Friday PA Environment & Energy Articles - NewsClips: 6.5.26

“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

June 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

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

-- Committee Schedule

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events 

Anything Can Happen: June State Budget Marathon Is Here!

June 5-15--  PA Society For Ornithology 2026 Breeding Bird Blitz 

June 8-- House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection meets to consider House Bill 84 (Vitali-D-Delaware) prohibiting the spreading of oil and gas wastewater on roads and by land application, House Bill 426 (Pielli-D-Chester) encouraging the construction of new habitats for monarch butterflies and native insects at Commonwealth-owned facilities, House Bill 1567 (Mullins-D-Lackawanna) requires public consideration of host community benefit agreements for power plants between communities and school districts and establishes minimum requirements for those agreements. Room B-31 Main Capitol.  11:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online.  Read more here on agenda.

June 9-- Agenda Posted. Environmental Quality Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 9:00 a.m.  Contact: Laura Griffin, Regulatory Coordinator, laurgriffi@pa.gov,  (717) 772-3277.

June 9-- Penn State Extension Webinar On Creating Connections Through Citizen - Community Science. 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

June 11-- Virtual. Team PA Webinar On Pennsylvania Nuclear Energy Roadmap. 11:30 a.m.  Click Here for more on Nuclear Roadmap 

June 16-- NEW. Virtual. ReImagine Appalachia, Ohio River Valley Institute, Partners Host Webinar On Applying For DEP’s RISE PA Industrial Decarbonization Funding. 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.

June 23-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. 12:30 p.m. Contact: Ian Irvin iirvin@pa.gov or 717-579-0329.

June 25-- DEP Hearing On Air Permit For ETC Northeast Pipeline Cryo II Project At The Revolution Cryogenic Natural Gas Processing Plant In Smith Twp., Washington County.  Burgettstown Area Middle/High School Campus, LGI Room, 100 Bavington Road in Burgettstown from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

June 25-- NEW. In-Person. ReImagine Appalachia, Ohio River Valley Institute, Partners Host Workshop On Applying For DEP’s RISE PA Industrial Decarbonization Funding. Pittsburgh. 9:00 a.m. to Noon

-- DEP Declares Code Orange Ozone Action Day For Friday, June 5 In Southeast PA  

-- PA Environmental Council: Celebrating Sustainability, Stewardship, Community In Governor’s Awards For Environmental Excellence, Western PA Environmental Awards  [PaEN] 

-- WTAE: Quecreek Mine Rescue Survivor Randy Fogle Dies After Battle With Cancer In Somerset County  

-- WVIA: DEP Officials Say Contamination Cleanup In Nanticoke, Across PA Needs Hazardous Sites Cleanup Funding To Continue

-- DEP Awards $10.6 Million In Federal Funds To Support Allegheny County Project To Restore Abandoned Mine Lands, Treatment Mine Discharges In Settlers Cabin Park  [PaEN] 

-- PUC Finalizes Long-Term Plan To Ensure Stable Water Service For Rock Spring Water Company Thru Its Acquisition By PA American Water In Centre County  [PaEN]

-- WHYY - Zoe Read: New Delaware River Basin Commission Tool Shows Toxic PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Contamination Pervasive In Delaware River

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Streamside Buffer Plantings Reach 100,000 Live-Stakes Planted 

-- Inquirer: A Court Ruling In A Chester County Case May Mean Higher Stormwater Bills In Scores Of PA Towns

-- June 22 Community Lecture At Millersville Borough To Honor Conestoga As PA River Of The Year  

-- Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week June 6-14 Celebrates A Watershed ‘Built By Nature, Protected Together’ 

-- Berks County Community Foundation Awards Nearly $102,000 In Grants To Support Local Environmental Health Projects 

 

-- Reminder: DEP June 15 Hearing On 22 Transfer LLC Municipal Waste Transfer Station Permit In Cooper Twp., Montgomery County

-- Allegheny County Executive Innamorato Signs Clean Tech Executive Order To Position County As National Leader In Clean Technology

