PA Environment Digest Blog: Wednesday PA Environment & Energy NewsClips

“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

Budget Hearings February 26, 27, March 3, 4, 5, 6

March 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26

April 7, 8, 9, 22, 23, 24

May 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 24

June 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30

-- Committee Schedule

Senate Voting Schedule

Budget Hearings February 26, 27, March 4, 5, 6

March 24, 25, 26, 31

April 1, 2

May 5, 6, 7, 12, 13

June 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

-- Committee Schedule

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events

TODAY 10:00: House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee meets to consider House Bill 430 (Mako-R-Northampton) prohibiting the construction of wind turbines negatively affecting military installations. Room G-50 Irvis Building. 10:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online.

TODAY 10:30: House Agriculture & Rural Affairs and Health Committees joint informational meeting on spread of bird flu from birds to cattle to people. Room 515 Irvis Building. 10:30 a.m. Click Here to watch online.

TODAY 1:00: House Appropriations Committee Budget Hearing: 1:00- Department of Agriculture. House Floor. Click Here to watch online.

February 27-- In-Person, Virtual. League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility Shale Gas And Public Health Conference, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh. 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

February 27-- House Appropriations Committee Budget Hearing: 10:00- Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. House Floor. Click Here to watch online.

February 27-- Agenda Posted. House Energy Committee hearing on House Bill 660 (O’Mara-D- Delaware) setting energy efficiency and water conservation standards for certain commercial and residential appliances. Room 515 Irvis Building. 1:00 p.m. Click Here to watch online.

February 27-- Senate Appropriations Committee Budget Hearing: 9:30 - Department of Agriculture. Click Here to watch live.

March 3-- House Appropriations Committee Budget Hearing: 1:00- Public Utility Commission. House Floor. Click Here to watch online.

March 4-- House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee hearing on House Bill 109 (Vitali-D-Delaware) establishing a DEP Environmental Justice Permit Review Program. Lathem Hall, Widener University, 1 University Place, Chester. 10:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online. Read more here on legislation.

-- Penn State, Project InnerSpace Report: Leverage Oil & Gas Workers To Generate Enough Geothermal Energy To Meet 100% Of Pennsylvania's Electricity, Heating, Medium Industrial Process Needs [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: A Geothermal Push In Pennsylvania Enlists Oil & Gas Industry: ‘Hot Everywhere Underground’

-- Senate DEP Budget Hearing Focuses On Permit Reviews; Governor’s Lightning Energy Plan; Bringing On More Baseload Power Generation; Firing ‘Intractable’ DEP Employees [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette - Ford Turner: Concerns About Conventional Oil & Gas Well Plugging In PA Aired At Budget Hearing

-- DEP Budget Testimony: DEP Moving At The Speed Of Business; Lightning Energy Plan; Most Inspections; Commitment To Environmental Justice [PaEN]

-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation Announces 2025 Award Winners; Award Celebration Set For May 13 At Little Buffalo State Park In Perry County [PaEN]

-- Independent Fiscal Office Reports 2024 PA Natural Gas Production Down 1.8%, PA Natural Gas Price Up 19.1% In Last Year [PaEN]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Natural Gas Price Up 150% From 1 Year Ago, Not Coming Down Soon [PDF of Article]

-- Guest Essay: Significant Electricity Load Growth Can Be Accommodated Without A Stampede To New Natural Gas Generation Just By Increasing Efficiency At Existing Power Plants - By John Quigley, Senior Fellow, Kleinman Center For Energy Policy [PaEN]