Friday PA Environment & Energy Articles - NewsClips: 5.1.26

“The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.”

-- Article I, Section 27 Pennsylvania Constitution  [It’s Not A Suggestion]

House Voting Schedule

May 4, 5, 6

June 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

September 28, 29, 30

October 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21

November 9, 10

-- Committee Schedule

Senate Voting Schedule

May 4, 5, 6

June 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30

-- Committee Schedule

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events 

May 4-- NEW. House Energy Committee meets to consider House Bill 2450 (Mehaffie-R- Dauphin) increases and makes other changes to the fees for nuclear power plants to fund safety and emergency preparedness programs; House Bill 2264 (Davidson-D-Cumberland) establishes requirements for regulating virtual power plants [draft amendment]; House Bill 2348 (Fiedler-D- Philadelphia) makes numerous changes to PUC net metering requirements [draft amendment]; House Bill 2429 (Cerrato-D-Montgomery) requires utilities to publish accessible maps showing distribution system hosting capacity.  Room B-31 Main Capitol. 10:30 a.m. Click Here to watch online.

May 5-- Agenda Posted. DEP: Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority meeting. Rachel Carson Building, Harrisburg. 10:00 a.m.

May 5-- In-Person. PA Emergency Management Agency Flood Recovery Workshop. Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Conference Room 112, 301 Peninsula Drive, Erie.  8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

May 5-- In-Person. Penn State Extension Pennsylvania Groundwater Symposium. Harrisburg.

May 6-- DEP Environmental Justice Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00 a.m. Contact: Fernando Treviño, Special Deputy Secretary, (717) 783-7753, FTrevinoMa@pa.gov.  (formal notice)

May 7-- Agenda Posted. DEP Public Water System Technical Advisory Center Board meeting. Rachel Carson Building, Harrisburg.9:00 a.m.

May 7-- In-Person. PA Emergency Management Agency Flood Recovery Workshop. Allegheny Co Public Safety Center, 150 Hookstown Grade Road, Coraopolis.  8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

May 7-- Virtual. POWER Interfaith Webinar On Energy Rate Cases And Energy Affordability Advocacy At The PUC.  6:00 p.m. 

May 7-- Tri-County Regional Planning Commission 60th Anniversary Luncheon featuring guest speaker Jill Whitcomb, DEP Deputy Secretary for Water Programs.  Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel, 4650 Lindle Road, Harrisburg. 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

May 8-- Virtual. Physicians For Social Responsibility PA Host May 8 Online Southeast PA Environmental Movement Committee Meeting On A.I. Data Centers, Chester Incinerator, LNG Gas Terminal Proposals.  7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

-- DEP Receives Federal Funding To Study Human Health Impacts Of Leaking, Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells; Conventional Regulation Updates Delayed; Reports On Setback Petition By End Of 2026  [PaEN]

-- Montour County: What A.I. Data Center Developers Don’t Like In Zoning Ordinances: Decommissioning Safeguards For When Their Tech Becomes Obsolete; No Noise Limits On Diesel Generators; No Property Value Impact Studies  [PaEN]

-- DEP Invests Over $1 Million In 46 Environmental Education Projects, Supporting Summer Camps, Field Research, Classroom To Creek Learning Across PA; Next Grant Round Opens In August  [PaEN]

-- TheDerrick.com: Ground Broken For Preschool Nature Classroom On Grove City College Campus, Mercer County

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: Hill District Energy Tech Hub In Pittsburgh Puts ‘Lazy Roof’ To Work With New Solar Energy Installation

-- PA Technical Assistance Program July 16 Webinar On Funding, Incentives For Energy Efficiency Improvements For Manufacturers  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Chesapeake Bay Update Highlights Additional Investments In Bay Watershed Cleanups; County Water Quality Plan Progress; Assistance Programs Available  [PaEN] 

-- CBF: PA Supreme Court Ruling Local Stormwater Management Charges Are A Tax Is A 'Gut-Punch' To Clean Water Efforts  [PaEN] 

-- WESA/Allegheny Front: Three Rivers WaterKeeper Takes Aim At Neville Chemical Over Thousands Of Water Pollution Violations

