PA Environment Digest Blog

Sunday, July 26, 2026

State Conservation Commission Accepting Applications For PA Most Effective Basins Public-Private Partnership Funding To Provide Assistance To Implement Farm Conservation Practices

The PA State Conservation Commission published notice in the July 25 PA Bulletin announcing it is accepting applications for implementing financial and technical assistance for best management farm conservation practices under the federally-funded PA Most Effective Basins -Public-Private Partnership Program.

The deadline for submitting applications is September 18.

Entities eligible for funding under the Partnership Program include, but are not limited to, for-profit conservation entities, nonprofit entities, private businesses, corporate businesses, conservation districts and the like.

Proposals must include at least one county conservation district, as a public partner and at least one private partner, to be eligible for MEB-PPP funds.

Funding must be used to implement BMPs that reduce nutrient and sediment pollution on agricultural operations within this Commonwealth's portion of the MEB geography. Funding may also be used for engineering, consulting and permitting.

The Most Effective Basins Program includes all of Adams, Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, and Union counties.

And portions of Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Cambria, Cambria, Cameron, Carbon, Chester, Clearfield, Elk, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, Potter, Schuylkill, Somerset, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne, Wyoming, and York counties.

Click Here for a map of eligible areas.

Visit the PA Most Effective Basins -Public-Private Partnership Program webpage to apply and for all the details.

For more information on other funding and technical assistance opportunities, visit the PA State Conservation Commission webpage.

In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - July 27

Here are Articles and NewsClips on A.I. and data center issues from last week you may have missed--

Energy Costs

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: A.I. Data Center-Driven Electricity Demand In PA, Surrounding States Outstripping Supply, Keeping Prices High

-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: As Utility Rates Continue To Rise In PA, Coalition Is Pushing For Renewables To Rein In Costs

-- PA Coalition Launches Building A Brighter PA To Lower Energy Bills, Build A Clean-Energy Economy Over The Next 4 Years [PaEN]

-- Utility Dive: PJM Market Monitor: Data Centers Drove $6.3 Billion In July PJM Generation Capacity Auction Costs; Over Last 4 Auctions - $29.4 Billion In Costs

-- Utility Dive: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Fails To Shield PJM Consumers From Data Center Power Transmission Costs Says PA Consumer Advocate, 4 Other State Ratepayer Advocates

Legislation

-- Inquirer: Gov. Shapiro Plans To Take More Executive Action To Better Regulate A.I. Data Centers In Coming Weeks Since Senate Republicans Failed To Act

-- The Allegheny Front: Where Pennsylvania Stands With Regulating 80 A.I. Data Center Proposals

-- Spotlight PA: PA Lawmakers Leave $2 Billion A.I. Data Center Sales Tax Exemption Untouched In PA Budget

-- Reading Eagle: State Sen. Muth Criticizes State Budget Tricks, Failure To Pass A.I. Data Center Regulations

-- Inquirer: Shapiro Administration Consulted With Amazon And Data Centers On Shaping Governor’s GRID Data Center Proposals, Records Show [Reported Weeks Ago By Other Media]

-- AP: Democrats Seize On A.I. Data Center Backlash That’s Dividing Rural Republicans In Places Like TX, PA

President’s Voluntary ‘Pledge’

-- President Expands Ratepayer Protection ‘Pledge’ For A.I. Data Centers To Pay Full Cost Of Energy, Supporting Infrastructure [PJM Ratepayers Already Paying $29.4 Billion In Added Electricity Costs] [PaEN]

-- TribLive/AP: President Expands Voluntary Pledge To Protect Consumers From High Utility Bills Driven By A.I. Data Center Demands

-- PPL Utilities Signs President’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge [Except It Doesn’t Cover Projects Like Transmission Lines, Other Infrastructure Structure Already Approved]

-- PennLive: PPL Signs Pledge To Protect Consumers From Higher Electric Bills Due To A.I. Data Center Demand Saying It Already Follows Principles [PPL Ratepayers Now Paying For Grid Upgrades For Data Centers, Much Higher Power Bills Due To Spiking Demand]

Grid

-- The Center Square: PPL Electric Condemnation Of Land For Transmission Lines Needed To Feed A.I. Data Centers Triggers Stress, Anxiety In Luzerne County

-- Utility Dive: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Fails To Shield PJM Consumers From Data Center Power Transmission Costs Says PA Consumer Advocate, 4 Other State Ratepayer Advocates

-- Morning Call Guest Essay: PJM Is Not Delivering Affordable Power Fast Enough In The Face Of A.I. Data Center Spiking Demands, Consumers Are Paying The Price - By Jeaneen Zappa, Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance

-- The Center Square: Future PJM Regional Power Supply Down, But Not Out

-- PA Capital-Star: Advocates, Regulators Both Call For Reforms At PJM: ‘Market Participants Have Lost Confidence In PJM’s Decision-Making Abilities’

-- Utility Dive: FERC Will Impose Reforms To Deal With A.I. Data Center Demands If PJM Fails To Adopt Changes By September; PJM Failed To Attract Significant New Generation

Generation

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Public Can Weigh In On Three Mile Island Nuclear Data Center Power Plant Restart During July 28 NRC Meeting

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Pittsburgh-based Exus Renewables Secures $356 Million For 2 Wind Projects In Cambria County As Demand From Data Centers Accelerates

-- Tribune-Democrat: Exus Renewables Closes On Wind Energy Facility Financing For Cambria County Project

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Mainspring Linear Generator Secures State Funding For 600-Job Plant Near Pittsburgh

-- Utility Dive: Natural Gas Power Generation Decreased 4% In 2025; Coal-Fired Power Plant Generation Increased 13%; Wind & Solar Generation Increased 3% and 34%

Land Use

-- Scranton Times: Archbald, Dickson City, Throop Boro To Hold Hearings This Week On A.I. Data Center Projects

-- Scranton Times: Citizens Cross-Examine Archbald Natural Gas Power Plant Developer Over Lack Of Specifics

-- The Pocono Review: Archbald Borough’s A.I. Data Center Land Grab: What The Borough Kept Quiet

-- Scranton Times: Hearing On 3 Proposed Natural Gas Power Plants To Feed A.I. Data Centers Postponed In Dickson City Due To Missing Environmental Assessment

-- Scranton Times - Chris Kelly Opinion: ‘Lucky’ Archbald Boro Receives Unsolicited Proposal From 7th Data Center Speculator From New York [Apparently Being ‘Blessed’ With 51 Proposed Data Center Buildings Wasn’t Enough]

-- Scranton Times - Chris Kelly Opinion: Scranton Mayor, Congressional Candidate Calls On All 7 Speculators Proposing A.I. Data Centers In Archbald To Withdraw Proposals, Locate Them In Areas That Won’t Ruin Neighborhoods, Schools, Parks

-- The Citizens’ Voice: Salem Township Supervisors OK Plan To Surrender Streets To A.I. Data Center Project, Tabled Moratorium For Data Centers

-- The Citizens’ Voice: Lehman Township Adopts A.I. Data Center Regulations, Met With Positive Reception At Hearing

-- The Citizens’ Voice: Slocum Township Adopts Zoning Amendment To Regulate Future A.I. Data Centers

-- The Citizens’ Voice: Salem Twp. Planning Commission OKs A.I. Data Center Overlay Expansion To Allow 3rd Data Center Supported By Landowners Who Will Get A Combined $1.2 Billion In A Deal With An Unknown Data Center Company

-- Scranton Times: Speculator Buys 528 More Acres Of Conservation, Ag Land In Ransome Twp. For A.I. Data Center, 750 MW Battery Storage In Addition To Another Adjacent 402+ Acre Data Center Site

-- Scranton: Land Bought By NY A.I. Data Center Speculator Included In Proposed Pumped-Storage Hydropower Project Site Using Old Forge Borehole In Ransome Township

-- Morning Call: Lower Mount Bethel Township Officials Signed Confidentiality Agreements With Talen Energy On A.I. Data Center Development, Records Show

-- Morning Call: Lower Mount Bethel Township Fights To Preserve Its Farms, River From The A.I. Data Center Boom In Northampton County

-- Reading Eagle: City Of Reading Declares Zoning Ordinance Deficient To Work On A.I. Data Center Regulations

-- Bucks County Herald: West Rockhill Township Passes 2nd Version Of A.I. Data Center Rules Subject To Further Amendments

-- Republican Herald: Schuylkill County Commissioners Hear Public Concerns About Butler Twp. A.I. Data Center Proposal, Renewal Of Natural Soil Products Biosolids Site

-- Williamsport Sun: Muncy Twp. To Challenge A.I. Data Center Developer On His Assumption His Project Was ‘Deemed Approved’ Due To Inaction By The Township In Lycoming County

-- Williamsport Sun: A.I. Data Center Talks Dominate Lycoming County Planning Commission Meeting

-- The Daily Item: A.I. Data Center Proposal Faces Hours Of Testimony, Public Scrutiny In Gregg Twp., Union County

-- ABC27: Mifflin County A.I. Data Center Town Hall Postponed After Application Returned As ‘Incomplete’ By Granville Twp.

