Registration Open! Keep PA Beautiful 2026 Annual Conference Oct. 14-15 In Reading

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is now accepting registrations for its 2026 Annual Conference to be held October 14-15 in Reading.

The theme of the conference is Connecting Nature, Community and Equity.

This annual conference brings together affiliates, partners, volunteers, and supporters from across the Commonwealth to celebrate successes, spark new ideas, and strengthen our shared commitment to cleaner, greener, and more equitable communities.

Some of the featured speakers include--

-- Jessica Shirley, DEP Secretary

-- Bethany Ayers-Fisher, City of Reading Sustainability Manager

-- Chris Barrett, President, Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau

-- Jerome Shabazz, Executive Director, Overbrook Environmental Education Center

-- Kanika Greenlee, Senior VP Affiliate Network, Keep America Beautiful

-- Valeri Harteg, Director Of Community Impact, The Wyomissing Foundation

-- Tanya Melendex, Keep Reading Beautiful

Just a few of the highlights--

-- October 14: Kick off with a guided Reading Walking Tour, followed by an evening Reception to connect and network.

-- October 15: The day begins at 8:00 a.m. with Registration and Breakfast, followed by engaging Keynote, Plenary Sessions, and Breakout Discussions.

-- Returning by popular demand--Affiliates in the Shark Tank--a dynamic and interactive conference finale you won’t want to miss!

Special thanks to Keep Reading Beautiful and the City of Reading for graciously hosting this year’s gathering.

Click Here to register and for more information.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, visit their YouTube Channel.

Related Articles This Week:

-- America250PA And Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Award $32,500 For Community Improvement Grants  [PaEN] 

-- Environmental Groups, Gannon University Held 2nd Annual Nurdle Hunt To Document Microplastic Pollution In Pennsylvania  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Caily Grube Creating Lasting Impact Beyond Litter Cleanup At Allegheny CleanWays

-- Warren Times: Volunteers Invited To Participate In 22nd Allegheny Reservoir Cleanup Saturday, May 9

-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: Philadelphia Launches ‘Alleygators’ Program To Help Residents Clear Trash, Vegetation From Alleys

[Posted: May 5, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

PA House Passes Resolution Directing State Officials To Do An Assessment On How To Better Protect Bees, Butterflies, Fireflies And Other Native Pennsylvania Insects

On May 4, the House passed House Resolution 66 (Pielli-D-Chester) which directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study how to best manage the state’s native bees, butterflies and other insects native to Pennsylvania by a vote of 112-89-- 9 Republicans supporting.

Insects and other invertebrates are the bedrock of a healthy environment and of critical agricultural importance, but many species found in Pennsylvania are on the decline.

For example: 

-- Fireflies - Pennsylvania’s state insect, the Pennsylvania firefly, is threatened here and elsewhere in the United States. And as of 2021, 128 U.S. firefly species are at risk of extinction. 

-- Bees - Of the Commonwealth’s 437 native species of bees, one-third are in decline, and our rusty patched bumble bee is listed as federally  endangered. 

-- Butterflies - The monarch butterfly has declined by 90% across North America and is a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act, as is the eastern regal fritillary butterfly, whose only known population is in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. 

House Resolution 66 was introduced by Rep. Chris Pielli and directs the LBFC to survey the work already being done by Pennsylvania’s state agencies, as well as identify approaches being taken in other states. 

In doing so, it will provide valuable insights to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and other agencies as to how to best monitor and manage Pennsylvania’s neglected wildlife.

Stephanie Wein, clean water & conservation advocate for PennEnvironment, issued the following statement--

“From the majestic monarch butterfly that migrates across Pennsylvania each year, to the firefly that lights up our summer nights, to the bees that pollinate our orchards and wildflowers, insect diversity is the cornerstone of a healthy environment. 

“Most Pennsylvanians are shocked to learn that our state’s beloved bees, butterflies and other native pollinators don’t have the same protections as the commonwealth’s other wildlife - all while ecologists sound the alarm that we are facing an “insect apocalypse.” 

“PennEnvironment applauds Rep. Chris Pielli for championing this issue and is glad to see the bipartisan support for protecting Pennsylvania’s small but mighty wildlife. 

“House Resolution 66 is a critical first step towards making sure these important species have the protections they deserve.”

[Posted: May 5, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

PA House Energy Committee Meets May 6 To Act On More Bills To Authorize Virtual Power Plants, Address Grid Reliability

The House Energy Committee is scheduled to meet May 6 on more legislation to authorize virtual power plans and address Pennsylvania’s electric grid reliability issues.

The bills in the agenda include--

-- Virtual Power Plants: House Bill 2264 (Davidson-D-Cumberland) establishes requirements for regulating virtual power plants [draft amendment] [draft amendment]

-- Electric Distribution Hosting Capacity: House Bill 2429 (Cerrato-D-Montgomery) requires utilities to publish accessible maps showing distribution system hosting capacity [draft amendment]; and

-- Nuclear Power Plants: House Bill 2450 (Mehaffie-R- Dauphin) increases and makes other changes to the fees for nuclear power plants to fund safety and emergency preparedness programs. 

