116 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Here are 116 new stories in the PA Environment Digest about individuals, groups, local governments, farmers, businesses, watershed groups and many more working all across Pennsylvania to restore and protect the environment and show others the beauty that surrounds us.

Thank you for your leadership!

-- PUC Urges Pennsylvanians To Prepare Now For Winter Storms  [PaEN] 

-- Utility Dive: North American Electric Reliability Corp. Issues Electric Grid Reliability Warning Ahead Of Expected Winter Storm In Eastern US Starting Jan. 4  

-- PUC Urges Natural Gas Customers To Explore Ways To Reduce Heating Costs; All But One Major Gas Utility Has Increased Cost Of Gas In PA  [PaEN] 

-- Marcellus Drilling News: NYMEX Natural Gas Price Up 14% Last Week To $3.75; Heading For $4.30? [Cold Weather, LNG Demand Push Prices Higher]  [PDF of Article]

-- WTAJ: 200,000+ PA Residents Could See 18% Increase In National Fuel Gas Natural Gas Bills In 2025 

-- WFMJ: National Fuel Gas Customers Could See 17% Increase In Gas Costs Starting Aug. 1 

-- Altoona Mirror: Peoples Gas Natural Gas Rates To Increase Jan. 1

-- Post-Gazette: Utility Bills Are On The Rise In Pittsburgh, While Other Costs Are Lower

-- TribLive Guest Essay: What PA Has Been Doing On Energy Generation Is Simply Not Working, Renewable Energy Reliable, Economical - By Sharon Pillar, PA Solar Center 

-- Attorney General-Elect Dave Sunday Announces Transition Committee Members, Including An Energy & Environment Committee  [PaEN]

-- PA Conservation Heritage Project Profile: Paul O. Swartz - From Photojournalist To Susquehanna River Basin Commission - By Wayne W. Kober   [PaEN] 

-- WITF StateImpartPA - Rachel McDevitt: Jimmy Carter Offered Calm To Pennsylvanians After Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant Partial Meltdown  

-- Ag Conservation Professionals! Get Your Passport To 2025 PA Farm Show, Enhance Your Conservation Skills Starting Jan. 4  [PaEN] 

-- PA Firefly Camping Events Lottery Now Open In Forest County!

-- WHYY - Zoe Read: Eastern Hellbender May Get Federal Protections 

-- PennLive/AP: Oh, Hellbender: PA’s Official Amphibian Could Be Deemed Endangered

-- Environmental Hearing Board Denies Supersedeas, Allows Operation Of Catalyst Energy, Inc. Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well In McKean County During Appeal  [PaEN]

-- DeSmog - Justin Nobel: PA Needs To Set Construction, Operating Standards For Hundreds Of Miles Of Unregulated Fracking Wastewater Pipelines 

-- Inside Climate News: Elevated Levels Of Radium Found In Western PA Freshwater Mussels Downstream Of Oil & Gas Wastewater Discharge Points

-- Physicians For Social Responsibility- PA: Jan. 22 Webinar On How To Talk To Your Doctor About Environmental Threats To Your Health  [PaEN] 

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved 18 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In November; 292 General Permits So Far In 2024  [PaEN]

-- WSJ: America’s Big Natural Gas Footprint Is About To Get Even Bigger: ‘Build Baby Build’  [PDF of Article]

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Shale Gas Industry Consent Agreements Set Groundwork For Future Methane Regulations

-- DEP Invites Comments On Draft Guidance For Land Application Of Excess Water From Shale Gas Well Development Impoundments  [PaEN] 

-- The Energy Age Blog: EQT Reveals Latest Shale Gas Drilling Plans In Southwest PA 

-- The Energy Age Blog: EQT Executes New Shale Gas Drilling Plan In Union Twp., Washington County 

-- PublicSource.org: Scrutiny Of EQT Fracking Likely To Shift In 2025 With Gas-Friendly Washington  

-- PublicSource.org: Protect PT Challenges Fracking Permits In Westmoreland County 

-- Protect PT/Three Rivers Waterkeepers Jan. 16 Plum Boro Community Meeting On Pennaco Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Wells,  Plum Borough Community Center, Allegheny County 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

-- Protect PT: Jan. 22 How To Run For Local Public Office Training Webinar, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

-- The Allegheny Front: Ohio Investigating Shale Gas Well Pad Fire That Led To Evacuation Of Residents  

-- “World-Class Standards” Of Shale Gas Production In PA 

-- The Allegheny Front/WPSU: Worried About Gas Stoves? An Induction Cooking Class Explores An Alternative

-- DEP: Oil & Gas Wells Plugged In Last 6 Years: 2,941 Conventional Wells, 325 Paid By Taxpayers; 460 Shale Gas Wells Were Plugged By Well Owners  [PaEN]