-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Hosts May 7 Webinar On Licensing Water Well Drillers To Enhance Drinking Water Safety  [PaEN] 

-- SRBC Guardian Newsletter Highlights New Data Center Water Use Page; Salinization Report; eDNA Project; 2025 Annual Report  [PaEN] 

-- Spotlight PA: When A Public Sewage Pipeline Bursts On Private Land, Who Fixes It? One PA Farmer Wants Answers

-- Scranton Times: PA American Water Lawyer: Merger With Essential Utilities Will Not Raise Rates

-- Penn State Extension To Host Keystones Of Ag Best Management Practices In-Person Workshop June 3-4 In State College  [PaEN]

-- Call For Presentations: Delaware River Watershed Forum, Sept. 29-30 University Of Delaware; May 7 Webinar On Submitting Proposals  [PaEN] 

-- Planet Philadelphia Radio Show: May 1 - Local Resilience Training And Planning To Cope With Changing Weather Conditions, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

-- TribLive: Family Of Westmoreland County Woman Who Died In Abandoned Mine Sinkhole Sues Restaurant, US Steel

-- Post-Gazette: A Year After Pittsburgh’s Massive, Deadly Derecho Storm, Structural Damage And Personal Trauma Linger

-- Post-Gazette: Late Freeze Deals Blow To Fruit, Other Crops Across PA

-- Erie Times/USA Today: Pennsylvania Winters Are Shorter; The Change Shows Up In Every County 

-- May 2 Pennsylvania Bulletin Is Now Available

-- DEP: Peregrine Falcon Eggs Are Hatching On The DEP/DCNR Rachel Carson Building In Harrisburg! [Watch Live!] 

A.I. /Data Centers

-- Reading Eagle: Threats Of Violence Against Both Sides Dogging A.I. Data Center Projects In Limerick Twp., Montgomery County  [PDF of Article]

-- Scranton Times: A.I. Data Center Developer Appeals Denial To Build 4 Data Centers In Dickson City

-- Montour County: What A.I. Data Center Developers Don’t Like In Zoning Ordinances: Decommissioning Safeguards For When Their Tech Becomes Obsolete; No Noise Limits On Diesel Generators; No Property Value Impact Studies  [PaEN]  

-- PUC Adopts Voluntary Large Load, Data Center Tariff Framework To Help Protect Ratepayers   [PaEN] 

-- WHYY: PA Public Utility Commission Advances Measure To Protect Ratepayers From Costs Of A.I. Data Center Power Demand

-- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Approves Extension Of PJM Capacity Auction Price Cap, Floor For Next 2 Auctions  [PaEN] 

-- Sen. Yaw Holds Another Committee Hearing To Examine Urgent Challenges To Pennsylvania’s Electric Grid

-- PA House Energy Committee Sets May 4 Meeting To Act On More Bills To Address Electric Grid Reliability, Affordability Issues: Authorize Virtual Power Plants, Update Net Metering, More  [PaEN] 

-- Utility Dive: FirstEnergy Opposes PJM Backstop Procurement Plan Critical To Making A.I. Data Centers Pay The Cost Of Expensive New Electric Generation 

International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

[Energy Independence Means Renewables]

-- May 1: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Up Another 8 Cents A Gallon From Yesterday, Now $1.30/Gallon Higher To $4.41 Since Feb. 27  [Westmoreland County, PA highest at $4.57] 

-- My neighborhood Sheetz in Harrisburg jumped another 10 cents/gallon today.

