Gov. Shapiro Highlights Environmental Protection, Climate Change, Clean Energy, Public Lands, Recreation Accomplishments In First 2 Years

Gov. Shapiro recently highlighted his administration's accomplishments in his first two years in office, including on environmental protection, accountability, climate change, clean energy, public lands and recreation issues.

Environmental Restoration

-- Drew down over $120 million in federal funding to plug over 270 orphaned and abandoned wells, more than in the previous ten years combined, and secured over $11 million in state funding to continue the Commonwealth’s important work of finding and capping these wells.

-- Secured nearly $400 million in federal funding to create jobs and help Pennsylvania companies tackle industrial pollution.

-- Made a historic agreement with CNX Resources to publicly disclose all chemicals used in drilling and hydraulic fracturing, conduct intensive air and water quality monitoring around unconventional gas wells and widen setbacks for wells near schools and hospitals to no less than 2,500 feet.

-- Required natural gas operators in Pennsylvania to be more transparent by publicly disclosing chemicals they use in drilling and hydraulic fracturing earlier in the well development process.

-- Invested a cumulative $1.4 billion in clean water infrastructure through PENNVEST, including replacing over 30,000 lead pipes in thousands of homes and upgrading wastewater treatment centers.

-- Allocate $50 million in state funding to clean waterways across Pennsylvania.

-- Secured over $270 million in federal funds for projects to clean up abandoned mine lands and protect Pennsylvania communities.

-- Improved Pennsylvania’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to its highest health grade in the last 22 years, marking significant progress in Pennsylvania’s efforts to clean up the Susquehanna River and beyond.

Public Lands/Recreation

-- Secured a historic $112 million for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to maintain and improve state park and forest infrastructure.

-- Provided $2.8 million to support the new Office of Outdoor Recreation in order to better promote an industry that accounts for 152,000 jobs and $14 billion annually in the economy in the Commonwealth.

-- Invested $79 million in grants to over 300 projects across the Commonwealth to expand recreation opportunities, conserving natural spaces, and revitalizing communities.

-- Supported establishing a national marine sanctuary in Lake Erie, which would protect the natural and historic resources in a 740-square-mile area.

Climate Change/Clean Energy

-- With the support of the Shapiro Administration, Pennsylvania was the only state to secure two regional clean hydrogen hub projects, which would create more than 41,000 good-paying jobs and build a clean energy industry.

-- Announced a new registered apprenticeship program with the United Mine Workers of America to train workers to plug oil and gas wells.

-- Secured $156 million in federal funds to deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable solar power to low-income Pennsylvanians and environmental justice communities, which is estimated to benefit more than 14,000 Pennsylvania households.

-- Allocated $25 million in state funding for Solar for Schools grants to help school districts fund and install solar panels—saving the districts money and creating good-paying jobs.

-- Secured $171.5 million in federal funds for electric vehicle charging infrastructure throughout the Commonwealth and Pennsylvania was one of the first states to open its first EV charging station completed through the federal program.

-- Signed legislation into law creating a regulatory framework to allow Pennsylvania industries to remove carbon dioxide and either recycle the carbon or store it underground to reduce the impact on the atmosphere.

Holding Polluters Accountable

-- Secured a $10 million agreement with Shell Chemicals for excessive air contamination, with $6.2 million earmarked for Western Pennsylvania’s environmental, health, and quality of life projects.

-- Reached a $100 million settlement with Monsanto for contaminating 1,300 miles of streams and 3,600 acres of lakes with hazardous PCB waste—and $8 million will be spent in communities directly impacted by the spread of PCBs.

-- Norfolk Southern Train Derailment--

-- Secured $4 million from the rail company to pay for damages to local first responders, businesses and residents, and state agencies.

-- Announced the Commonwealth would conduct water testing for ten years around the site of the East Palestine train derailment.

-- Established a health resource center in Darlington Township that helped over 600 residents impacted by the Norfolk Southern train derailment who had health, pet, farm animal, and air and water quality concerns, and rolled out a health resource network for residents.

Move At Speed Of Business

-- Secured $16.9 million across his first and second budgets to modernize and speed up the permitting process at the Department of Environmental Protection and clear permit backlogs. DEP has since reduced its permit backlog by 75%—and has completely eliminated the backlog for oil and gas permits.

-- Required all state agencies to review their processes to approve licenses and permits and created a money-back guarantee if applicants do not receive a response within a certain window. The completed first-ever catalogue included more than 2,400 licenses, permits, and certifications issued by state government.

-- Launched first-in-the-nation online money-back guarantee system, making it easier for Pennsylvanians and companies to establish and expand their businesses in the Commonwealth.

-- Signed an Executive Order to create the Pennsylvania Permit Fast Track Program to streamline the Commonwealth’s permitting process for key economic development and infrastructure projects and accelerate timelines.

Other Related Accomplishments

-- Launched a new one-stop grant search tool to make it easier for residents, businesses, non-profits, schools, and local governments to find and apply to grant programs from state agencies.

-- Invested $275 million for environmental repairs and upgrades to Pennsylvania’s schools so students can learn in safe environments.

-- Invested over $26 million in state funds via the Department of Agriculture to protect over 27,000 acres on 333 farms from future development and to preserve for agriculture production.

Visit Gov. Shapiro’s Accomplishments webpage to learn more.

Related Articles This Week:

-- DEP Did Over 107,000 Inspections, Found 35,237 Violations, Responded To 410 Emergencies In 2024 To Protect PA's Environment, Public Safety  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Dec. 21 to 31 - Record Number Conventional, Shale Gas Abandoned Well Violations In 2024; Gas Storage Area Well Leaks  [PaEN]

-- Powering The Planet: The Cleanup Bill For The Fracking Boom Is Already Here; Shale Gas Drillers Are Already Abandoning Their Wells - By Justin Mikulka, Powering The Planet [PA Examples]  [PaEN] 

[Posted: January 9, 2025]  PA Environment Digest