-- DEP To Hold Jan. 30 Hearing [Not Jan. 28] On Title V RACT 3 Air Quality Permit For Monroe Energy LLC Trainer Refinery In Delaware County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Sets Feb. 11 Hearing On Renewal Of Title V Air Quality Permit For Energy Transfer Marketing’s Marcus Hook Terminal, Delaware County  [PaEN] 

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: 5 Years After Philadelphia Refinery’s Closure, Pollution Concerns Persist 

-- PittsburghUnionProgress: From Brain Fog To Nosebleeds: There’s A Name For What’s Happening To People Affected By Norfolk Southern Train Derailment - Toxicant-Induced Loss Of Tolerance [PA Impacts]

-- Post-Gazette: Cong. Deluzio, Sen. Markey Pressing Next Congress For Rail Upgrades, Safety Improvements  [Congress, PA Legislature Did Nothing In Response To Norfolk Southern Train Derailment]

-- Post-Gazette - Ford Turner: Gov. Shapiro Files Complaint With FERC Against PJM Interconnection Pointing To Flaws In Capacity Auction Costing PA Consumers Over $20 Billion In Unnecessary Costs   [Copy Of Complaint]

-- Reuters: PA Governor Complains To FERC About PJM Power Market Rules

-- Utility Dive: Pennsylvania Asks FERC To Lower PJM Capacity Price Cap To Prevent ‘Runaway’ Costs

-- The Center Square: Shapiro Files FERC Complaints About Higher Energy Prices 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shapiro Files Complaint With FERC Against Power Grid Operator Alleging Flaws In Capacity Auction Rules

-- Reuters: PJM Responds To Gov. Shapiro’s FERC Complaint On Power Auction Rules: ‘We Have Been Warning For Over 2 Years Of The Prospect That Parts Of Our Country Could Run Short Of Power’

-- Post-Gazette: PA Senate Republicans Says Shapiro’s FERC Complaint Against PJM Rings Hollow

-- WSJ: The Data-Center Boom Eats Up A Lot Of Land, Atlanta Says It’s Gone Too Far

-- WHYY: Radon Could Be An Invisible Lung Cancer Risk Inside Your PA Home

-- ChesterCounty.com: Environmental Group Partners With Penn State On Kennet Township’s Greenhouse Gas Emission Report 

-- The Energy Age Blog: How A TESLA Powerwall Battery Kept The Lights On During An Electric Grid Outage  

-- TribLive: Solar Power Battle Brewing In North Huntingdon, Westmoreland County

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Eos Starts 2025 With More Utility-Scale Zinc-Battery Orders 

-- York Dispatch: Group Petitions FERC To Reconsider Permit For Susquehanna River Pump Storage Hydroelectric Facility In York County 

-- Spotlight PA: How Republican Administration Could Make PA’s Clean Energy Projects Less Environmentally Friendly

-- The Center Square: Pennsylvania’s Energy Policy In 2024 

-- NextPittsburgh: Appalachian Regional Commission ARISE Grants Could Help Appalachia Be More Green

-- ReImagine Appalachia: 2024 - A Year In Review

-- Pike Conservation District: Funding Available To Farmers Through Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program  [Check With Your County Conservation District] 

-- PA Interfaith Power & Light Accepting Requests For Free Native Trees From Anywhere In PA  [PaEN]  

-- Post-Gazette: Congress Passes Water Resources Bill That Could Mean Millions For Western PA: Abandoned Mine Cleanup, Environmental Infrastructure 

-- Scranton Times: Dolph Mine Fire Extinguished In Olyphant, Reclamation Work Underway In Lackawanna County 

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Bipartisan Bill Signed Into Law To Extend Federal Chesapeake Bay Restoration Programs

-- WESA/WPSU: New US Farm Bill Still Out Of Reach, Leaving Programs Unsettled

-- Lancaster Farming: Mid-Atlantic States Will Have Busy Agenda On Federal Farm Bill Policy In 2025

-- Chesapeake Bay Watershed: Bay State Lawmakers Tackle Wide Range Of Green Bills

-- Conservation Pros: Join In Ag Literacy Week By Volunteering To Read ‘The Soil In Jackie’s Garden’ March 17-21  [PaEN]

-- HiddenCityPhiladelphia: Watershed Restoration Efforts Aim To Manage Stormwater

-- Lock Haven Express: Alternate Stream Water Testing Method Detects Emerging Contaminants, Penn State Extension

-- Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professionals: Level 1 Certification Training Registration Now Open  [PaEN]

-- Horn Farm Center Ecological Gardening 16-Week Training Program Starts Feb. 9, York County.