Join the Meeting

The meeting will be held in Room 60 East Wing Capitol to be called Off The Floor.  Click Here to watch online.

Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler (D-Philadelphia) serves as Majority Chair of the House Energy Committee and can be contacted by calling 215-271-9190 or click here to contact.    Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-5075 or by sending email to: mcauser@pahousegop.com.

Resource Link:

-- PA House Committee Hears How Virtual Power Plants, Advanced Transmission Line Technologies Allow Us To Quickly Get More Out Of Our Energy Infrastructure In Less Time, Without Huge Investments Or Delays  [PaEN] 

Related Articles This Week:

-- PA House Passes Bills To Establish Framework For Developing Clean, Safe Geothermal Energy, Advanced Transmission Line Technology, Retooling PA Energy Financing Authority  [PaEN] 

-- Environmental Advocates Urge Lawmakers To Pass Bills Giving PUC Authority To Regulate Data Centers, Prohibit Nondisclosure Agreements, Promote Clean Energy To Reduce Energy Costs  [PaEN]

-- PA Solar Center: Learn How To Advocate For REAL Energy Independence For PA During Online Workshops June 8, 15  [PaEN] 

[Posted: May 5, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

Tuesday PA Environment & Energy Articles - NewsClips: 5.5.26

“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

May 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

May 5, 6

June 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30

-- Committee Schedule

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events 

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

TODAY 11:30: Citizens To Save Allegheny Mountain Press Conference At PA Capitol East Wing Rotunda On PA Turnpike Plan To Carve Massive, Miles-Long Open Gash Thru The Allegheny Mountain. 11:30 a.m.

POSTPONED PROBABLY TO MAY 6: House Energy Committee meets to consider House Bill 2450 (Mehaffie-R- Dauphin) increases and makes other changes to the fees for nuclear power plants to fund safety and emergency preparedness programs; House Bill 2264 (Davidson-D-Cumberland) establishes requirements for regulating virtual power plants [draft amendment] [draft amendment]; House Bill 2429 (Cerrato-D-Montgomery) requires utilities to publish accessible maps showing distribution system hosting capacity [draft amendment]. [Temporarily removed from agenda: House Bill 2348 (Fiedler-D- Philadelphia) makes numerous changes to PUC net metering requirements [draft amendment]] Room B-31 Main Capitol. 10:30 a.m. Click Here to watch online.   Read more here.

May 6-- Agenda Posted. DEP Environmental Justice Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00 a.m. Contact: Fernando Treviño, Special Deputy Secretary, (717) 783-7753, FTrevinoMa@pa.gov.  (formal notice)

May 7-- Agenda Posted. DEP Public Water System Technical Advisory Center Board meeting. Rachel Carson Building, Harrisburg.9:00 a.m.

May 7-- In-Person. PA Emergency Management Agency Flood Recovery Workshop. Allegheny Co Public Safety Center, 150 Hookstown Grade Road, Coraopolis.  8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

May 7-- Virtual. POWER Interfaith Webinar On Energy Rate Cases And Energy Affordability Advocacy At The PUC.  6:00 p.m. 

May 7-- Tri-County Regional Planning Commission 60th Anniversary Luncheon featuring guest speaker Jill Whitcomb, DEP Deputy Secretary for Water Programs.  Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel, 4650 Lindle Road, Harrisburg. 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

May 8-- Virtual. Physicians For Social Responsibility PA Host May 8 Online Southeast PA Environmental Movement Committee Meeting On A.I. Data Centers, Chester Incinerator, LNG Gas Terminal Proposals.  7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

May 11-- In-Person. DEP Hearing On North Centre Twp. PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Hazardous Site Response In 12 Municipalities In Columbia County Involving Contaminated Sewage Sludge. Central Columbia High School Auditorium 4777 Old Berwick Road, Bloomsburg. 5:00 p.m. open house. 7:00 p.m. hearing.

May 12-- CANCELED. Environmental Quality Board meeting. 9:00 a.m. Contact: Laura Griffin, Regulatory Coordinator, laurgriffi@pa.gov,  (717) 772-3277. (formal notice)

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

May 12-- In-Person. DEP Hearing On Individual Stormwater Permit For the 5.8 Mile HCPP 30-Inch Natural Gas Pipeline Serving The 4.5 GW Homer City A.I. Data Center Campus Power Plant In Indiana County. Indiana Theater, 637 Philadelphia Street in Indiana. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

-- PA House Passes Bills To Establish Framework For Developing Clean, Safe Geothermal Energy, Advanced Transmission Line Technology, Retooling PA Energy Financing Authority  [PaEN] 

-- The Allegheny Front: Federal Grant To Pay For DEP ‘Enhanced’ Geothermal Energy Project Using CNX Shale Gas Well In North Mahoning Twp., Indiana County

-- Environmental Advocates Urge Lawmakers To Pass Bills Giving PUC Authority To Regulate Data Centers, Prohibit Nondisclosure Agreements, Promote Clean Energy To Reduce Energy Costs  [PaEN]

-- PA Solar Center: Learn How To Advocate For REAL Energy Independence For PA At May 16 In-Person Workshop In Westmoreland County [PaEN] 

