Thursday, January 31, 2019

PUC To Host PA Statewide Sustainable Energy Board Meeting Feb. 7

On January 31, the Pennsylvania Sustainable Energy Board, in conjunction with the Public Utility Commission, announced will hold its annual meeting at 10:30 a.m., February 7 in the Desert Room of the Keystone Building Meeting Center in the Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North St., Harrisburg.  
In the event of inclement weather, the annual meeting will be held Thursday, Feb. 22, 2019, at the same location and time.
The meeting will provide updates from the regional Sustainable Energy Funds (SEFs) and update Commonwealth agencies and other interested groups on the funds’ activities.
Some of the projects being discussed at the meeting will include the following:
-- The PECO Sustainable Development Fund will present information on its energy lending in 2018, along with its grant to Green Building United for training to implement the 2015/2018 International Energy Conservation Code, and its work on several important policy initiatives (Pennsylvania Solar Future, community solar, C-PACE, etc.).
-- The Metropolitan-Edison Co. and Pennsylvania Electric Co. SEF will discuss 2018 grant and loan approvals and share the results of its strategic planning process, including four new funding programs that will roll out over the next 24 months.
-- The West Penn Power Co. SEF will provide a summary of its funding activities during the last 24 months and planned future activities.  The Fund will showcase its recent funding commitments to institutional-scale solar and the construction of high-performance buildings.
-- The PPL Sustainable Energy Fund will provide results from its nonprofit makeover, status of Net Zero Building, science fair results and financing activities for 2018.
The PASEB was originally established by the Commission in 1999 to provide oversight, guidance and technical assistance to the regional sustainable energy boards that fund projects such as wind farms, solar power systems, smart thermostat programs and the construction of buildings using energy efficient technologies.  
On Aug. 7, 2003, the Commission issued an order further defining the role of the PASEB.  That order charged the PASEB with holding an annual meeting; enhancing communications among the four funds and state agencies; and establishing bylaws and a “best business practices” model.
For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Sustainable Energy Board webpage.
(Photo: Solar energy installation at Elizabethtown College, Lancaster County.)
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Thursday PA Environmental NewsClips

Gov. Wolf Proposes A $4.5 Billion, 4-Year Restore Pennsylvania Community & Environmental Infrastructure Investment Program
AP-Levy: Wolf Seeks $4.5B Capital Program Paid By Marcellus Shale Tax
Esack: Wolf Wants $4.5 Billion to Corral Sewage, Attack Blight And Boost Internet Speeds
Wolf Wants Natural Gas Severance Tax To Pay For Massive Infrastructure Rebuild
Gov. Wolf Seeks A Severance Tax Once Again
Links:
Click Here for latest Environmental NewsClips & News (Daily Subscriber Email 1:00)
Click Here for latest PA Capitol NewsClips & News (Daily Subscriber Email 1:00)
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Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Delaware River Basin Commission Hearing Feb. 13, Business Meeting March 13

On January 30, the Delaware River Basin Commission announced it will hold a hearing on water withdrawal requests and other issues on February 13 and its next regular business meeting on March 13.
Both the public hearing and business meeting are open to the public and will be held at the Washington Crossing Historic Park Visitor Center, 1112 River Road, Washington Crossing, Bucks County.
The hearing starts at 1:30 and the business meeting at 10:30.
Click Here for the agenda of items to be considered and how you can submit comments.
For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Delaware River Basin Commission website.  Click Here to sign up for regulator updates.  Follow DRBC on Twitter.  Visit them on YouTube.
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Pennsylvanians Urged To Help Preserve The Legacy Of PA's State Parks & Forests

