DEP State Water Plan Program Hosting 4 Upcoming Webinars On Dry Cooling; Developing Local Climate Action Plans; Overview Of The PUC Water Programs; Coastal Zone Grants

DEP's State Water Plan Program is hosting a series of webinars to help educate the public, water resource professionals and decision-makers at all levels on issues affecting Pennsylvania's Water Resources.

Here's a schedule of upcoming webinars--

-- April 15: Susquehanna River Basin Commission Dry Cooling Rule For Data Centers, Power Plants. An update on SRBC’s Dry Cooling Resolution, including its purpose, technical basis, and implications for water use for power generation and data centers. 10:00 to 10:30 a.m.

-- April 21: Developing A Local Climate Action Plan. An introduction to the Local Climate Action Program and the process communities use to build climate action plans tailored to local needs. 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

-- April 23: Public Utility Commission Water/Wastewater Programs 101. An overview of the PUC's purpose, mission, history, and organizational structure with an emphasis on its regulation of water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities and the intersections with statewide water planning.  10:00 to 10:30 a.m.

-- April 28: Coastal Zone Grants. A walkthrough of Pennsylvania’s Coastal Zone Management Grants, including funding priorities, eligibility, and the application process. 10:00 to 10:30 a.m.

Click Here for more information and to register.

Visit DEP's State Water Plan webpage for more information on this program.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website.  Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

[Posted: April 7, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust Earth Day Trail Run/Walk Race Set For April 18 In Montgomery County

The Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust 8th Annual Earth Day Trail Run/Walk Race is on Saturday, April 18th at 9:00 a.m.. 

The whole family can celebrate Earth Day Weekend on a scenic, mixed terrain course, choosing to run 10K, or walk or run 5K or 1 mile.

This year, the course will feature the Coyote Loop, one of the Trust’s main trails on their new wayfinding system, which coincides with other popular pathways. 

Racers will get acquainted with the new signage while enjoying beautiful rolling hills, meadows and woods.

Once again, the Southampton Library will convert the 1-mile course into a Tale Trail, housing a Story Stroll featuring Bee Dance, by Rick Chrustowski, which will be fun for kids and adults alike. 

This event is presented in partnership with our key sponsor, L.D. Davis Industries, Inc. 

The race will be professionally timed by the Bryn Mawr Racing Co., and there will be refreshments and prizes at the finish line, including Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee of Yardley and Weldon Coffee and Creamery’s ice cream bike!

This Trail Race will help protect the 956 acres of open space and habitat the Pennypack Trust now encompasses.

Click Here to register and for more information.

Since 1970, the Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust has been a steward to local natural areas and dedicated to educating and encouraging people to enjoy and protect the preserve’s native ecosystems. 

[Posted: April 7, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

City Of Pittsburgh To Develop Solar Energy Facility On Steel Slag Disposal Area In Swisshelm Park To Cut Energy Costs By $2.6 Million At 4 Public Schools

On April 7, the City of Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority announced plans to enter into a 25-year lease agreement with Capital Good Fund to develop a solar energy facility on a 15-acre site in Swisshelm Park.

Capital Good Fund is the Community Development Financial Institution development partner of Pittsburgh Public Schools, whose plans on the site could generate enough renewable energy to offset 100% of the electricity demand at four local schools. 

Over the 25-year lease, the district would save over $2.6 million in electricity expenses.

The site at 1096 Goodman Street has been controlled by the URA since 1972 when it was purchased from Duquesne Slag Products Company and has been under a Consent Order and Agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection since 2000.

After a community engagement process, the site will be remediated and used for the solar array as well as the extension of Frick Park, which will minimize neighborhood traffic impacts, preserve more park land and support the City’s climate action goals.

In 2024, the URA was awarded a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Cleanup Grant to remediate the site in preparation for development. 

Cleanup is now approximately 95% complete, with full remediation anticipated by August 2026. 

The transition from a post-industrial slag brownfield to a clean energy “brightfield” will safely reactivate the site, meet community goals and provide lower cost renewable energy.

Visit the URA Swisshelm Park Solar Project webpage for more information.

Click Here for the announcement.

[Posted: April 7, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

WeConservePA: Lebanon County Conservation District Recognizes Calvin Miller With Steward Of The Land Lifetime Award

The Lebanon County Conservation District recently recognized Calvin Miller with the Steward of the Land Lifetime Award during the inaugural banquet to honor conservation and farmland preservation efforts in Lebanon County.

Miller, a life-long farmer, also served for more than 40 years on the Lebanon Conservation District Board.

Click Here to read a profile of Mr. Miller written by James Mentzer of LebTown.

Lebanon County also celebrated reaching the milestone of preserving 21,234 acres of farmland over 33 years in the county.  Read more here in LebTown.