-- Penn State Extension Home Garden News: Houseplant Master Class Webinar Series Available;  Treen Tenders Training; Good Gardening Saturday Series 

-- Pike Conservation District: From Source To Sink - Groundwater Education Workshop Series Starts Jan. 13

-- Pike Conservation District: Pike/Wayne Counties Contractor’s Workshop Feb. 11

-- Pike Conservation District: 2024 Water Quality Data Report Now Available

-- ​​Stroud Water Research Center ‘Cut The Salt’ Citizen Science Project Invites You To Test Your Nearby Stream For Salt  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Jan. 29 Webinar On Ice Melter Impacts And Reduction Strategy  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Invites Groups To Submit Data Related To Stream Redesignation Evaluations Of 66 Wild Trout Streams In Berks, Blair, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Columbia, Crawford, Cumberland, Elk, Erie, Franklin, Indiana, Jefferson, Lebanon, McKean, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Tioga, Venango Counties

-- Brodhead Watershed Association Water At Risk - Counting Our Blessings - By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association, Monroe County  [PaEN]

-- Herald-Standard: Independence Conservancy On A Mission To Improve The Environment In Western PA 

-- Brodhead Watershed Association Water At Risk - Counting Our Blessings - By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association, Monroe County  [PaEN]

-- Tribune-Democrat: Officials Working To Track Down Source Of Fuel Spill In Somerset County

-- Inquirer: Invasive Flies Have Never Been Worse In Chester County’s Mushroom Capital, Homeowners Says Eliminating Them Is A Challenge

-- DEP Extends Comment Deadline On Draft Guidance On Community Water Systems Design Standards To March 3

-- WHYY -  Sophia Schmidt: PA Utility Shutoff Law Is Expiring, Here’s What You Need To Know

-- WTAE: Massive Water Main Break Leaves Gaping Hole In Beaver County Road

-- Spotlight PA: Rural PA Counties Still Recovering From Tropical Storm Debby As Officials Eye Ways To Mitigate Future Damage

-- Williamsport Sun: North Carolina Flood Relief Volunteers And Donors Make Mark 600 Miles Away 

-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: US Army Corps Wants To Elevate 6,000 NJ Homes To Protect Them From Storms 

-- Post-Gazette: 2024 Was Pittsburgh’s Warmest Year On Record, Continuing Trend Of Unprecedented Weather

-- Post-Gazette/AP: Climate Change Added 41 Days Of Dangerous Heat Around World In 2024

-- Post-Gazette/The Daily Item: This PA Man Is Bringing Up Next Generation Of Volunteer Firefighters

-- PennLive: Lancaster Firm Sues ‘Deadbeat’ Texas Developer For Pulling Plug On Northumberland County Plastics Recycling Plant [Never Able ‘To Grasp That Pennsylvania Is Not Saudi Arabia Or Thailand’]

-- Reading Eagle: Waste Processing Facility Proposed For Kirtland Farms In Southern Berks County

-- Post-Gazette: These Photographers Turned Their Cameras On Litter And Won Awards In PA Resources Council Lens On Litter Contest

-- Dept. Of Agriculture Announces Preservation Of 2,842 Acres Of Farmland In 13 Counties  [PaEN]

-- MCall: 3 More Lehigh Valley Farms Saved From Development

-- PittsburghUnionProgress.com: Arconic Foundation, Commonplace Coffee, Donors Step Up To Help Cover Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Vehicle Fleet’s Vandalism Costs 

-- DCNR State Parks Environmental Ed Newsletter: Embrace The New Year, Winter Activities  [PaEN] 

-- Tribune-Democrat: First Day Hikes Draw Explorers To Local Trails

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Hikers Start The New Year At Nescopeck State Park

-- WNEP:  Hikers Embrace Winter Chills For Annual New Year’s Trek At Beltzville State Park

-- LancasterOnline: Pinnacle Outlook Hikers Join Thousands For First Day Hikes

-- Tribune-Democrat: New Signs Aim To Simplify Donations For Cambria County Trail Maintenance

-- MCall: How Allentown Is Looking To Revamp, Transform Its Well-Regarded Parks System 

-- Centre Daily Times: Mifflin County Bike Shop Expanding To State College

-- Pike Conservation District: Linking Nature And Leisure: Outdoor Play Is ‘In’

-- LancasterOnline - PJ Reilly: Here’s What’s On The Docket For Game Commission In 2025 

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: Podcast: Centre County Fly-Fishing Guide Talks About Impacts Of Development On Trout Habitat And How Groups Like Trout Unlimited Are Helping 

-- TribLive: Bird Count Helps Mark The Impact Of A Changing Climate 

-- Scranton Times: Northeast PA Birders Keep Their Eyes On The Skies

-- Hawk Mountain Sanctuary: Autumn Migration 2024 Wrap Up 

-- Williamsport Sun: A Winter Finch Report For 2024-25 As The Year Closes

-- Ernst Conservation Seeds Joins The Monarch Joint Venture Partner Network 

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: Susquehanna Silent Night Video 

-- Penn State Master Gardeners/BackwoodsMama: How To Decorate An Outdoor Tree With Treats For Wildlife

-- Williamsport Sun - Bill Bower: Winterberry Holly Has Been A Staple Of Christmas

Visit the PA Environment Digest website to learn more.

REAL Leadership:

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-- 120 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

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-- 92 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

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[Posted: January 6, 2025]   PA Environment Digest