On January 28, the Parks and Forests Foundation debuted “The Legacy of Pennsylvania Parks and Forests: The Future is in Our Hands” report at the State Capitol in Harrisburg.
In attendance were dozens of organizations and individuals committed to preserving the legacy of these important recreational, historic, and natural resources.
Their remarks echo what PPFF staff have been hearing over the years; that while people still enjoy these resources, they are noticing a decline in upkeep due to dwindling budgets and staff being asked to ‘do more with less’.
Tina Molski, Director of Operations for REI’s east coast distribution center in Bedford and Vice Chair of the PPFF board, said, “As someone who works in the recreation industry, I know the value of Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests. These resources provide unparalleled outdoor recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike. And yet, the lack of a reliable, dedicated source of funding to maintain and improve existing recreational infrastructure in Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests is harming its potential.” Click Here for full remarks.
Marci Mowery, President of PPFF, added to those sentiments. “Our state parks and forests are the vacation destination for over 40 million visitors a year. Our parks and forests are where our kids learn to camp, hike, and make s’mores. They are the places where family memories are made, proposals of ever-lasting love are issued, and where friendships are formed. Yet, despite the many documented benefits of our parks and forests, they suffer from decades of ‘making do’. Years of underfunding has reduced staffing levels in state parks to the same levels they were in the 1970s when there were fewer parks and only 20 million visitors. State forest staffing levels are also down, while pressures on the forests, from invasive pests and flooding to increased visitation, are on the rise.”  Click Here for a video of her remarks. Click Here for full written remarks.
Katie Hess, Director of the South Mountain Partnership, said, “There are 500 structures within our state parks currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places and more than 5,000 culturally or historically significant sites within state forests. And these lists only contain places that we know about. These places and structures tell us important stories about our past – and they are literally our heritage. But the legacy of PA’s state parks and forests is under threat, and this is a concern to me and those I work with through the South Mountain Partnership because these public lands are economic engines for many towns and municipalities.” Click Here for full remarks.
Andre Weltman, Chair of the Friends of Pine Grove Furnace State Park, said “Visitors to our state parks and forests might not realize the extent of the work required by volunteers and by employees to keep facilities and trails safe, efficient and attractive. At my park, Pine Grove Furnace, we have excellent staff but simply not enough of them. Last year’s rainy summer created even more work for the limited number of employees. Between 1995 and 2016, DCNR spent roughly $400 million to improve state park infrastructure, yet like owning a home, the to-do list never seems to get shorter. Acts of nature such as heavy precipitation and subsequent flooding, changes in safety standards, increased visitor demands, and general wear-and-tear all add to the work needed in our parks and forests.”  Click Here for full remarks.
Richard Lewis, President of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, the nation’s oldest forestry association, said, “It’s time to stop asking those professionals who manage our vital State Park and State Forest assets to ‘make do’ while they watch our campgrounds, buildings, rest stations, hiking trails, swimming beaches, boat ramps, dams, and forest roads to continue to become degraded. We hope that our elected leaders’ vision for the future of Pennsylvania includes restoring and maintaining these ‘crown jewels’ so they can be fully enjoyed by future generations of Pennsylvanians.” Click Here for full remarks.
Join The Movement
PPFF encourages all citizens of the Commonwealth, as well as out-of-state visitors to our state parks and forests, to raise their voice to support adequate funding for the maintenance and care needs of Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests.
They can do this by reading the Legacy of Pennsylvania’s State Parks and Forests report, signing up to join the cause, writing their legislator, joining a volunteer friends group, and more, all of which they can learn more about at the PPFF website.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Foundation,  Like them on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter.  Click Here to become a member of the Foundation.
(Photo: Marci Mowrey, President, PA Parks & Forests Foundation)
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Early Registration Deadline Feb. 1: PA Riparian Forest Buffer Summit Feb. 20-21

