Thursday PA Environment & Energy Articles - NewsClips: 10.29.26

“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

November 9, 10

-- Committee Schedule

Senate Voting Schedule

November 17, 18

-- Committee Schedule

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events 

TODAY Noon: Virtual. DEP Clean Energy Opportunity Spotlight: Webinar On Worker Training Opportunities Thru Penn Heat Pump Pathways Program, Noon 

TODAY 6:30: In-Person. Penn State Extension To Hold In-Person Workshop On Solar Energy Trends - Siting, Law And Local Impact On Communities. Allentown, Lehigh County.  6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

October 30-- In-Person. Penn State Extension To Hold In-Person Workshop On Solar Energy Trends - Siting, Law And Local Impact On Communities. Nazareth, Northampton County.  6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

November 3-- In-Person. Penn State Extension Volunteer Riparian Buffer Plantings. Elizabethtown, Lancaster County. 9:00 a.m.

November 4-- Agenda Posted. DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:30 a.m. [Draft Revisions To Chapter 105 on the agenda.]

November 4-- In-Person. DEP Sets Hearing [If Requested] On Reissuance Of Title V Air Quality Permit For The NLMK Pennsylvania, LLC Farrel Steel Plant In Mercer County

November 5-- CANCELED. DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:15 a.m.

November 5-- Virtual. DCNR Grant Applicant Workshop Webinar.

November 6-- In-Person. PA Environmental Council: Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape Gathering In Somerset County

November 7-- In-Person. PA Forestry Association Annual Forest Symposium In State College  

November 10-- Joint DEP Citizens Advisory Council + DEP Environmental Justice Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 12:30 a.m. 

November 10-- In-Person. DEP meeting/hearing on renewal of NPDES Water Quality Mining Activities for the LCT Energy Rustic Ridge #1 underground coal mine in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County and Saltlick Township, Fayette County.  St. Raymond of the Mountains Parish, 170 School House Lane, Donegal. 6:00 p.m.

November 10-- Virtual. Environmental Health Project, Food & Water Watch, Partners Host Webinar On Shale Gas Fracking, Data Centers And Your Health. 7:00 p.m.

-- Trout Unlimited Recognizes Russ Collins, Doc Fritchey Chapter, With National Distinguished Service In Conservation Award  [PaEN] 

-- Six Pennsylvania, Two North Carolina Colleges, Universities Help Bring 150 MW Solar Energy Facility Online In Kentucky  [PaEN]  

-- PennDOT Invests $37 Million In Federal Funds To Building More Than 500 Electric Vehicle Charging Ports In Southeast PA; Applications Being Accepted For Grants In Western, Central, Eastern PA  [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette: High Gasoline Prices Making 2026 The Year Of The Hybrid Vehicles 

-- Republican Herald: Schuylkill County Locks In Electric, Natural Gas Supplier Contracts For County Facilities That Will Save $82,000

-- DEP Awards $2.4 Million Grant To Penn State To Study How Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Impact Health  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Partners With Harrisburg University To Update, Digitize PA Oil & Gas Well Mapping [Video] 

-- Erie Times-News: Erie Wastewater Testing Shows Rise In Illicit Drug Use

-- WNEP: DEP Says It Found No Air Quality Risk From Locust Gap Coal Refuse Fire In Northumberland County

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission, MD Dept. Of Environment Award $12 Million+ To Support 5 Projects To Reduce Sediment, Nutrient Pollution Under Conowingo Pay-For-Success Program  [PaEN] 

-- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA Awards $9.5 Million To Alliance For The Chesapeake Bay To Help Farmers Install Conservation Practices  [PaEN] 

-- NRCS-PA Announces Additional Practices Are Eligible For PA Farmers Participating In The Regenerative Pilot Program In 2027  [PaEN]

-- PEMA Provides $3 Million Grant To Expand Penn State Keystone Weather Threat Alert System

-- DCNR: Pennsylvania's Free State Parks Generate $16 In Economic Impact For Every $1 Invested  [PaEN]  

-- TribLive: Students, Volunteers Plant 200 Saplings At Unity, Westmoreland County St. Xavier  Nature Preserve To Create A Forest In 10 Years 

-- PA Interfaith Power & Light, Partners Host Nov. 12 Webinar -- Canopy Calling: Tree Equity From The Roots Up, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

