Sewickley Creek Watershed Association Celebrates 35 Years Of Restoring Water Quality In Westmoreland County On Aug. 7

On August 7, the Sewickley Creek Watershed Association will celebrate 35 years of restoring water quality in Westmoreland County with a special celebration at the lower Volunteer Fire Department Hall in Lowber from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

After the celebration luncheon there will be a tour of the award-winning Lowber Abandoned Mine Drainage Treatment System which is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

It All Started….

In 1991, a group of concerned citizens formed the Sewickley Creek Watershed Association to promote the conservation of natural resources, monitor and improve water quality, and advocate wise land use practices in the Sewickley Creek Watershed. 

The Sewickley Creek Watershed is a 168 square mile area in Southwestern Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, drained by Sewickley Creek and its major tributaries. 

The watershed is a diverse area that consists of cities, boroughs, farms, and wild scenic areas. It is an area rich in history, recreational opportunities, and, unfortunately, significant water pollution problems. 

Many streams and creeks in the watershed have a bright orange color due to abandoned mine drainage.

To help clean up local waterways, the Association--

-- Monitors water quality and identifies sources of pollution in the watershed.

-- Partners with government agencies and other organizations to sponsor, develop, and maintain AMD treatment programs.

-- Works with local industries to monitor discharge facilities.

-- Participates in developing uses for AMD iron oxide as it is removed from our waterways.

-- Conducts regularly scheduled volunteer cleanups to help rid our waterways of trash and litter in order to preserve their natural beauty.

-- Identifies problems and seeks out new sources of funding for future water quality projects through the Rivers Conservation Program.

Click Here to see the Association's major projects.

More information on this special celebration will be posted on the Sewickley Creek Watershed Association website. 

(Photo: Lowber AMD Treatment Project.)

Related Articles This Week:

-- Sewickley Creek Watershed Association Celebrates 35 Years Of Restoring Water Quality In Westmoreland County On Aug. 7  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Master Watershed Steward Ken Pledger's Enthusiasm For The Environment Takes Root In Projects In Adams, Cumberland Counties  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension July 15 Webinar On Private Water Supply Testing Packages Available From Penn State's Agricultural Analytical Services Lab  [PaEN]  

-- Save The Date: Penn State Ag Progress Days - August 11-13 

-- Penn State Extension July 14 Webinar: Preview Of 2026 Watershed-Friendly Tree And Shrub Sale To Help You Choose Plants Confidently  [PaEN] 

NewsClips:

-- The Allegheny Front: ALCOSAN Said They Would Remove Sewage From Pittsburgh’s Waterways - How’s It Going?  

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: Stormwater Project Aims To Reduce Flooding In South Pittsburgh Neighborhoods

-- TribLive Letter: Let’s Correct The Record, LCT Energy Does Have Violations At Its Rustic Ridge No. 1 Underground Coal Mine In Westmoreland, Fayette Counties - By Stacey Magda, Mountain Watershed Association  

-- PA Capital-Star: Schuylkill County Wrestles With Spectre Of ICE Warehouse Immigrant Detention Center Plan In Tremont 

[Posted: June 16, 2026]  PA Environment Digest 

First United Presbyterian Church Of Crafton Heights In Pittsburgh Cut Energy Bills By More Than 2/3, Now Invests More In People, The Community

The First United Presbyterian Church of Crafton Heights in Pittsburgh is offering its “Cross Trainers” summer camp from June 22 through July 31, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., where one of the most popular camp perks is access to refreshingly cool air conditioning-- courtesy of CHUP’s rooftop solar array, paired with energy efficiency upgrades.

Installed on the day of the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, CHUP’s new solar array was put to its biggest test during the summer of 2025, when 94 neighborhood kids signed up for the Cross Trainers summer camp, held during Pittsburgh’s hottest time of the year.  

Due in part to the promise of increased air conditioning, the camp expanded in 2025 to include middle schoolers.

“We’ve held our Cross Trainers camp for nearly 30 years now, and in the past we had to always be pretty selective and frugal with when, and to what degree, we used the air conditioning,” said Pastor Dave Carver, leader of CHUP. 