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the WeConservePA website, Click Here to sign up for regular updates from WeConservePA, Like them on Facebook, and Follow them on Twitter.  Click Here to support their work.

The 2026 PA Land Conservation Conference will be held April 29 to May 1 in Lancaster.

More than 114,800 Pennsylvanians contribute to local land trusts.

(Photo: Calvin Miller, center, receives the Steward of the Land Lifetime Award, with LCCD staff members Klarissa Long and Hannah Hartman, board member James Tomanelli, and Maranda Smith, staff. (LebTown file photo))

[Posted: April 7, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

Tuesday PA Environment & Energy Articles - NewsClips: 4.7.26

“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

April 13, 14, 15, 27, 28, 29

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

April 20, 21, 22

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 

TODAY 1:00: Lt. Gov. Davis, DCNR To Highlight Point State Park Fountain, Park Improvements In Pittsburgh

TODAY 9:00: House Republican Policy Committee hearing on local stormwater management fees. [State Provides Inadequate Funding For Local Stormwater Management].  Friedman Jewish Community Center, Kingston, Luzerne County. 9:00 a.m.

TODAY 1:00: Virtual. Penn State Extension Webinar On Data Centers - State And Local Regulation (Part 2). 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

TODAY 6:00: DEP Public Hearing On Shell Petrochemical Plant Air Quality Plan Approval Application. Penn State Beaver Auditorium, 100 University Drive in Monaca, Beaver County.  6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Read more here.

April 9-- Virtual. DEP Webinar On Community Energy Development Program; Local Governments Can Apply For Assistance In Developing Energy Transition Plans Thru April 15. Noon.

April 10-- NEW. Virtual. EDF, PennFuture, Partners Host Webinar On PUC A.I. Data Centers Large Load Model Tariff .  12:30 to 2:00 p.m. 

April 13-- NEW. House Energy Committee meets to consider House Bill 2076 (Venkat-D- Allegheny, Williams-R-Chester), bipartisan legislation that would establish a regulatory framework for the generation of geothermal resources in the state. [draft amendment]; House Bill 2223 (Fiedler-D- Philadelphia) requiring electric utilities to evaluate the use of advanced transmission technologies when they file transmission line siting applications [draft amendment]; House Bill 2347 (Fiedler-D-Philadelphia) would update the duties of the PA Energy Development Authority and board membership [draft legislation].  Room 205 Ryan Building. 10:30 a.m. Click Here to watch online.  Read more here on the agenda.

April 13-- Virtual. Penn State Extension Webinar On Geothermal Energy Opportunities.  Noon to 1:00 p.m. 

April 14-- NEW. House Energy Committee holds a hearing on House Bill 2348 (Fiedler-D- Philadelphia) updating the state’s net metering policy related to renewable and other distributed energy resources [draft legislation].  Room 60 East Wing of the Main Capital. 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch online.

April 14-- Agenda Posted. Environmental Quality Board meeting. 9:00 a.m. Contact: Laura Griffin, Regulatory Coordinator, laurgriffi@pa.gov,  (717) 772-3277.

April 14-- Agenda Posted. DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. 12:30 p.m. Contact: Ian Irvin iirvin@pa.gov or 717-579-0329.  Read more here on agenda.

April 16-- DCED PA Grade Crude [Oil] Development Advisory Council meeting.  Penn State, State College.  10:00.  Contact: Adam Walters 717-214-6548 or adwalters@pa.gov. 

April 30-- DEP Oil & Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. 10:00 a.m. Contact: Todd M. Wallace twallace@pa.gov.  (formal notice)

-- Ayana Elizabeth Johnson To Receive Dickinson College’s Rose-Walters Prize for Environmental Activism  [PaEN]  

-- House Energy Committee To Meet April 13 To Consider GeoThermal Energy, Advanced Transmission Line Technology, PA Energy Development Authority Bills; Sets April 14 Hearing On Net Metering  [PaEN] 

-- Environmental Defense Fund: EPA Moves To Weaken Rule To Reduce Methane Emissions From Oil & Gas Operations  [PaEN] 

-- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Seeks Comments On Environmental Impacts Of Proposed Constitution Natural Gas Pipeline Project Impacting Susquehanna County, PA; New York And Delaware  [PaEN] 

-- TribLive Letter: PA’s Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fee An Example Of Effective Taxation - By Jeff Smith, Butler  [For The Industry Only, Not As A Reliable Source Of Revenue To Pay Local Governments, Others For The Damage Done By The Industry]

-- TribLive - Jack Troy: GE Vernova, Maker Of Power Generation Equipment, Spends $70 Million On Rostraver Warehouse

-- PennLive: Pennsylvanians Could Lose Millions Used To Help People Pay Heating Bills Under President’s Proposed Budget Cuts  