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Allegheny County Executive To ‘ACT NOW’ To Boost Clean Tech Ecosystem

-- TribLive: Allegheny County Executive Pitches Clean Tech As Economic Engine For Western PA

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Bad Energy Policies Threaten Jobs, Discourage Critical Infrastructure Investment - By Jon O’Brien, Keystone Contractors Assn.  [Contractors Don’t Have To Live With The Consequences Of The Projects They Build, So What’s Good For Them, May Be Bad For Communities]

-- June 6 Pennsylvania Bulletin Now Available

-- TribLive: Westmoreland County Allocates Funds For Landslide Mitigation Work On Great Allegheny Passage Trail

-- TheDerrick.com: Oil Region ATV Association Gains Momentum As More Municipalities Enact Ordinances Allowing Riding On Twp. Roads

-- Warren Times: Allegheny National Forest Seeks Resource Advisory Committee Members

-- Penn State Extension Spotted Lanternfly News: Checklist For Travelers; Lanternfly Quarantine Area; Permit Training For Business  

-- PA Natural Heritage Program 2025 Annual Report: New Discoveries; Goshawk Recovery; Invasive Species; Freshwater Mussel Surveys; Barbara’s Buttons; Restoring The West Branch Susquehanna River 

A.I. /Data Centers

-- Scranton Times: Jessup Boro OKs Preliminary A.I. Data Center Plans Adjacent To Natural Gas Power Plant: ‘No Reason To Panic’

-- Observer-Reporter: A.I. Data Center Town Hall Draws Large Crowd In Fayette County

-- Republican Sen. Rosemary Brown Continues Push For A.I. Data Center Moratorium, Says Governor’s Proposal Falls Short

-- PUC Approves 4.9% PPL Electric Rate Increase Settlement, Measures To Assess Costs For Data Centers, Modifies Agreement Related To Agricultural Biogas  [PaEN] 

-- Morning Call: PPL Electric Bills To Rise Again After Rate Hike Approved By PUC Under Settlement

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approves Constellation Energy Water Withdrawal Requests For Three Mile Island Nuclear Data Center Power Plant Restart; 1 Shale Gas Drilling Withdrawal  [PaEN] 

-- Utility Dive: Electric Generators Need More Reliable Natural Gas Supply To Protect Grid Reliability During Extreme Weather Events 

Today’s Oil & Gas Violations

-- Today’s Violations: DEP: Inspections of 2 Darrel B. Blauser conventional wells in Butler County, Allegheny Twp. found them still abandoned and not plugged since Aug. 11, 2025-- 297 days and counting. DEP inspection report.

-- Today’s Violations: DEP: Inspections of 2 Delta Inland Oil Res LLC conventional wells in Warren County, Sugar Grove Twp. found the wells abandoned, not plugged bringing total abandoned well violations to 22 since May.  DEP inspection report.

-- Today’s Violations: DEP: Inspections of 2 EQT ARO LLC conventional wells in Allegheny County South Park Twp. & Jefferson Hills Boro found them abandoned and not plugged. One was leaking gas.  DEP inspection report.

-- Today’s Violations: DEP: Inspection of 1 EQT ARO LLC shale gas well in Allegheny County, Forward Twp. found the well abandoned and not plugged.  DEP inspection report.

International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

[Energy Independence Means Renewables]

-- June 5: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Dropped 2 Pennies Since Yesterday, Now $4.39/Gallon - $1.28/Gallon Higher Than On Feb. 27 [Venango County Average Price Still Highest at $4.77] 

-- June 5: My neighborhood Sheetz $4.49, a Sheetz over the hill 2 miles away $4.18, I guess they can charge anything they want.