“And even then, our energy bills were debilitating. But thanks to our new solar array, we’re only paying a small fraction of what we used to – and the kids are a lot happier. Many of them don’t have central air conditioning at home, so it’s great to be able to offer it to them when they come here.”

A recently released case study by Energy Efficiency Stories-- a project of the Energy Efficiency Alliance--reported that CHUP, which once paid about $6,600 a year on electric bills, now pays less than $2,000 a year thanks to its new solar system. 

This frees up nearly $5,000 a year to reinvest into the people and community that the church serves.

CHUP hasn’t stopped at going solar. The church has also invested in energy efficiency. 

In 2025, CHUP replaced their old boiler with a high-efficiency unit. 

“Perhaps one day they'll replace me with a high-efficiency unit,” jokes Pastor Carver.

Fifteen years before that, CHUP replaced a number of the church’s windows that had been leaking temperature-controlled air. 

And this year, CHUP has plans to refurbish and replace some of their original stained glass windows, which are more than 100 years old, as a way to further preserve CHUP’s energy stores.

“As you look at the new reality for churches, particularly small inner city churches in North America, sustainability is going to be a huge factor,” said Pastor Carver. “So if we can spend less money on keeping our doors open, we can keep our doors open longer.”

Visit the CHUP Solar Panel Initiative webpage to watch a video about the project and for more information.

For more details on how CHUP is benefiting from solar and energy efficiency, check out EEA’s case study on CHUP here.

The Energy Efficiency Alliance (EEA) is a nonprofit organization that advances energy efficiency in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. 

EEA engages and educates stakeholders and decision-makers to drive programs, policies, and funding that accelerate energy efficiency. 

Our work grows the market for EE businesses, flexible solutions, and technologies that lower energy use in buildings, foster affordability, and reduce pressure on the grid.

Related Article This Week:

-- PennDOT Now Accepting Applications For National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Grants In Western And Southeast PA; June 25 Webinar For Western Applicants  [PaEN]

[Posted: June 16, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

Tuesday PA Environment & Energy Articles - NewsClips: 6.16.26

“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 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 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30

-- Committee Schedule

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events 

Anything Can Happen: June State Budget Marathon Happening NOW!

TODAY 1:00: 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.

TODAY 6:00:  In-Person. DEP Hearing On Water Quality Permit For Rustic Ridge II Coal Mining Permit In Westmoreland County.  6:00 p.m.

June 17-- House Energy Committee meets to consider House Bill 2380 (Rivera-D- Lancaster) requiring electric utilities to set targets and procure grid-stabilizing battery energy storage; House Bill 2595 (Inglis-D-Allegheny) establishes deadline requirements for the interconnection safety reviews of small-scale energy projects [draft amendment]; House Bill 2539 (Steele-D-Allegheny) requires data centers seeking sales tax exemptions to obtain recognized energy efficiency certifications, such as LEED, Energy Star, Green Globes, or International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Room 523 Irvis Building. 10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch online.

June 17-- Community Advocates For Clean Energy Of Greater Philadelphia Webinar On How To Move A Community Energy Project From An Idea To Action. 3:00 p.m.

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

June 24-- Virtual. Washington & Jefferson College Center for Energy and the Built Environment Webinar on Getting The Most From Your Building: Smart Assessment And Monitoring. 11:00 a.m. to Noon

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-- 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

June 26-27-- In-Person. PA Firefly Festival Exhibits & Entertainment In Downtown Tionesta, Forest County 

-- DEP Finds Large Releases Of Contaminated Groundwater From Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Killed Vegetation, Soaked Soil, Polluted Roadside Ditches In Warren County  [PaEN] 

-- PUC Announced Distribution Of $243.8 Million In Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fees For PA Communities, State Environmental, Other Programs [PaEN] 

-- TribLive: New Shale Gas Wells, Higher Natural Gas Prices Raise State’s Drilling Impact Fee Distribution To $243.8 Million

-- PennDOT Now Accepting Applications For National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Grants In Western And Southeast PA; June 25 Webinar For Western Applicants  [PaEN]

