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

On April 23, the satirical publication The Keystone Ledger published a story widely distributed on Facebook about a completely fictional 6,400 acre grid-scale solar energy facility supposedly to be built in Sproul State Forest somewhere in Clinton and Centre counties.

The post said "Harrisburg" gave its approval to the project calling it a "minimal change in land use."

The fact that it was fictional was not disclosed unless you clicked on comments.

Judging from those comments, more than a few people were sucked in by the made-up project.

Because the post did not mention what the REAL policies of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources are, here's a quick refresher.

DCNR spokesperson Wesley Robinson pointed PA Environment Digest to DCNR's Solar Energy webpage for the real story.

"Grid-scale solar installations are not permitted on DCNR lands, nor on lands that have received DCNR grant funds."

Solar Guidelines For Property Owners

The department does support advancing grid-scale solar on other properties while minimizing negative environmental impacts through informed planning and decision-making processes. 

DCNR has developed guidance for landowners, developers, planners, and local officials for the siting and construction of grid-scale solar projects.

The guidance outlines 10 considerations for siting best practices and eight for sustainable design. These include:

-- Prioritize the conservation and protection of mature forests, recreational lands, plant and wildlife habitat, and vital ecosystems

-- Prioritize siting on already disturbed lands

-- Co-locate near existing energy infrastructure

-- Avoid and minimize erosion and sedimentation

-- Actively protect and restore wildlife habitat to include and support native species

-- Include decommissioning that restores the land to the same condition as it was before

Solar Energy In State Parks & Forests

DCNR is building solar panels to power buildings, facilities, and even whole state parks and forest areas when possible. 

The agency looks for the best places to put solar panels. Some factors are:

-- Facilities already being renovated or built

-- Solar energy can meet the power needs

-- Sunlight is available

-- Site conditions are good

-- Across state parks and forests, there are now 38 solar panel systems with a total capacity of 4,548 kW DC. 

100% Renewable By 2030

By 2030, DCNR plans to get 100 percent of its electricity from renewable energy. Some will come from solar power produced on DCNR park and forest land. 

The department also participates in the Project to Utilize Light and Solar Energy (PA PULSE) initiative. The rest is from other renewable sources.

Visit DCNR's Solar Energy for the real story.

Visit Explore PA Trails and Get Outdoors PA for recreation areas near you.

Visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events for activities happening near you.

  For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website.  Click Here to sign up for the Resource newsletter.

[Posted: April 27, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

Interfaith Partners For The Chesapeake Bay Host May 7 Webinar On Faith And Flood Resilience In Our Communities

As climate change brings more frequent and intense storms, communities of faith are increasingly called to respond with courage, compassion, and care for both people and place.

Join the Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake Bay for a May 7 webinar on Rising to the Challenge: Faith and Flood Resilience in Our Communities.

This Virtual Learning Lab program will focus on how congregations can prepare for and respond to flooding in ways that protect their properties, support vulnerable neighbors, and safeguard local waterways.

Together, we’ll explore practical strategies for managing stormwater, reducing flood risk, and building resilience through nature-based solutions.

Grounded in a shared commitment to stewardship, this session will highlight how caring for land and water is not only an environmental responsibility, but a moral call to protect and sustain our communities in the face of a changing climate. 

Guest speakers include--

-- Apostle Larry Lee Thomas - Apostle Thomas is the Senior Pastor of Empowering Believers Church in Glen Burnie, where he has devoted 44 years to ministry and 34 years to pastoral leadership. As Presiding Prelate of EBAIN and President of the United Black Clergy, he stands as a visionary leader, community advocate, and global missionary.

-- Chuck Williams - Longtime congregant and member of the music ministry at the Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church and the Second Century Project, and recipient of the Big Train Community Hero award. He will be sharing his congregation's restoration journey and how they are saving a piece of history in the heart of Rockville!

Click Here to register and for more information.

These webinars are supplemental to IPC's Faithful Green Leaders Training Program and are free and open to all.

For more information on programs, initiatives, upcoming events and how you can get involved, visit the Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake website.  Follow on Facebook and on Twitter.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates (bottom of the page).

