years, East Nantmeal Township had hoped the McAfee farm would stay the way it is,” said Trish St. Georges of East Nantmeal Land Trust. “The end result was an easement for the farm, and a ‘win’ for the family, the township, and for open space and preserved farmland.”

"It's been this way for so long, we thought it sure would be nice if it could stay this way," said Kevin McAfee of his family's decision to protect their farm. MacAfee, who has no siblings or children, says the conservation easement gives him comfort when he thinks about ConaMoore Farm's future. "We don’t know who will farm it next, but we know it will always be here... all in one piece.”

The farm contains a small section of Black Horse Creek (a tributary of Marsh Creek), native deciduous woodlands, and productive farmland with soils classified as "prime farmland" and "farmland of statewide importance."

The property lies within a landscape known as the Hopewell Big Woods, the largest unbroken forest remaining in southeastern Pennsylvania. An expanse of more than 73,000 acres, the Hopewell Big Woods is one of the most important natural areas in the region.

“Preserving land can be one of the most fulfilling choices a landowner can make,” said Molly Morrison, president of Natural Lands Trust. “It is, however, rarely a simple decision and we are tremendously grateful to the McAfee family for choosing conservation.”

Stated Chester County Commissioners Ryan Costello, Kathi Cozzone, and Terence Farrell, “Much of the success and accomplishments of Chester County’s open space program are due to the tremendous support of private conservation and the efforts of organizations like Natural Lands Trust. The conservation of ConaMoore Farm is a great example of this, and we thank the McAfee family for their commitment to the farm’s preservation.”

Support for this conservation success was provided by the Chester County Agricultural Land Preservation Board, Chester County Preservation Partnership Program, East Nantmeal Land Trust, East Nantmeal Township, Open Space Institute, Pennsylvania Bureau of Farmland Preservation, The Nature Conservancy, and Virginia Cretella Mars Foundation.

DEP Reminds Pennsylvanians April Is Earth Month - Pick It Up PA!

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday reminded residents that April is Earth Month. The theme for Earth Month is “Pick it up PA,” encouraging residents to take time to pick up litter around their homes and in public areas.

“I believe we can make Pennsylvania a better place to live, work and play by taking the time to clean up litter around our homes, businesses and parks.” DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo said. “So gather together a group to help pick it up, PA.”

Secretary Abruzzo and other DEP staff will clean up the east shore of the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg between Market and Forster streets on April 27.

DEP’s regional offices are also participating in cleanup events. Volunteers from DEP’s Southeast Region will participate in the Brandywine Valley Association’s canoe-based cleanup of the Brandywine Creek in Chester County on April 26.

On April 22, staff from the Southcentral Regional Office will cleanup Asylum Run, a tributary that runs through the State Hospital grounds in Harrisburg.

Many other cleanup events will be taking place across the state throughout the month. DEP recommends that residents find a cleanup event in their area by checking out the Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania’s website. Residents also have the option to start their own cleanup event and list it on the website.

Another online events resource is DEP’s interactive Earth Month calendar. Residents can use it to identify local Earth Month activities or to post their own events.

DEP also plans to commemorate Earth Month by showcasing portions of the DEP at Home exhibit at the Phillies “Red Goes Green” day in Citizen’s Bank Park on April 17 and in the East Wing Rotunda of the State Capitol Building from April 21 to 25.

In addition, DEP will announce the winners of the Environmental Education Grants and the Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence during April in honor of Earth Month.

Earth Day is an annual observance, held on April 22, to remind residents to do their part and take care of Pennsylvania’s air, land and water.

DEP provides annual support to the Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania to purchase gloves, trash bags and safety vests for cleanup volunteers. The funding is provided by DEP’s Solid Waste Abatement Fund.

DEP at Home is an interactive, educational exhibit fashioned into a home structure that features practices and products promoting energy efficiency and environmentally beneficial products for the home. It was created through a grant provided by the U.S. Department of Energy’s State Energy Program.

For more information, visit DEP’s Earth Day webpage.

Water Resources Education Network March Newsletter Now Available

The March Water Policy News is now available from the PA League of Women Voters Water Resources Education Network.

The newsletter features stories on the Berks County Water and Sewer Association, U.S. EPA Toxic Release Inventory, EPA Combined Sewer Overflow Report, Coldwater Heritage Partnership Grant Awards, May 4-10 is National Drinking Water Week, How Many Trees Does It Take To Protect A Stream? and much more.