-- May 1: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $4.39 Ohio- $4.83  PA- $4.41

-- Feb. 27: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $2.98  Ohio- $2.79  PA- $3.11

-- TribLive: Pressure At The Pump Builds As Gasoline Prices Reach 4-Year High

-- Reuters: While Asia, Europe Scramble For Natural Gas, US Glut Has NoWhere To Go; US Prices Hit 17 Month Low Due To Over Supply; LNG Exporters Benefit From Shortages

-- Bloomberg: Chevron CEO Warns Global Energy System Under ‘Extreme Stress;’ Global Oil Supplies Are Running Dry Due To War With Iran

-- The Economist: The Crisis In Oil Markets Will Get Bigger Before It Goes Away; Nothing In The Tank

-- Financial Times: Exxon, Chevron Defy US President’s Pressure To Boost Oil Production; Stick To Prewar Strategies Despite White House Plea For More Drilling To Curb Soaring Petrol Prices 

Other States/National

-- Financial Times: More Than 50 Countries Agree To Work On Trade Measures To Cut Out Fossil Fuels

-- Financial Times: The Hunt For A New Earth

PA Politics - Everything Is Connected

-- Reading Eagle: Protesters March From Reading To Harrisburg In Support Of Banning Gifts To State Lawmakers

-- PennLive: Fetterman Stock Purchase Draws Scrutiny Over Timing And US Senate Committee Role

-- TribLive: University Of Pittsburgh Regional Campuses To Offer Free Tuition For Students Of Families Making $75,000 Or Less

-- Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Residents Describe Strain Of Rising Costs: ‘No Margin For Error’

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Diversity - Equity - Inclusion

[Posted: May 1, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

Montour County: What A.I. Data Center Developers Don’t Like In Zoning Ordinances: Decommissioning Safeguards For When Their Tech Becomes Obsolete; No Noise Limits On Diesel Generators; No Property Value Impact Studies

The Concerned Citizens of Montour County recently shared their experience learning about the kinds of requirements A.I. Data Center developers did not like in the zoning ordinance Montour County developed to help safeguard their community from the impacts of data center developments.

Dr. Colby Wesner, the video spokesperson for the CCMC, described what happened to them in Montour County in a March 15 Reel video on their Facebook page.

“At our February [2026] meeting, the same Amazon attorney who was working with Talon [Energy] came to our small [Montour] County Planning Commission to essentially oppose the ordinance our community has worked on. 

“They presented their edits [to a draft ordinance] and we thought it was important to share some of the things that are apparently not palatable to those developers.”

Limit Noise Limits

“One, our ordinance defined “sensitive receptor” property lines as residential homes, but also included schools, parks, playgrounds, churches, campgrounds, and other community minded places. 

“When addressing sound requirements, Amazon only wanted that to apply to residential homes and not these other sensitive areas. 

“We find this very ironic since the most recent petition submitted by Talon [Energy] included land that was right up against the Montour Preserve. 

“Apparently Amazon and Talen could have cared less if we could hear their facilities when trying to enjoy nature in that area. 

[Noise limits were included in the Final County Ordinance.]

Diesel Generator Exemption

“You know what else they didn't like about the sound? 

“That our ordinance said the backup diesel generators would also be subject to the sound requirements. 

“That was definitely crossed off for Amazon. 

“Again, very ironic since the Montour Preserve region was where this campus was targeting. 

“And if you don't think this is a big deal, it should be noted that the US Department of Energy is using federal mandates to allow data centers to run on their generators if the PJM grid is ever stressed enough. 

“We all know how unstable the grid currently is, so when the common public needs power, Amazon can fire up their generators to take stress off the grid. 

“And again, Amazon doesn't want them to be subject to any sound regulations. 

“I would just love to enjoy a sunset at the Montour Preserve with [dozens of] backup diesel generators humming on a hot summer day.”

[Diesel generators were not exempted in the Final County Ordinance.]

No Vibration Studies

“Vibration studies crossed off. 

[Included in the Final Montour County Ordinance.]

No Water Studies

“Significant water studies to prove the Northern Montour County watershed wouldn't be jeopardized and residential wells wouldn't dry up. 

“Nope. Amazon didn't care for that either.  [If their source of water was not from a public supply.]

[Amazon also deleted a requirement to provide proof of review of any water withdrawals needed from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission.]

[Included in the Final Ordinance.]

No Property Value Impact Study

“Appraisals from a realtor demonstrating home values won't decrease. 

“Yep, you guessed it. Amazon didn't care.”

[Included in the Final Ordinance.]

No Measures To Reduce Light Impacts

“Dark sky compliant crossed that off.”

[Final Ordinance said the facility shall be “Dark Sky” compliance.]