(Photo: Saint Gabriel Roman Catholic Church/Watershed Public Charter School - MD - Central - Baltimore County, Bioretention Project.)

[Posted: April 27, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

Gov. Shapiro Appoints Mark Szybist New Special Counsel For Energy Affordability

On April 27, Gov Shapiro announced the appointment of experienced public interest attorney Mark Szybist to serve as Special Counsel for Energy Affordability, delivering on a promise made in the Governor’s 2026-27 budget address. 

With more than 20 years of legal and policy experience in public utility, climate, and clean energy law, Szybist will be prepared on day one to advance the Shapiro Administration’s comprehensive strategy to stop utility companies from unfairly increasing their rates and needlessly raising costs for Pennsylvanians.

“I’m proud to appoint Special Counsel Szybist to serve as Pennsylvania’s newest watchdog on energy and utility affordability," said Governor Shapiro. “During a time when Pennsylvanians are faced with rising costs across the board, I have complete confidence in Mark’s ability to hold utility companies accountable and protect hardworking Pennsylvanians from predatory rate increases. I look forward to working with him to ensure we are delivering for the good people of Pennsylvania.”

“I am honored to serve as Pennsylvania’s first Special Counsel for Energy Affordability and humbled by the trust Governor Shapiro has placed in me,” said Special Counsel Szybist. “I have spent my career standing up for consumers and as Special Counsel, I will work hard alongside partners like the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate to hold utility companies accountable and protect Pennsylvanians from needless cost increases. As I begin this work with Governor Shapiro, we’ll continue to have Pennsylvanians’ backs.” 

Governor Shapiro’s appointment is effective immediately; Szybist began serving as Special Counsel in the Office of General Counsel today, April 27, 2026. 

Szybist Background

Mark Szybist is an energy and utility law attorney with 20 years of experience fighting for energy affordability, clean energy, and environmental protection. 

Immediately before assuming his current position with the Commonwealth, Mark served as a Senior Assistant People’s Counsel with the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, where he represented the interests of residential utility customers in gas, electricity, water, and telecommunications matters before the Maryland Public Service Commission. 

Mark’s specialization in public utility law followed eleven years of advocacy as a clean energy and environmental attorney, most recently as senior attorney and Pennsylvania clean energy policy director for the Natural Resources Defense Council. 

Mark began his legal career by clerking for Judge Stephen M. Holden in the New Jersey Superior Court in Camden, New Jersey, then practiced consumer bankruptcy law in Williamsport before turning his career to energy with the advent of shale gas drilling in Pennsylvania. 

A native of Williamsport, Mark earned his J.D. from the Temple University Beasley School of Law and his B.A. from Princeton University.

Energy Affordability Issues

Governor Shapiro’s announcement said he has made lowering costs for Pennsylvanians a central focus of his Administration’s efforts around economic development and energy, consistently calling for a balanced approach that strengthens the grid, supports economic growth, and protects consumers from unnecessary rate increases.

For years, the Governor has fought to stop unnecessary electricity rate increases and ensure the grid works better for consumers, taking legal action in 2024 after repeatedly pushing PJM to modernize its rules, speed up project approvals, and improve reliability to block a flawed auction design that would have driven up costs. 

He has continued building on that progress-- convening all 13 PJM governors to drive regional reform, creating the PJM Governors Collaborative to strengthen state oversight, and advancing new policies in Pennsylvania to improve transparency and prevent unnecessary rate increases. 

Earlier this year, Governor Shapiro secured an extension of his price cap through PJM Interconnection through 2030 and successfully saved $510 million for nearly two million Pennsylvanians after demanding PECO withdraw its proposed rate increase. 

In his 2026–27 proposed budget, the Governor also introduced GRID, the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development standards to protect energy, environmental, and water resources, promote transparent community engagement, and deliver local jobs and community development. 

The Governor has made clear that protecting consumers and building new energy supply must go hand in hand. In January 2025, he introduced his commonsense energy strategy, the “Lightning Plan,” to build new clean, reliable, and affordable energy projects across the Commonwealth.

Governor Shapiro continues to deliver on his commitment to stand up for Pennsylvania families and businesses — ensuring reliable, affordable energy while holding powerful interests accountable. 