-- TheDerrick.com: Scrubgrass Township Supervisors Approve Ordinance Regulating A.I. Data Centers, But Supervisors Had Not Yet Addressed Comments On The Ordinance And Residents Asked How To Amend It [Venango County]

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: PA Environmental Groups Turn To Crowdfunding To Challenge 3,200 Acre Homer City A.I. Data Center Project In Indiana County

-- TribLive: Rostraver Twp. Residents Voice Concerns Over A.I. Data Centers; Local Officials Say None Planned In Westmoreland County

-- Observer- Reporter: Springhill Township Introduces Ordinance To Regulate A.I. Data Centers In Fayette County

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: A.I. Data Center Developers Are Offering Communities, Individuals For Project Approvals; It’s Not A Silver Bullet [PA Highlighted]

-- Pittsburgh Media Partnership: Pennsylvania A.I. Data Center Proposals Map

Impacts

-- AP: Virginia Releases Long-Delayed Study On Groundwater, Data Centers Calling For Tighter Water Regulations

Public Participation/Meetings

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Public Can Weigh In On Three Mile Island Nuclear Data Center Power Plant Restart During July 28 NRC Meeting

-- Scranton Times: Archbald, Dickson City, Throop Boro To Hold Hearings This Week On A.I. Data Center Projects

-- PA Data Center Hearings & Meetings - Physicians For Social Responsibility PA

A.I. Policy

-- AP: OpenAI Says Its A.I. Technology Acted On Its Own In An ‘Unprecedented’ Hack Of Another Company - A ‘Mind-Blowing’ Event

-- Wall Street Journal: A.I. Chatbots Know How To Make Deadly Biological Weapons, Some Will Teach You

-- The Economist: Why The OpenAI Escape Is The Most Worrying A.I. Mishap Yet; Containing This Technology Is Getting Harder

[Posted: July 26, 2026] PA Environment Digest

Saturday, July 25, 2026

Saturday PA Environment & Energy Articles - NewsClips: 7.25.26

“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

September 9, 28, 29, 30

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

November 9, 10

-- Committee Schedule

Senate Voting Schedule

September 28, 29, 30

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

November 17, 18

-- Committee Schedule

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events

July 27-- Virtual. Outdoor Business Alliance Of PA Hosts Webinar On Outdoor Participation Trends And What They Mean For Your Business. Noon to 1:00 p.m.

August 4-- Agenda Posted. DEP: Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority meeting. Rachel Carson Building, Harrisburg. 10:00 a.m.

August 5-- Delaware River Basin Commission virtual hearing. 1:30 p.m. (formal notice) Read more here.

August 5-- Penn State Extension Hosts Webinar On Forested Headwaters And Drinking Water Quality, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

August 6-- Agenda Posted. DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson. 9:15 a.m. [Oil & Gas Methane Reduction Regulations On Agenda: Read more here.]

August 6-- DEP Agricultural Advisory Board meeting. DEP Southcentral Regional Office, Harrisburg. 1:00 p.m. (formal notice)

August 11-- Environmental Quality Board meeting. 9:00 a.m. Contact: Laura Griffin, Regulatory Coordinator, laurgriffi@pa.gov, (717) 772-3277.

August 11-13-- In-Person. Penn State Ag Progress Days

August 12-- DEP Environmental Justice Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson. 10:00 a.m.

-- The Conversation: Pennsylvania Roads Are Being Coated In Radioactive Oil & Gas Wastewater - New DEP Well Permit Allows Uncontrolled Use [PaEN]

-- UPDATED With Reactions: DEP To Adopt Regulations Limiting Methane Emissions From Conventional Oil & Gas, Shale Gas Infrastructure; Will Outline Approach At Aug. 6 Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee Meeting [PaEN]

-- Fox43: Lancaster Clean Water Partners: Over 100 Local Organizations Come Together To Improve Water Quality

-- NRCS-PA: Family Conservation Easement Protects Critical Working Lands In Kittatinny Ridge Sentinel Landscape [PaEN]

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader: PPL Electric Helping Customers Turn Old Appliances Into Cash And Energy Savings

-- WNEP: Celebrating 100 Years Of Lake Wallenpaupack Recreation, Hydroelectric Generation

-- WHYY - Zoe Read: Delaware Regional Planning Commission Approves At Least $300 Million In Funding To Expand Bike, Walking Trails In Philly Area

A.I. /Data Centers