No Decommissioning Requirements

“Decommissioning. Amazon definitely didn't want anything to do with that.”

[The Montour Ordinance required the submission of a decommissioning plan to ensure the property is returned to a useful condition when the facility becomes obsolete and is closed or abandoned.

[The Ordinance required the posting of a bond to ensure funds are available to dismantle the facility in the event the owner does not remove equipment and restore the land.

[Amazon proposed no alternative.

[This is in the Final Montour County Ordinance.]

Click Here for a copy of Amazon’s changes to the ordinance from February. 

Click Here for a copy of a local zoning ordinance Amazon suggested.

Click Here for the adopted Montour County Ordinance.

“It's abundantly clear that these developers truly do not want to have adequate measures in place to ensure these monstrosity data centers are not a huge nuisance. 

“They absolutely could locate and build a data center campus that follows some of these rules, but they don't want to because it would be too costly and too inconvenient for them. 

“They want to build them fast, they want to build them cheap, and they want to build them without any regards to how much it would truly destroy certain communities. 

“So here's our advice. Look up when your next township or municipal meeting is and start doing some research to help your local officials get ahead of this.” 

Visit the Concerned Citizens of Montour County Facebook page to learn more about their experiences.

NewsClip This Week:

-- The Daily Item: Montour County Board OKs Amendments To A.I. Data Center Rules Increasing Height Limit, Setbacks from Sensitive Receptors 

Resource Links:

-- Concerned Citizens Of Montour County: Data Center Developer Wants To Make It Harder For Citizens To Appeal Zoning, Permits; DCED Secretary Explains More On How They Want New GRID Principles To Work  [PaEN] 

-- PA Capital-Star: Montour County Denies Rezoning Plan For 800 Acres Requested By Talen Energy For A.I. Data Centers

-- Inside Climate News - John Hurdle: Grassroots Resistance To Data Centers Rises In Pennsylvania [Montour County Highlighted]

-- Montour County Commissioners Vote To Reject Talen Energy’s Request To Rezone 800 Acres Of Agricultural Land For Industrial A.I. Data Centers [PaEN] 

Related Articles This Week:

-- DEP Receives Federal Funding To Study Human Health Impacts Of Leaking, Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells; Conventional Regulation Updates Delayed; Reports On Setback Petition By End Of 2026  [PaEN] 

-- Environmental Health Project Calls On Gov. Shapiro To Address Health Hazards Of Fossil Fuels  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Signs Consent Orders With CNX Gas, Leatherwood LLC Requiring The Plugging Of 5 Conventional Coal Bed Methane Wells Prior To Longwall Coal Mining In Center Twp., Greene County  [PaEN]

-- PUC Adopts Voluntary Large Load, Data Center Tariff Framework To Help Protect Ratepayers   [PaEN]

-- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Approves Extension Of PJM Capacity Auction Price Cap, Floor For Next 2 Auctions  [PaEN] 

-- Senate Committee Hears Electric Grid Issues Getting Worse; PJM Has Attracted 220 GW Of New Generation Proposals; PJM ‘Backstop’ Procurement Critical To Making Data Centers Pay For New Generation [PaEN] 

-- PA House Energy Committee Sets May 4 Meeting To Act On More Bills To Address Electric Grid Reliability, Affordability Issues: Authorize Virtual Power Plants, More  [PaEN]

-- PA House Passes Bill To Require A.I. Data Centers To Report Water Use, Discharges To DEP  [PaEN]

-- Gov. Shapiro Announces $267 Million Investment In 31 PA Industry Projects To Reduce Air Pollution, Cut Energy Costs, Create Jobs, And Combat Greenhouse Gas Emissions In 23 Counties; Next Grant Round Opens May 15  [PaEN] 

-- Concerned Citizens Of Montour County: Data Center Developer Wants To Make It Harder For Citizens To Appeal Zoning, Permits; DCED Secretary Explains More On How They Want New GRID Principles To Work  [PaEN] 

-- Tri-County Regional Planning Commission Publishes Model A.I. Data Center Ordinance; Links To Other Model Ordinances  [PaEN] 