-- Carnegie Museum Of Natural History - Pat McShea: [Freshwater] Mussel Memory In The Union City Aquatic Conservation Center Museum Collection

A.I. /Data Centers

-- TribLive: Residents Rally Against Proposed Springdale A.I. Data Center Before Allegheny County Hearing 

-- Post-Gazette: In Last-Ditch Effort, Residents Plead With Allegheny County To Vote Against Springdale A.I. Data Center Proposal

-- Allegheny Valley Residents Rally To Urge Allegheny County To Deny Springdale A.I. Data Center Proposal; Still Time To Comment  [PaEN]

-- Scranton Times: Essential Energy, Data Center Opponents Clash Over Proposed 400 MW Natural Gas Power Plant Impacts In Archbald

-- WNEP: Newport Twp. Residents Discuss Future Of 15 Building A.I. Data Center Complex At Open House In Luzerne County

-- PennLive/LehighValleyLive: Newport Twp. Residents File Lawsuit Challenging Approval Of A.I. Data Center, Power Plant Zoning

-- Williamsport Sun: Hughesville Boro Nears Approval Of A.I. Data Center Ordinance In Lycoming County

-- Observer-Reporter: Rep. Bud Cook Hosts Thursday, Oct. 29 Meeting On A.I. Data Centers In Washington County

-- Courier Times: Falls Twp. To Introduce A.I. Data Center Zoning Ordinance Fix In Bucks County

-- Climate Power: Energy Affordability Driving Pennsylvanians To The Polls This Election

-- Scranton Times Guest Essay: PPL Electric Building On Protections In Place So Growth Doesn’t Come At Utility Customers’ Expense - By Christine Martin, President Of PPL Utilities

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Pennsylvania Natural Gas Key To Winning Global A.I. Race - By Jim Welty, Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition

Today’s Oil & Gas Violations/Inspections

-- DEP: Fracking Fluid Hose Rupture Contaminates Range Resources Appalachia Shale Gas Pad, And Down The Well Pad Slope In Washington County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: Release From Diversified Production LLC Conventional Contaminated Water Pipeline Pollutes Field In Indiana County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Investigates Transfer Of Conventional Well Ownership, Finds Abandoned, Unplugged Well Leaking Gas 10 Feet From Apartment Building In Washington County  [PaEN] 

International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

[Energy Independence Means Renewables]

-- October 29: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Same As Yesterday $4.45/Gallon - $1.34/Gallon Higher Than On Feb. 27 [Warren County $4.74 Highest Average Price] 

-- October 29: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $4.22  Ohio- $4.26  PA- $4.45

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

-- Reading Eagle: Some School Districts Locked In Lower Diesel Prices, But Some Are Facing Skyrocketing Costs

-- Post-Gazette: High Gasoline Prices Making 2026 The Year Of The Hybrid Vehicles

-- PennDOT Invests $37 Million In Federal Funds To Building More Than 500 Electric Vehicle Charging Ports In Southeast PA; Applications Being Accepted For Grants In Western, Central, Eastern PA  [PaEN]

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: EQT Expands Natural Gas Export Strategy With Storage Contract On Gulf Coast

PA Politics - Everything Is Connected

-- Spotlight PA: Voters In Congressional Swing Districts In PA Grapple With Economy, Iran War Ahead Of Midterms  

-- PennLive: Republican US House Speaker Warns Of ‘Socialist Lunacy’ At Harrisburg Rally For Republican Con. Scott Perry  [Republicans ‘Just Getting Started’]  

-- WITF: Republican US House Speaker, Republican Con. Scott Perry Say The Devil, Communists And Barbarians Trying To Take Over America [Republicans ‘Just Getting Started’]

-- WHYY: 4 Contested PA Congressional Races Shift In Democrats’ Favor Ahead Of Midterm Battle For Control Of US House

-- Post-Gazette: PA Latino Voters Who Helped Elect President Moving Away From Republicans, But Not Warming To Democrats

-- TribLive Editorial: Who Is Paying For Pennsylvania Campaigns?

-- PA Capital-Star: As Healthcare Costs Spike For PA Employers, Employees, PA House Democrats Pitch Universal Coverage

-- AP: Inflation Heats Up Again, According To Govt. Measure, Days Before Midterm Elections Where Cost Of Living Dominates

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Diversity - Equity - Inclusion

[Posted: October 29, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

NRCS-PA Announces Additional Practices Are Eligible For PA Farmers Participating In The Regenerative Pilot Program In 2027

On October 29, the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Pennsylvania announced additional eligible practices for farmers participating in the Regenerative Pilot Program in fiscal year 2027.