Today’s announcement strengthens that commitment.

Click Here for the Governor’s announcement.

Resource Links:

-- Natural Resources Defense Council - Mark Szybist: Pennsylvania’s Natural Gas Power Problem, Part 1 - The Build Out

-- Natural Resources Defense Council - Mark Szybist: Pennsylvania’s Natural Gas Power Problem, Part II - Cost And Risk

-- Environmental Health Project - Pennsylvania’s Shale Gas Boom - How Policy Decisions Failed To Protect Public Health And What We Can Do to Correct It [Mark Szybist - Reviewer]

-- PennFuture - Mark Szybist Testimony In Support Of Legislation Giving The Public A Greater Role In Proposed Oil & Gas Development In State Forests, Parks

-- FracTracker Alliance/PennFuture - Mark Szybist & George Jugovic, Jr.: Shale Gas Development On Public Lands 

-- Natural Resources Defense Council - Mark Szybist: Testimony Before The Independent Regulatory Review Commission in support of DEP Regulations Reducing Carbon Pollution From Power Plants (RGGI)

-- Natural Resources Defense Council - Mark Szybist: Four Facts About Electricity Costs & RGGI In Pennsylvania [Supporting DEP Regulations Reducing Carbon Pollution From Power Plants]

-- Natural Resources Defense Council - Mark Szybist: It’s Time For Pennsylvania To Act On Environmental Justice

-- Clean Energy Advocate Mark Szybist: Pennsylvania At An Energy Crossroads: A Decade Of Shale Gas, And Where We Go Now At Lycoming College  [Video]

Related Articles This Week:

-- 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] 

-- PUC PaOneCall Damage Prevention Committee Announces $169,750 In Penalties For Underground Utility Line Violations

NewsClips:

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: As A.I. Data Center Site Work Starts In Cumberland County, Neighbors Struggle With ‘The Monster Next Door:’ Blasting, Twp. Roads Failing, Failure To Communicate

-- Utility Dive: Independent PJM Market Monitor Opposes 1.3 GW Natural Gas Power Plants Deal Taking Generation Out Of Capacity Auction Locking It Up To Serve A.I. Data Centers 

-- Utility Dive: PA Cong. Brian Fitzpatrick, Other Republican Members Of Congress Introduced Bill To Restore Renewable Energy Production, Investment Tax Credits For Much-Needed Generation Capacity 

[Posted: April 27, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

House Committee Unanimously Reports Out Bipartisan Bill To License Water, Geothermal, Geotechnical Well Drillers

On April 27, the House Professional Licensure Committee unanimously reported out House Bill 2302 (Takac-D-Centre, Moul-R-Adams), bipartisan legislation requiring the licensing of water, geothermal, geotechnical well drillers (sponsor summary).

In comments before the Committee, Rep. Paul Takac (D-Centre) said-- “I just wanted to recognize too my co-prime sponsor Chairman Dan Moul, our co-sponsors, and the many folks who work so hard on this proposed legislation, particularly the folks from DCNR who help coordinate and vet the legislation as well as the executive director and staff of this Committee. 

“As we heard in the informational hearing in early February, over three million Pennsylvanians rely on private water wells for their drinking water, almost exclusively in rural communities. 

“However, Pennsylvania is one of just three states that lack statewide licensing standards, and one of only two that does not enforce water well siting or construction standards. 

“This is significant because Pennsylvania's complex geology makes proper well siting critical for safety and groundwater protection. 

“And licensing standards are critical to protect homeowners and landowners as well as their neighbors.

“This legislation establishes accountability without adding new regulatory requirements or permitting processes. 

“It provides a flexible two way to pathway licensing model to let drillers seek only the relevant training they need, and it includes a two-year grandfathering period to provide for industry continuity. 

“And finally, I would note that this covers water, geothermal, and geotechnical drillers, but excludes oil and natural gas. 

“It is a bipartisan bill backed by a broad range of stakeholders and has been vetted and supported by representatives from the oil and gas industry, agriculture, building, engineering, and drilling industries, as well as state agencies, consumer, health, and environmental groups. 

“Thank you for your time and for your consideration of House Bill 2302. 

