President Donald Trump and members of his cabinet are also scheduled to attend.
The Better Path Coalition and No False Climate Solutions PA submitted a letter to Shapiro signed by 27 organizations and 14 individuals expressing their opposition to his plans.
The letter states, “Your attendance will be taken as acceptance of, or even agreement with, President Trump’s dirty energy agenda and outrageous rollback of bedrock environmental laws.”
The signers note that Shapiro’s catchphrase, “Getting S**t Done,” is not an inherently virtuous goal when the stuff that gets done promotes further dirty energy production.
The letter closes, “It IS time to get things done. Pennsylvania has the resources, technical expertise, and workforce needed to lead the way to the renewable energy future.”
“If there was any confusion about Governor Shapiro’s energy agenda, his participation in a summit organized by dirty energy devotee Senator David McCormick and attended by climate denier President Donald Trump and members of his cabinet should clear things up,” said Karen Feridun, Co-Founder of the Better Path Coalition. “And would somebody please take Shapiro’s copy of Abundance away from him?”
“This is exactly the wrong direction on energy at this critical time. Pennsylvania has a chance to pivot right now and lead on the renewable energy transition that we need to fight the climate crisis. This meeting is just about planning more fracking projects and asking Pennsylvanians to sacrifice our health and the environment yet again.” said Sandy Field, PhD, Chair of the Climate Reality Project: Susquehanna Valley PA chapter.
“Pennsylvanians need Governor Shapiro to distinguish himself from the federal drive to force more dirty energy when we need truly clean renewable and sustainable energy sources like wind and solar. We have the right to clean air and water and a healthy environment but with fossil fuel development, particularly fracking here in the Commonwealth, that’s not possible. Governor Shapiro, don’t align yourself with those who are campaigning for more pollution and degradation, please don’t attend this summit,” said Tracy Carluccio, Deputy Director, Delaware Riverkeeper Network.
“If Governor Shapiro is serious about becoming a leading voice for change, he should come out in opposition to this summit and bring Pennsylvania into modern energy with wind and solar. AI and the data center hype is predicated on more fracking, unnecessary power plants, and more health harms impacting our communities. This summit is a backwards direction, indicated clearly by the hosts who are demolishing our environment and health,” said Josephine Gingerich, Health Advocacy Outreach Coordinator for Physicians for Social Responsibility PA.
“Pennsylvanians are paying the price for decisions made behind closed doors: higher utility bills, contaminated water, poor air quality, and worsening health. When our voices aren’t even invited to the table, it’s not innovation—it’s exploitation. Governor Shapiro’s choice to stand with fossil fuel executives instead of impacted communities sends a clear message: our lives are expendable. But the people of Pennsylvania are not disposable and we will continue to demand a seat at the table, not a spot on the sacrifice zone map,” said Hilary Flint, PA Field Organizing Manager, Center for Oil and Gas Organizing.
“Oil and gas corporations want to fuel the AI boom — meaning Pennsylvanians will continue to lose out,” said Robin Lesko, Western Pennsylvania Organizing Manager, Food & Water Watch. ”We need leadership to ditch polluting industries and plug into protecting our communities and the environment, but instead Governor Shapiro is aligning himself with the Trump administration in putting fossil fuel corporations first. Our leaders must do better for people across the Commonwealth.”
“Dear Governor Shapiro, Please consider serving the residents of this Commonwealth over the interests of the fossil fuel industry. It is well past time to do so but hopefully you will finally open your eyes to the facts. Continuing your allegiance to non renewable, harmful gas does not protect the very near future for our kids,” said Victoria Switzer, former resident and activist of the Dimock Shalefield.
“Given the summit’s emphasis on fossil gas infrastructure and its alignment with national figures whose agenda conflicts with Pennsylvania’s clean‑energy future, Governor Shapiro should not attend,” said Gail Neustadt, Allegheny County resident.
"Dear Governor Shapiro, rushing to implement artificial intelligence is not the robust job creator you appear to think it is,” said Mark Dixon, Allegheny County resident. “AI has the potential to devastate the job market while worsening local pollution and climate emissions. Do you want that to be your legacy?"
“We can’t be healthy when the air we breathe and the water we drink is contaminated by the process of harvesting fossil fuels and the wastes left behind. This cost must not be ignored.” stated Barbara W. Brandom, MD, Allegheny County resident and member of Concerned Health Professionals of Pennsylvania.
PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:
-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - July 12 to 18 - Uncontrolled Shale Gas Wastewater Release For 34 Hours; Abandoned Conventional Wells Top 300; 107 New Brownfield Sites [PaEN]
-- Courier Times: Bucks County Residents, Sen. Santarsiero Say DEP Isn’t Doing Enough To Make Energy Transfer/Sunoco Define The Extent Of Petroleum Pipeline Leak And Clean It Up [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - July 19 [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On 4 Water Quality Permits For Texas Eastern Appalachia To Market 3 Natural Gas Pipeline Upgrade Project In Adams And York Counties [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Sets July 31 Hearing On Requests To Withdraw Millions Of Gallons Of Water Per Day, Including 11 For Shale Gas Development, 2 Gas Power Plants [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 103 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In July 19 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- List Of More Than $90 Billion In Energy, A.I. Data Center Investments, Commitments Or Plans Announced At The PA Energy & Innovation Summit [PaEN]
-- NewsClips - PA Energy & A.I. Summit Pittsburgh July 15, 2025
-- PA Republican Lawmakers Rush To Introduce Bills To Give New Tax Breaks, Waive Regulations, Environmental Standards For A.I. Data Centers Already Flocking Into Pennsylvania And Locking Up PA Power [PaEN]
-- Kleinman Center For Energy Policy: What Wasn’t Discussed At Pennsylvania’s Energy & A.I. Summit - By John Quigley, Senior Fellow
-- Utility Dive: Bipartisan Group Of 9 Governors, Including Gov. Shapiro, Say PJM Interconnection Facing ‘Unprecedented Crisis Of Confidence’ And Want A Hand In Filling 2 Vacant Board Seats [PaEN]
-- Environmental Health Project Releases Compounds Of Concern Online Tool To Help Frontline Residents Better Understand Health Symptoms Related To Chemicals In Industrial Pollution, Released By Oil & Gas Facilities [PaEN]
-- Rise Of The Machines: Senate, House Members Express Concern That Demand For Power To Run Computers Is Impacting The Price And Availability Of Electricity For ‘Ordinary People’ [5.12.25]
-- US Dept. Of Energy Releases Report On Electric Grid Reliability, Security Saying Generation Growth Must Match Needs Of A.I. Data Centers; But What About ‘Ordinary People’? [7.8.25]
-- PJM Interconnection Opens Next Electric Capacity Auction Bidding Window Of July 9 to 15 For 2026-27 Electric Delivery; Hold Your Breath! [7.9.25]
-- PJM Interconnection Issues Maximum Generation Alert For July 15; Natural Gas Accounted For Most Generation Outages In June Generation Alert [PaEN]
-- PJM Interconnection Extends Maximum Generation Alert To July 16; Natural Gas Accounted For Most Generation Outages In June Generation Alert [PaEN]
-- PJM Interconnection Issues Hot Weather Alert For July 17 In Its Mid-Atlantic, Southern Regions, Including Parts Of PA [PaEN]
-- Environmental Advocates Oppose Gov. Shapiro’s Attendance At Sen. McCormick's Energy, A.I. Summit Today In Pittsburgh [PaEN]
-- Environmental Groups Rallying To Protect Delaware River Watershed From Shale Gas Fracking [PaEN]
-- Dept. Of Insurance/DEP Highlight 30 Years Of Underground Petroleum Products Storage Tank Insurance Fund Work; Paid Over $1.3 Billion To Clean Up Tank Leaks [PaEN]
-- Gov. Shapiro Stops In Potter County To Highlight Investment In Key Gas Station Near Northcentral Regional ATV Trail To Build Outdoor Recreation Economy [Owner Failed To Comply With Storage Tank Regulations]
-- EPA Is 'Clearing The Regulatory Path For America To Dominate The Global A.I. Revolution' [PaEN]
-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Energy And Innovation Summit Is A Great Opportunity For Pittsburgh, But People Must Come First [PaEN]
-- DEP: $3.47 Million In Alternative Fuel Vehicle Grants Announced To Lower Costs, Improve Air Quality; Deadline For New Applications Oct. 10 [PaEN]
[Posted: July 15, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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