The early registration deadline for the DCNR and Western PA Conservancy Riparian Forest Buffer Summit on February 20-21 is closing fast.
Register before February 1 to be assured of hotel rooms at a reduced rate.  Registrations will still be accepted after February 1, but the block of rooms will no longer be held.
Pennsylvania has a goal of planting 95,000 acres of riparian buffers statewide by 2025 to improve water quality.
The objective of the Summit is to provide conservation professionals and other Riparian Forest Buffer practitioners, decision makers and others with the latest and greatest information on Forest Buffer science, implementation strategies, outreach, funding options, as well as to provide networking opportunities for those working and volunteering in the forest buffer field.
DCNR and the Conservancy held the first Forest Buffer Summit last year.
This year’s Summit will be held at the Best Western Premier Conference Center, 800 East Park Drive in Harrisburg.
Click Here to register, for a tentative agenda, sponsorship opportunities and more.  Questions should be directed to Teddi Stark, DCNR's Riparian Forest Buffer Coordinator, by calling 717-787-0656 or send email to: c-tstark@pa.gov.
Resources
For more information on buffers, financial and technical assistance available, visit DCNR’s Forest Buffers webpage.
CFA Accepting Applications
The Commonwealth Financing Authority will accept applications from February 1 to May 31 for its Act 13 Watershed Restoration Grants which includes funding control nonpoint source pollution runoff, which includes agricultural operations.  Click Here for more.
New DCNR Grant Round Open
Click Here to learn more about grant opportunities to support riparian buffer, trail and recreation projects. The deadline for applications is April 10.
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Penn State Extension Offers 2 Spring Gardening Workshops On April 2 & 9 At Northampton Community College

Penn State Extension is offering 2 Spring Gardening Workshops on April 2 and 9 at the Northampton Community Fowler Family Center, 511 E. 3rd Street in Bethlehem from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The Spring Garden Series covers four topics of interest to the home gardener in two evenings--
-- Pruning Landscape Trees and Shrubs
-- Water Gardening Basics
-- Bring the Butterflies and the Beauty in your Garden
-- Starting Vegetable Seedlings Indoors
To register or for more information, visit the Extension’s Spring Gardening Workshops webpage.
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Local Keep PA Beautiful Affiliates Collect 2.2 Million Pounds Of Electronics, 17,000 Tires, And More During 2018

On January 30, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful announced local affiliates collected a combined total of over 2.2 million pounds of electronics, 17,293 tires, 950 appliances and 21,434 pounds of household hazardous waste from local residents, emphasizing the continued need for disposal options for hard to dispose items.
Close to 40 collections were held in 14 counties by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful affiliates: Keep Cambria County Beautiful, PA CleanWays of Cumberland County, PA CleanWays of Fayette County, Keep Huntingdon County Beautiful, Keep Juniata County Beautiful, PA CleanWays of McKean County, PA CleanWays of Mifflin County, Keep  Perry County Beautiful, Tri-County CleanWays, serving Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties; PA CleanWays of Venango County, Westmoreland Cleanways and Keep Washington County Beautiful.
KPB’s affiliate network at the county and municipal level offer annual special collections to seek to eliminate illegal dumping and littering of tires and other hard to dispose items in local communities across Pennsylvania.  
The affiliate groups are able to keep their costs to their residents low by participating in the Department of Environmental Protection's Household and Small Business Hazardous Waste Collection Program that provides partial funding for the responsible recycling of all items collected.
The items collected are sent to DEP approved facilities for recycling. Tires are processed into rubber mulch, play turf, rubber asphalt roads and other items. The metal, plastic and glass are separated from the electronics and appliances and sold for reuse in items such as metal rebar, glass aggregate and plastic cell phones, laptops, and other equipment.
“The special collections coordinated by our local affiliate network provide a convenient, low cost option for disposing of tires that seem to collect in people’s garages and basements.  I applaud our affiliates for providing this valuable service to their communities. Without special collections, we would be expending far more resources on pulling those materials up the hillside,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.  
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful works to increase the availability of convenient, affordable disposal for certain items, such as tires, electronics, household hazardous waste, pharmaceuticals, and appliances.
The Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Affiliate Network often works with local solid waste and recycling offices to identify local disposal needs and implement special collections.
For more information, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Calendar of Events for 2019 collection events.
Contact your local County affiliate for more information about proper disposal.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website. Click Here to become a member.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, Discover them on Pinterest and visit their YouTube Channel.
Also visit the Illegal Dump Free PA website for more ideas on how to clean up communities and keep them clean and KPB’s Electronics Waste website.
Sign up now for the 2019 Great American Cleanup of PA and volunteer or set up your own cleanup and beautification event runs March 1 to May 31.
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