-- Gov. Shapiro Appoints Mark Szybist New Special Counsel For Energy Affordability  [PaEN] 

-- PA Technical Assistance Program July 16 Webinar On Funding, Incentives For Energy Efficiency Improvements For Manufacturers  [PaEN] 

-- DCNR: Grid-Scale Solar Energy Installations Are Not Permitted On Any DCNR Lands Or On Lands That Have Received DCNR Grant Funds  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Defense Fund: Rollback Of Federal Methane Emission Limits On Oil & Gas Facilities Have Wasted $4.8 Billion Worth Of Natural Gas That Could Have Served 22 Million Homes- And Counting  [PaEN]

-- US Dept. Of Energy Cyber Threat Center Issues Another Warning To Oil & Gas Industry About Automatic Tank Gauge Manipulation By Malicious Cyber Threat Actors  [PaEN] 

[Posted: May 1, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

SRBC Guardian Newsletter Highlights New Data Center Water Use Page; Salinization Report; eDNA Project; 2025 Annual Report

The latest Guardian newsletter from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission highlights the wide variety of water resource and water quality issues the Commission is involved with in the watershed.

-- Executive Director Andrew Dehoff notes how the Commission with fewer than 65 staff, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission continues to take on complex, evolving challenges across the basin — and to do so thoughtfully, consistently, and with purpose.

-- New Data Centers & Water Use webpage.

-- 2025 Annual Report spotlights their work in water resource management, scientific monitoring, watershed restoration, drought coordination and much more.

-- Final Salinization Report examines the impacts of road sale and brine applications on streams.

-- New StoryMap describes eDNA work SRBC and Penn State scientists are doing to assess stream macroinvertebrate communities.

-- Videos, Podcasts, Publications, Presentations and more.

Click Here to read the entire newsletter.  Click Here to sign up for your own copy.

For more information on programs, training opportunities and upcoming events, visit the Susquehanna River Basin Commission website.  Click Here to sign up for SRBC’s newsletter.   Follow SRBC on Twitter, visit them on YouTube.

[Posted: May 1, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

DEP Chesapeake Bay Update Highlights Additional Investments In Bay Watershed Cleanups; County Water Quality Plan Progress; Assistance Programs Available

DEP’s latest Chesapeake Bay Program update highlights just a few of the activities going on across Pennsylvania’s part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to improve water quality here and in the Bay.

Just see what’s happening--

-- DEP Webinars on Grant Updates and Strategic Planning for Project Implementation

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation Promotes Regenerative Agricultural Practices Through National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Grant Award

-- Shapiro Administration Invests Additional $15.2 Million in 15 Abandoned Mine Land Projects

-- Shapiro Administration Invests $5.5 Million to Improve Waterways and Help Farmers Increase Economic Output and Improve Environmental Health

-- Shapiro Administration Invests More than $10.2 Million to Preserve 2,645 Acres of Prime Farmland in 20 Counties

-- DEP Hosts Local Climate Conversation Workshops

-- Water Resource Restoration Videos Available At The PA Clean Water Academy

-- Partners in Water Quality Gather to Stock Trout In Kettle Creek, Clinton, Potter Counties

-- Lancaster Conservancy Accepting Applications for Susquehanna Riverlands Conservation Landscape Mini-Grant Program

-- Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts Offers Ag Plan Reimbursement Funds

-- Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Offers Riparian Restoration Tree Planting Funding

-- Lebanon County Advances Clean Water Efforts Supporting Agricultural Conservation with National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Funding Award

-- Perry County Farmer Receives Funding and Technical Support to Make Farm Improvements

-- York County’s Watershed Alliance of York Completes First Phase of Legacy Sediment Project with Additional Work to Follow

Click Here for all the details.  Click Here to sign up for your own copy.

Visit DEP’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed webpage to learn more about cleaning up rivers and streams in Pennsylvania's portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates on Pennsylvania’s progress.

How Clean Is Your Stream

DEP’s draft 2026 Water Quality Assessment includes a mapping tool that allows you to check on the status of water quality near you.

Click Here to check how clean your stream is.

[Posted: May 1, 2026]  PA Environment Digest