“I ask for your support to help protect public health and establish consumer protections.”

After Committee action the bill was Tabled, in the usual practice of the House.

Rep. Frank Burns (D-Cambria) serves as Majority Chair of the House Professional Licensure Committee and can be contacted at 717-772-8056 or fburns@pahouse.net.  Rep Joe Emrick (R-Northampton) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted at 717-260-6159 or jemrick@pahousegop.com. 

[Posted: April 27, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

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

The Concerned Citizens of Montour County reported in an April 23 Facebook Reel that a data center developer wants the Shapiro Administration to support policies making it harder for citizens to appeal data center zoning and permit decisions, according to emails the group obtained through a Right To Know request.

The Right To Know response also included a February 3, 2026  email from DCED Secretary Rick Siger to Amazon Web Services representatives saying the GRID Principles announced in the Governor’s February 3 budget address “are intended to be voluntary, and the Governor is not proposing to ban or even discourage data centers or other large loads that don’t agree to implement them from siting here.” 

Siger also said in the email, the GRID Principles will “not look back at projects or agreements already in place, like those we are working on together.”

Concerned Citizens of Montour said in the Reel: “Our group sees other communities getting absolutely steamrolled by this [data center] influence, and we are here to tell you that your fight is working and you need to keep going. 

“How do we know this? Because these developers are getting frustrated with the state. We have the email to prove this. 

“And best of all, we have some lobbying language that they want the [Shapiro] Administration to consider to put an end to it.”

Making It Harder For Citizens To Appeal

A March 6, 2026 email from Brian O’Neill, a real estate developer involved in data center projects in Southeast PA, to Benjamin Kirshner, PA’s Chief Transformation and Opportunity Officer for the Shapiro Administration, said appeals of permits and zoning decisions for data center projects are making it difficult for companies like Amazon to get the certainty they need to work in Pennsylvania.

The March 6 email reads in part--

"Amazon just informed us in writing, and I have sent you the email, that they will not be doing any projects in Pennsylvania until they get certainty that the projects they have invested in can move forward. 

“In conversations, they have pointed out to us that they have been appealed in every project at every turn. 

“We are complying 100% with all the governor's objectives, including brownfield, existing reuse, behind-the-meter power, closed-loop systems, etc. 

“We want to make sure we are not going to get appealed frivolously by people that just want to slow us down for sport as they are currently doing to Amazon. 

“Please include this in your policy and legislation--

“ 1. Data centers should be required to build behind-the-meter power and should be protected from frivolous appeals. 

“To ensure the construction of behind-the-meter power, those who wish to appeal EPA, DEP, or zoning applications for data center power should have to post a bond equal to two times the damages they would cause the developer. 

“Example, if a $2 billion development is postponed due to an appeal, they should have to post a $4 billion bond.

“ 2. Zoned sites should have the right to build data centers so long as they comply with the zoning requirements.

“1. In order to ensure quick construction for users who need data center space now, anyone who wishes to appeal a zoned site should have to post a bond equivalent to two times the damages that are causing the developer, i.e., if a $2 billion development is being held up, they should have to post a bond for $4 billion.”

“Ben. Our phase one project generates $44 million in taxes versus $400,000 currently being paid by buildings which are empty and are being down valued to reduce those taxes. See the grid below. 

“These taxes will pay over $30 million to the school district which needs to retool to prepare our children for A.I., an expense that people are greatly underestimating, and $10s of millions of dollars to the county and municipality.

“Our project is 20X the value of the Comcast Tower:

-- Our 1 GW Data Center costs $35.16 Billion.

-- The Comcast Tower total project cost was: $1.5 Billion

-- The Comcast Tower generated 20,000 construction jobs.

-- Comcast Tower created 2,800 permanent jobs

-- The construction phase alone was projected to generate $2.75 Billion in economic activity within the state of PA.”

There was no response included in the Right To Know file from Benjamin Kirshner.

GRID Principles - Explained

As noted, the Right To Know response to Concerned Citizens of Montour County also included an email from DCED Secretary Rick Siger to Amazon Web Services representatives sent on February 3, 2026 at 8:51 a.m. before the Governor’s budget address at noon that same day.