-- The Center Square Guest Essay: Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fee ‘Smart Deal’ For PA Communities - By Jim Welty Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition [Inconsistent Revenue Is Feast Or Famine For Communities ]

-- DEP Reminder: May 11 Meeting/Hearing On North Centre Twp. Hazardous Sites PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Contamination In Columbia County 

-- PA Environmental Council In Case You Missed It In April: RISE PA Decarbonization Grants; Clean Water Grants; Sojourns; Western PA Awards  [PaEN] 

-- Register Now! Choose Clean Water Coalition 2026 Choose Clean Water Conference Set For May 18-20 In Lancaster  [PaEN]

-- KDKA: Allegheny County Sanitary Authority $3 Billion Wastewater Project Already Hundreds Of Millions Over Budget, Officials Say 

-- Public Utility Commission Emphasizes Importance Of Drinking Water Week 

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Karl Blankenship: Field Project Examines What ‘Thriving Ag’ Could Look Like In The Future  

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Karl Blankenship: Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Others Challenge EPA Repeal Of Climate Endangerment Finding

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Karl Blankenship: Adams County Facility To Burn Chicken Manure To Generate Energy, Reduce Nitrogen Sits Idle For Nearly A Decade

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Names Katie Cassidy New Deputy Director

-- America250PA And Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Award $32,500 For Community Improvement Grants  [PaEN] 

-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: Philadelphia Launches ‘Alleygators’ Program To Help Residents Clear Trash, Vegetation From Alleys

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Caily Grube Creating Lasting Impact Beyond Litter Cleanup At Allegheny CleanWays

-- Environmental Groups, Gannon University Held 2nd Annual Nurdle Hunt To Document Microplastic Pollution In Pennsylvania  [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette: Group Fighting PA Turnpike Plan To Cut Massive Slash Thru Allegheny Mountain

-- PennLive: Group Fights PA Turnpike Plan To Cut Massive Slash Thru Allegheny Mountain: ‘Scar On The Landscape’

-- Ruffed Grouse Society, Upland Bird Hunt Chapter Invites Volunteers To May 9 Planting For Wildlife In Forest County  [PaEN] 

-- TribLive: Endangered Freshwater Mussels Disappearing In Western PA Rivers; New Protection Efforts Hope To Protect Species From Further Decline

-- Williamsport Sun: Lock Haven University Campus Student Research On Freshwater Mussels Bridges Gap Between Student Science, Large-Scale Conservation In Susquehanna Watershed  [PDF of Article]

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper, Susquehanna University Relocate 50+ Stranded Fish From Fabridam At Shikellamy State Park In Northumberland County

-- TribLive: Tarentum OKs 2 Chimney Swift Towers Critical To Supporting Bird Population; Allegheny County Home To Largest Number Of Chimney Swift Towers In Country

A.I. /Data Centers

-- PennLive: New 10 Building A.I. Data Center Complex Proposed In Watts Twp., Perry County By Baltimore Developer

-- LancasterOnline: PPL Electric Default Service Customers To See 1.5% Increase In What They Pay For Electricity They Use Starting June 1 

-- Scranton Times: Luzerne County Community College Held Roundtable With PA US Sen. McCormick On Energy Regulations, A.I. Data Centers

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Shapiro Administration Sues A.I. ‘Doctors’ For Practicing Unlicensed Medicine In PA 

International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

[Energy Independence Means Renewables]

-- May 5: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Climbs 5 More Cents Yesterday, Now $1.46/Gallon Higher To $4.57 Since Feb. 27  [Clarion PA Average Price Highest at $4.71] 

-- May 5: My neighborhood Sheetz in Harrisburg Jumped 20 cents/gallon yesterday

-- May 5: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $4.48 Ohio- $4.83  PA- $4.57

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

PA Politics - Everything Is Connected

-- TribLive/PennLive: 6 Arrested At PA Capital Protest Urging Ban On Money Gifts To Lawmakers

-- MSN: Democratic Candidate For PA US Senate Arrested For Threatening President, Member Of Congress, Family 

-- Post-Gazette/PennLive: Sen. Fetterman Says He’s Not Switching Parties, But Republicans Are Courting Him Anyway

-- The Center Square: PA Has Most Democrats In ‘Red To Blue’ Congressional Election Campaigns

-- LancasterOnline: PA House Republicans Vote Against Bill To Prevent White Nationalist Groups From Creating Their Own Housing Communities 

-- LancasterOnline Guest Essay: A Republican Party I No Longer Recognize - It’s Not About The Principles You Once Said You Believed In Anymore - By Ann S. Womble, Former Chair, Lancaster Republican Committee  [PDF of Article]

-- WHYY: 73,000 to 90,000 Philadelphians Could Lose Medicaid Next Year; Experts Concerned About Effect On Mental Health Services

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Shapiro Administration Sues A.I. ‘Doctors’ For Practicing Unlicensed Medicine In PA

-- Erie Times: PA Officials Say Food Stamp Fraud Cases Total $10 Million Over Past 3 Years

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Diversity - Equity - Inclusion

[Posted: May 5, 2026]  PA Environment Digest