-- June 5: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $4.22 Ohio- $4.13  PA- $4.39

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

-- PA Capital-Star: Presidents Pumps $700 Million Into Coal Power In PA, Other States, As He Again Blasts Renewable Energy

-- AP: President Announces $700 Million In New Support For Struggling Coal Industry

-- Reuters: US Solar Energy, Storage Build Spurred By Natural Gas Plant Waits  

-- Bloomberg: Iran Energy Shocks Jolts Asia And Europe To Speed Up Transition To Clean, Homegrown Energy 

PA Politics - Everything Is Connected

-- Tribune-Democrat: PA Budget Talks Underway As July 1 Deadline Approaches

-- WESA: Harrisburg Budget Season: Some Lawmakers Seek A Big Tech Tax, Housing Deregulations, Closing Satellite Voting Locations And Ballot Drop Boxes

-- Spotlight PA: Students Across Pennsylvania Step Up On Election Day To Work At Polls To Keep Democracy Working 

-- TribLive: Western PA Retirees, Workers React To Potential Social Security Cuts Of $519/Month

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Diversity - Equity - Inclusion

[Posted: June 5, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

PUC Approves 4.9% PPL Electric Rate Increase Settlement, Measures To Assess Costs For Data Centers, Modifies Agreement Related To Agricultural Biogas

On June 4, the Public Utility Commission voted to modify and approve a Joint Petition for Settlement resolving the base rate proceeding involving PPL Electric Utilities Corporation, which provides electric distribution service to approximately 1.5 million customers across eastern and central Pennsylvania.

The Commissioners voted 5-0, noting the partial dissents of Vice Chair Kim Barrow, Commissioner John F. Coleman and Commissioner Ralph Yanora, to adopt the recommendations of Deputy Chief Administrative Law Judge Christopher P. Pell and Administrative Law Judge Barbara Shadie Nause, as modified by a motion from Commissioner Kathryn L. Zerfuss.

PPL Electric's original rate request sought an annual revenue increase of approximately $356.3 million. Under the Settlement approved today, the Company's annual revenue increase is reduced to approximately $275 million.

For a residential customer using 918 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per month, PPL Electric's original proposal would have increased the total monthly bill from $177.01 to $189.40 (approximately 7%). 

Under the approved Settlement, the total monthly bill for that customer is projected to increase to approximately $184.49 (4.9%).

The Settlement contains a wide range of provisions related to customer affordability, reliability, large-load customers, and customer service improvements.

"This proceeding reflects one of the central challenges facing utility regulation today – balancing the investments necessary to maintain a safe and reliable electric system with the affordability concerns facing households and businesses across Pennsylvania," said PUC Chairman Steve DeFrank. "The Settlement significantly reduces the Company's original request while also securing meaningful commitments related to reliability, customer service, low-income assistance, and accountability. At a time when the electric system is facing unprecedented change, those investments and protections matter."

Extended Rate Case Stay-out

The Settlement includes a 2-year rate case stay-out which provides certainty on distribution rates for customers at a time of ever-increasing costs to consumers for all basic needs.

Consumer Enhancements Included in Settlement

The Settlement includes numerous measures affecting customer affordability, utility operations, and long-term system planning, including:

-- Increased funding for PPL Electric's Low-Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP).

-- Expanded outreach to customers regarding available assistance programs.

-- Waiver of reconnection fees beginning July 1, 2027, for customers with household incomes at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level.

-- Additional protections, procedural improvements, and security deposit reforms related to low-income customers.

-- Enhanced call-center performance monitoring and reporting.

-- Expanded communications regarding payment arrangements and customer assistance programs.

-- Continued evaluation of customer service performance and program effectiveness.

-- Universal Service Costs Allocation increase to Rate LP-6 from $10 million to $11 million

Reliability and Infrastructure Accountability

The Commission also approved provisions intended to strengthen oversight of electric system performance.

Under the Settlement, PPL Electric will file annual reliability accountability reports tracking approved reliability programs, expenditures, completed work, targeted locations, and measurable reliability outcomes through its next base rate proceeding.

Electric Vehicle and Energy Innovation Programs

The Settlement modifies PPL Electric's Electric Vehicle Time-of-Use Charging Rebate Program, including revisions to program hours and continued incentives encouraging off-peak vehicle charging. 

The program will be reevaluated prior to any continuation beyond 2030.