The email includes a more complete explanation from the Shapiro Administration on how the GRID Principles will work.

The text of the email said in part--

“I wanted to reach out and share details about new “Data Center Principles" he [Governor] will be announcing (that you spoke with our team about yesterday), as well as our desire to work with you both to flesh out and refine the Principles, but more importantly put them into practice.”

“The Principles are intended to be voluntary, and the Governor is not proposing to ban or even discourage data centers or other large loads that don’t agree to implement them from siting here. 

“What he is proposing is to condition state support going forward—things like his vocal support, fast track permitting, and favorable tax treatment—on the degree to which proposed projects adhere to the Principles. 

“We think that this creates an opportunity for social license, much like a LEED [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] certified building; projects will have the opportunity to get a stamp of approval from the state (and additive state support) by following a set of common-sense best practices. 

“Also like LEED, we anticipate different tiers of commitment, which correspond to differing levels of support from the state.”

“The Principles fall in four buckets: 1) maintaining energy affordability; 2) transparency and direct community engagement; 3) local workforce and economic development; and 4) protecting our environment.

“Examples of the first Principle includes data centers bringing their own sources of energy.  

“Transparency and community engagement includes things like sharing information with the host community that will allow it to make informed decisions about the facility: such as traffic information, and potential emissions.

“The local workforce and economic development Principle includes things like hiring and training local workers and entering into community benefit agreements.

“Finally, the environmental principle includes commitments to water conservation and energy efficiency.”

“While the Governor is going to propose these Principles today, we very much want to engage with all of you to make them strong and workable and would like to set up meetings with the appropriate members of your team.”

“On a personal note, our team has benefitted enormously from AWS’ commitment to PA as we learn about this incredibly fast-moving industry.

“We particularly look forward to our continued work to grow your presence here, and want to emphasize that his new approach will not look back at projects or agreements already in place, like those we are working on together.”

Action Items

The Concerned Citizens of Montour laid out a series of action items for communities fighting against data centers--

“House Bill 2151 (Donahue-D-Lackawanna) must be stopped dead in its tracks. You need to absolutely pummel your state senators to oppose this bill. 

“Despite this bill being touted as adopting an optional model data center ordinance, this is a dangerous piece of legislation. 

“We would suspect that it is primarily being constructed by data center lobbyists, and also a sneaky way for the state to preempt control over all the local ordinances our communities are working hard on. 

“You absolutely need to question the integrity intentions of anyone who already voted for this bill at the House level and anyone who continues to do so in the state Senate. 

“You need to get loud about opposing this bill.

“House Bill 2198 (Vitali-D-Delaware). This is an amazing piece of legislation that was introduced by Democrat Greg Vitali out of Delaware County. 

It is simple. Get rid of the massive tax incentive that our state currently offers to data center developers. 

“We know they want to be here. They don't need extra incentives. It is estimated that the data center developers will save about $2 billion in tax revenue because of this. 

“Greg Vitali wants to see it repealed, but his own party won't advance his bill in the House. 

“It is bottlenecked in the House Finance Committee because of Rep. Steve Samuelson not advancing it. 

“Look up his office number [717-705-1881 or 610-867-3890 or email: samuelson@pahouse.net ] and call him to demand this bill get moved forward.

“To Governor Shapiro directly, the Better Path Coalition has feverishly been inviting you to a statewide virtual data center town hall on May 13th. Your office has not responded to them. 

“Community members are engaged. Do you actually want to listen or are you going to have your administration continue to ignore us and keep getting marching orders from Amazon and other developers? 

“To communities all throughout Pennsylvania, we see you here in Montour County. We are fighting with you and for you. 

“Do not give up, and keep showing up en force at local meetings. 

“In the words of Ben Franklin when fighting for independence, "We must indeed hang together, or assuredly we will all hang separately." 

“Stay loud, stay engaged, make phone calls, send emails, vote according to how legislators respond.”

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

Upcoming Event

May 13-- Better Path Coalition To Host A.I. Data Centers Virtual Town Hall Meeting, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Resource Links:

-- 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] 

[Posted: April 27, 2026]  PA Environment Digest.