PA Environment Digest Blog: Thursday PA Environment & Energy Articles

“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]

"It is never too late to do the right thing." -- Nelson Mandela

Senate Voting Schedule

November 17, 18, 19

December 8, 9, 10

-- Committee Schedule

House Voting Schedule

November 17, 18, 19

December 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17

-- Committee Schedule

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events

WARNING: This Is Budget Season, Watch Out For Anything!

November 5-- NEW. House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee holds a hearing on LNG gas export terminals proposed in Southeast PA. Community Room, City of Chester City Hall, 1 E. 4th Street in Chester, Delaware County. 10:00 a.m. Click Here to watch live [if available]

November 6-- Agenda Posted. DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting. 9:15 a.m. Questions should be directed to: RA-EPAQTAC@pa.gov. [Agenda: VOC reporting by conventional oil/gas and shale gas wells; Air pollution from A.I. Data Centers. Read more here.]

November 6-- Public Utility Commission meeting to consider model tariff for connection large load - A.I. data centers-- to the local electric grid. 10:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online. Read more here.

-- House Democrats Move 2 More Parts Of Governor’s Lightning Energy Plan In Position For Vote To Address Unprecedented Energy Challenges [PaEN]

-- 500 Feet Isn't Enough: Environmental Groups Urge Environmental Quality Board To Accept Rulemaking Petition For Study Increasing Setbacks From Shale Gas Wells [PaEN]

-- DEP Air Quality Advisory Committee Meets Nov. 6 To Hear Presentations On VOC Emissions Reporting From Conventional Oil & Gas/Shale Gas Wells And Air Pollution From A.I. Data Centers [PaEN]

-- Williamsport Sun: Oil & Gas Waste Removal Underway At Eureka Resources Closed Plant In Williamsport [PDF of Article]

-- PA Capital-Star: Talen Energy Reports Automatic Shutdown Of Susquehanna Nuclear Power Plant After Flash Fire At Hydrogen Tank In Luzerne County

-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: How PA Supreme Court Retention Race Could Impact Environmental Protection

-- Penn State Extension: Common Water Testing Parameters For Determining If Oil & Gas Drilling, Pipelines Pollute Water Wells [PaEN]

-- Inside Climate News: Joe Pizarchik, Fmr Federal OSM Director, PA Director Of Mining, Comments On Current Coal Mining Regulatory Environment

-- PA Capital-Star: Pennsylvania Signs Onto Revised Chesapeake Bay Agreement As It Nears Final Passage, Even Though It’s Not On-Track To Meet Pollution Reduction Goals

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Federal, State Leaders Near Final Chesapeake Bay Restoration Plan Revisions Ahead Of Dec. 2 Chesapeake Executive Council Meeting

-- Lancaster Farming: Chesapeake Bay Program Committee Resets Bay Improvement Goals For 2040

-- TribLive: Rachel Carson Ecovillage Promises To Bring Cohousing, A New Way Of Living To Region In Allegheny County

-- DCNR Grant News: Nov. 6 Grants Online Workshop; New Baldwin Boro Park; Schuylkill River Trail Expands; Nominate A PA River Of The Year

-- Post-Gazette: Mon Valley Trail Bridge Deserves State Funding

A.I. /Data Centers

-- Observer-Reporter: Greene County Residents Voice Concerns At Open House On 1,400 Acre A.I. Data Center/Power Plant Project In Monongahela Twp [PDF of Article].

-- PennFuture: Dec. 4 Webinar: Uncovering PA’s A.I. + Energy Strategy - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly. 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Today’s Oil & Gas Violations

-- Today’s Violations: DEP routine inspection of six Consolidated Coal Co. conventional wells in Cumberland Township, Greene County found them all abandoned, not plugged, without production, waste, well integrity reports. Read more here.

-- Today’s Violations: DEP: Follow-up inspections of three Niche Energy LLC conventional oil and gas wells in Waterford and Wayne Twps., Erie County found no action was taken to stop/clean up wastewater tank leaks in 119 days and counting. Read more here.

-- Today’s Violations: DEP: routine inspection of Apollo Resources LLC conventional well in Nicholson Township, Fayette County found the well venting gas from corroded casing and evidence of spills at the site: Read more here.

International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

[Energy Independence Means Renewables]

-- Reuters: President Says China To Begin Purchasing American LNG Gas To Support Their Economy

-- Reuters: Expand Energy Expects To Produce More US Natural Gas At Lower Cost

PA Politics - Everything Is Connected

-- Post-Gazette: State Treasurer Garrity Proposes Loan To DHS To Cover Federal Food Stamp Costs; Shapiro Says Plan Is Unworkable Because Feds Will Not Reimburse For Any Funds Spent Covering Benefits

-- Beaver Times: Food Stamp Benefits Due To Lapse Nov. 1; What Are PA Leaders Doing About It

-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: Food Stamp Payment Delays Will Starve PA’s Food Economy - By Alex Baloga, PA Food Merchants Assn.

-- Post-Gazette: How Federal Shutdown Impacts 19,000 Federal Workers In Pittsburgh Area

-- TribLive: Skyrocketing Health Insurance Costs Drive PA Businesses To Cheaper Alternatives

-- PennLive - John Baer: How Far Will President Go To Leave His Glitzy Brand On Washington?

-- WITF: Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin Campaigns For PA Supreme Court Justices