Large Load and Customer-Generator Provisions

The Settlement also addresses emerging issues related to large-load customers and customer-generators, including new tariff provisions applicable to certain large-load customers, such as data centers and other high-demand facilities.

These provisions include long-term service commitments, minimum demand guarantees, financial protections intended to reduce cost shifting to existing customers, and other measures designed to better align cost responsibility with cost causation.

Commission Modification Related to Agricultural Biogas Operations

The Commission adopted 3-2 a motion offered by Commissioner Kathryn L. Zerfuss modifying the Settlement's treatment of agricultural customer-generators.

The motion makes a narrow modification to the Settlement to clarify that agricultural biogas customer-generators are not swept into a classification designed for large, "no-load" net-metering facilities.  

It recognizes the real distinction between on-farm biogas systems that power working agricultural operations and large projects built principally to export power.  

This clarification ensures that on-farm biogas projects are treated in a way that reflects how they actually operate—and recognizes the role these farms play in strengthening Pennsylvania's rural communities.

“This motion is a simple modification to the Settlement ensuring that agricultural biogas customer-generators are not grouped into a classification they do not meet,” said Commissioner Zerfuss. “While technical in nature, this distinction recognizes the unique role family farms and agricultural operations play in both our economy and our energy future.”

Next Steps

Because the Commission approved modifications to the Settlement through Commissioner Zerfuss' motion, parties to the Settlement will have five business days to determine whether to withdraw from the agreement.

Following the expiration of the five-business-day withdrawal period established by today's Order, and if no party elects to withdraw from the Settlement, PPL Electric will file a compliance tariff implementing the approved rates and related provisions for service rendered on and after July 1, 2026.

Documents related to this rate case are available at PUC Docket No.: R-2025-3057164.

Click Here for the PUC announcement.

Related Articles This Week:

-- PJM Interconnection Issues Hot Weather Alert For June 5-6 In Mid-Atlantic, Southern Regions, 2nd Alert In 16 Days  [PaEN] 

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approves Constellation Energy Water Withdrawal Requests For Three Mile Island Nuclear Data Center Power Plant Restart; 1 Shale Gas Drilling Withdrawal  [PaEN] 

NewsClips:

-- WTAE: Residents, Businesses Voice Concern As Energy Costs Spike Throughout Pennsylvania 

-- WPXI: Peoples Natural Gas Customers In Western PA Push Back On 13.8% Rate Hike Calling It ‘Blatant Theft’

-- The Center Square: Bipartisan Desire To Tap Brakes On A.I. Data Center Development Grows In General Assembly  

-- LancasterOnline Editorial: The Citizen Revolt Against A.I. Data Centers Comes To Columbia; Elected Officials Ought To Take Heed 

-- The Intercept: Philadelphia Police Admit  They Are Tracking ‘First Amendment Activity’ Critical Of A.I. Data Centers 

-- PA Capital-Star: PA House Committee Hears Utility Battery Storage Would Ease Stress On PA’s Power Grid

-- Tribune-Democrat: Utility Battery Storage Considered In PA House Committee To Strengthen Electric Grid

-- Utility Dive: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Grants Waiver To Constellation Energy To Allow Faster Grid Connection For Three Mile Island Nuclear Data Center Power Plant By Transferring Eddystone Connection Rights  [Over Objections Of PJM Market Monitor] 

-- Utility Dive: Google To Fund 100 MW Virtual Power Plant In PJM In ‘First-Of-Its-Kind’ Deal Locking Up Power From Existing Distributed Sources For Its A.I. Data Centers  [PA Does Not Authorize VPP]

-- Bloomberg: The Race To Rethink A.I. Data Center Energy Use From Ground Up 

-- AP: Energy, Water Use And Pollution Of A.I. And Data Centers Compare To Whole Countries  

-- TechRadar.com: ‘Dizziness, Nausea, Vertigo, Sleep Disruption:’ The Undetectable Hum Of A.I. Data Centers Is Making Local Residents Sick

[Posted: June 4, 2026]  PA Environment Digest