-- Inquirer: Energy Prices Are Up, These Smart Moves Can Help Your Business Save Money

-- Independence Conservancy To Hold 3 Waste Tire Collection Events In Allegheny, Beaver Counties Starting April 25  [PaEN] 

-- Scranton Times: Scranton Plans 2 More Stormwater Projects In Flood-Prone Keyser Valley Using COVID Recovery Funds

-- Gov. Shapiro, DCNR Announce Grand Opening Of Laurel Caverns State Park In Fayette County, Pennsylvania’s First Underground State Park  [PaEN] 

-- Observer-Reporter: Laurel Caverns Becomes First Subterranean State Park In PA

-- Erie Times - Brian Whipkey: Pennsylvania’s First Underground State Park Opens To Public

-- PennLive: Wildfire Season Is Here: Why Spring Is So Dangerous In PA And How You Can Help 

-- Help Wanted: PA Environmental Council Mapping/Program Coordinator  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Volunteers Replace 10 Invasive Trees With Native Ones Along Freeport Road In Blawnox, Allegheny County

-- PennWATCH: Pennsylvania Braces For ‘High-Risk’ Tick Season As Spring Temperatures Rise

A.I. /Data Centers

-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: PA A.I. Data Centers: How State Lawmakers Are Responding, From Electricity  And Water Use To Proposing More Tax Breaks

-- York Daily Record: Three Mile Island Nuclear Data Center Power Plant Wants To Draw More Water From Susquehanna River For Its Restart 

-- Scranton Times: Municipalities To Hold 5 A.I. Data Center Meetings, Hearings This Month: Archbald Boro, Olyphant Boro, Fell, Greenfield And Scott Townships

-- The Center Square: Non-Disclosure Agreements With Local Officials On A.I. Data Centers Spur Talk Of ‘Secret Deals’ 

-- TribLive: Duquesne Light Asks FERC To Lower PJM Price Cap From $325/MW/Day To The Current Floor Of $175/MW/Day To Save Customers $10/Month 

-- PATownHall.com Guest Essay: PA Manufacturers’ Association Opposes Caps On Price Of Electricity, Energy - Because The Competitive Market Works  [PDF of Article]

-- Erie Times Guest Essay: PA Helped Build US Energy Future Once, We Need To Do It Again With More Natural Gas Power Plants - By former State Senator John Peterson [Leaving Us Vulnerable To Price Spikes, With 1,000s Of Abandoned Wells]

-- EDF, PennFuture, Partners Host April 10 Webinar On PUC A.I. Data Centers Large Load Model Tariff  [PaEN] 

-- Wall Street Journal: These Cities And States Are Taking Aim At A.I. Data Centers Over Concerns Of Rising Electricity Demand, Environmental Impact

International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

[Energy Independence Means Renewables]

-- April 7: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Continues To Climb - Up 3 More Cents From Yesterday To $1.07/Gallon Higher To $4.18 Since Feb. 27  [Warren County, home of conventional oil industry, highest in state at $4.36]  https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=PA

-- April 7: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $4.14 Ohio- $3.86  PA- $4.18

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

-- PA Capital-Star: Diesel Prices Continue To Climb, Hitting PA Wallets, Businesses

-- The Guardian: Oil And Natural Gas Crisis From US President’s War On Iran Worse Than 1973, 1979 And 2022 Together, Says IEA

-- Bloomberg: Electricity Prices Went Deeply Negative In France, Germany Over Easter Weekend Due To A Surge In Renewable Energy Output Colliding With Reduced Demand

-- Wall Street Journal: US Natural Gas Exporter Venture Global Pulls In Billions During Iran War Energy Shocks

-- Reuters: World Is Lining Up For Russian Oil, Natural Gas As A Result Iran War Energy Crisis

-- AP: President Warns A ‘Whole Civilization Will Die Tonight’ If 8:00 p.m. Iran Deadline Not Met 

PA Politics - Everything Is Connected

-- TribLive Editorial: Political Violence Is All Target, No Aim

-- PA Capital-Star: President’s Dept. Of Homeland Security/ICE Scales Back Plans For Maryland Warehouse Detention Center To 542 Not 1,500 Immigrants - For Now

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Businesses, Individuals Who Paid The President’s Illegal Tariffs May Be Able To Start Applying For $166 Billion In Refunds By April 20

-- The Guardian: Oil And Natural Gas Crisis From US President’s War On Iran Worse Than 1973, 1979 And 2022 Together, Says IEA

-- AP: President’s Education Dept. Terminates Agreements To Protect Transgender Students In Several School Districts [Including Delaware Valley School District] 

-- AP: President Warns A ‘Whole Civilization Will Die Tonight’ If 8:00 p.m. Iran Deadline Not Met 

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[Posted: April 7, 2026]  PA Environment Digest