The program provides local agricultural producers with more opportunities to adopt conservation systems that improve soil health, water quality, and long-term farm resilience. 

Producers can now apply for assistance with regenerative practices.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is improving the program, by using NRCS’s locally led conservation model to allow State Technical Advisory Committees to recommend additional conservation practices that reflect local resource concerns, production systems, and producer needs.

In Pennsylvania, Trees/Shrub Establishment and Soil Carbon Amendment practices have been added to complement the program’s core practices available nationwide.

“The Regenerative Pilot Program delivers a streamlined, outcome-based conservation model—empowering producers to plan and implement whole-farm regenerative practices through a single application,” said Denise Coleman, NRCS State Conservationist in Pennsylvania. “The initiative highlights USDA’s commitment to putting Farmers First by building a healthier, more resilient food system.”

Click Here for information on how to apply.

Visit the NRCS-PA webpage to learn more about technical and financial assistance available to farmers and landowners.

Related Articles This Week:

-- PennVEST Announces Purchase Of 10.1 Million Pounds Of Sediment Reductions, 34,757 Pounds Of Nitrogen, 5,236 Pounds Of Phosphorus Reductions For $5.6 Million  [PaEN] 

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission, MD Dept. Of Environment Award $12 Million+ To Support 5 Projects To Reduce Sediment, Nutrient Pollution Under Conowingo Pay-For-Success Program  [PaEN]

-- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA Awards $9.5 Million To Alliance For The Chesapeake Bay To Help Farmers Install Conservation Practices  [PaEN] 

-- NRCS-PA Announces Additional Practices Are Eligible For PA Farmers Participating In The Regenerative Pilot Program In 2027  [PaEN]

-- Capital RC&D Receives National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grant To Improve Farm Grazing Practices  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State College Of Agricultural Sciences Launches Regenerative Agriculture Center  [PaEN]  

-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Hosts Nov. 12 In-Person Southeast Regional Watersheds Workshop In Montgomery County  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Dec. 17 ACAP Webinar On Building Better Agricultural Erosion Control Plans Using PAOneStop Tools  [PaEN] 

-- Protecting Clean Water Together: Looks Okay, Smells Okay, But Is It Okay? -  By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association  [PaEN] 

-- Manada Conservancy, Swatara Watershed Assn. To Hold Nov. 8 Team Up To Clean Up The Raceway In Middletown Borough, Dauphin County  [PaEN] 

-- PA Master Naturalists Begin Accepting Applications For Spring Training Courses Nov. 2  [PaEN]

-- Brodhead Watershed Association: Keeping The Delaware River Wild - By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association  [PaEN] 

NewsClips:

-- Tribune-Democrat: Stonycreek-Conemaugh River Improvement Project Celebrates 35th Anniversary In Cambria, Somerset Counties   [PDF of Article]

-- Millersville University Blog: MU Students Teach McCaskey HS Students Watershed Science Along Conestoga River In Lancaster County  

-- WHYY - Zoe Read: Hundreds Of Rain Gardens, ‘Green’ Projects Later, What Is Philadelphia’s Next Plan To Stop Raw Sewage From Spilling Into Local Waterways?

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: Nature Book Fair Set For Dec. 12 At Montour Preserve Features Local Bookstores, Holiday Sweater Competition In Montour County 

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: New Educational Card Games Ideal For Classes Or Students Help Illustrate How Aquatic Ecosystems Work And Issues Hellbenders Face

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: Nearly 600 Fish, 22 Species Captured As Part Of Fish Rescue And Data College Project Hear Susquehanna River Dam Near Sunbury 

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: Local Data From National Study Shows Impacts Of Heat Waves On Various Common Bird Species And Highlights Benefits Of Project 

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: Participants Learn About Freshwater Mussels, Impacts Of Excess Salt On Our Waters During Floating Classroom Session

-- Warren Times: Conewango Creek Watershed Assn. Sets Nov. 12 Fall Dinner Meeting

-- WHYY: Gov. Shapiro Signs Law Requiring Home Sellers, Landlords To Disclose More About A Home’s Flood Risk

[Posted: October 29, 2026]  PA Environment Digest