-- TribLive Letter: Let’s Correct The Record, LCT Energy Does Have Violations At Its Rustic Ridge No. 1 Underground Coal Mine In Westmoreland, Fayette Counties - By Stacey Magda, Mountain Watershed Association  

-- Penn State Master Watershed Steward Ken Pledger's Enthusiasm For The Environment Takes Root In Projects In Adams, Cumberland Counties  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension July 15 Webinar On Private Water Supply Testing Packages Available From Penn State's Agricultural Analytical Services Lab  [PaEN]  

-- Save The Date: Penn State Ag Progress Days - August 11-13 

-- Health, DCNR, DEP Provide Tips, For Preventing Lyme Disease And Tick Bites [Video &Photos]

-- TribLive: Part Of Great Allegheny Passage To Close Next Month For Landslide Repairs

-- Call For Presentation Proposals: PA Recreation & Park Society Annual Conference & Expo March 16-19  [PaEN]

-- PA Capital-Star: E-Scooters Are Everywhere In PA, This Legislation Would Make Them Legal 

-- Fort Indiantown Gap Offering Tours Of Rare Regal Fritillary Butterfly Habitat In Lebanon County  [PaEN] 

-- Williamsport Sun: Hughesville Library Holds Release Of Trout In The Classroom Rainbow Trout Fingerlings

-- LancasterOnline: 2.4 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Maryland/PA

 A.I. /Data Centers

-- Scranton Times: Olyphant Residents Who Oppose A.I. Data Centers Raising Money To Hire Attorney; Archbald Group Laid Groundwork For Resistance, Now Other Communities Are Fighting Back

-- The Citizens’ Voice: 3rd A.I. Data Center Proposal In Salem Twp. Could Generate $1.2 Billion For Landowners In Luzerne County 

-- York Daily Record: Manchester Twp. Passes Ordinance To Restrict A.I. Data Centers

Today’s Oil & Gas Violations

-- Today’s Violations: DEP: inspections of 3 Daniel L. Heath conventional wells in Venango County, Cranberry Twp. found the wells abandoned, not plugged like 6 other wells last week. DEP notes owner was ‘recently deceased.’ Violations issued. Example DEP inspection report.

International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

[Energy Independence Means Renewables]

-- June 16: PA Average AAA Gasoline Prices Down 2 Pennies From Yesterday, Now $4.19/Gallon - $1.08/Gallon Higher Than On Feb. 27 [Elk County Average Price Now Highest at $4.65]  

-- June 16: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $4.04 Ohio- $4.01  PA- $4.19

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

-- AP: Higher Prices For Gasoline, Groceries And Flights Will Likely Outlast The President’s War With Iran

-- Financial Times: President To Allow $300 Billion Privately Funded Reconstruction Fund For Energy Rich Iran Contingent On Final War Settlement

PA Politics - Everything Is Connected

-- The Center Square: Observers Hope Election Will Turn Up Heat On State Budget Process

-- Spotlight PA: PA Supreme Court Rules ‘Skill’ Gambling Games Are Slot Machines, Must Adhere To PA’s Gambling Law

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Supreme Court Finds ‘Skill’ Gambling Games Are Unlawful

-- PennLive: PA Supreme Court Ruling Puts Future Of ‘Skill’ Gambling Games In Question

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Senate Committee Reports Out Bill To Establish Paid Family, Medical Leave For PA Workers

-- York Daily Record/USA Today: Report: PA Hospitals Had $1.1 Billion In Unpaid Health Care In 2025, 16.4% Jump From 2024

-- Spotlight PA: Advocates, Lawmakers Weigh Ways To Keep PA Kids Health Insurance As President’s Medicaid Cuts Loom 

-- Spotlight PA: Emails Detail How Berks County Leaders Worked Behind The Scenes After Federal ICE Warehouse Detention Facility Surprise

-- PA Capital-Star: Local Election Officials Reel Over ‘Logistical Nightmare’ Of President’s Vote-By-Mail Executive Order

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[Posted: June 16, 2026]  PA Environment Digest