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!

-- Post-Gazette: Allegheny County Teen Gavin Lynch Receives Nobel Good Earth Sustainability Scholarship For Fighting For A Greener Future, One Of 2 Nationwide  [PaEN]

-- Vote Now! For Pennsylvania's 2026 River Of The Year  [PaEN]

-- LancasterOnline: Conestoga River Up For PA River Of The Year, A Win Could Honor Late Journalist Ad Crable; How To Vote  [PDF of Article]

-- Pennsylvania Turnpike Earns Fourth Consecutive Perfect Score From PA GreenGov Council  [PaEN]  

-- The Allegheny Front: Penn State Student Documentary ‘Rethinking Rt. 322’ Explores Ways To Minimize Construction Impacts

-- Environmental Quality Board Votes To Accept Petition To Study An Increase In Setback Safety Zones From Shale Gas Wells; And 3 Petitions From Oil & Gas Industry To Change Other Requirements  [PaEN] 

-- Post-Gazette - Laura Legere: DEP To Review Proposal To Expand No-Drill Zones Around Homes, Schools, Streams 

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: PA Will Study Plan To Keep New Natural Gas Drilling Pads Farther From Homes, Schools, Hospitals 

-- YaleEnvironment360:  Pennsylvania Faces A New Natural Gas Fracking Boom With Soaring Energy Demands Needed To Feed A.I. Data Centers  [PaEN] 

-- Capitol Wire: Natural Gas Fracking Activity In Pennsylvania Surges As Power Demand From A.I. Data Centers Increases 

-- DEP Invites Comments On Water Quality Permit Approvals For Eastern Gas Transmission & Storage Appalachian Reliability Pipeline Project In Armstrong, Greene, Westmoreland Counties  [PaEN] 

-- Susquehanna River Basin Low Flow Water Conditions Trigger Water Withdrawal Restrictions On 40 Shale Gas Water Withdrawal Points; 17 Shale Gas Withdrawals Blocked By Ice Conditions  [PaEN] 

-- Independent Fiscal Office: 2025 Act 13 Shale Gas Impact Fee Revenue Estimate $239.9 Million, Up $75.3 Million From Last Year  [PaEN] 

-- Reuters: US House Passes Bill To Fast-Track Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting  [Warning]

-- PaGasSwitch.com: Natural Gas Costs Increased From 9.26% to 57.5% Over The Last Year For Natural Gas Utility Customers Not Shopping For A Fuel Supplier  [PaEN] 

-- PUC Highlights Ways Natural Gas Customers Can Manage Winter Energy Use, Costs, Explore Energy Affordability Options  [PaEN] 

-- PUC Publishes Updates To Low-Income Natural Gas, Electric Utility Usage Reduction Program Regulations  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Energy Essentials: Guide To Extension Energy Team; Upcoming Learning Opportunities; Biogas; Home Heating Assistance Opens

-- PJM Interconnection Issues Cold Weather Alert For Dec. 13 In Illinois, And Dec. 14, 15 In Its Western Region, Including Duquesne Light, Penn Power, West Penn Power  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Dec. 6 to 12 - MarkWest Pipeline Loses Another 31,000 Gallons Into Mine Voids; Abandoned Conventional Well Violations Reach 666  

[PaEN]

-- DEP Investigating Another 31,000 Gallon Spill Into Mine Voids From MarkWest Liberty Midstream Pipeline Construction In Washington County; 360,000 Gallons Lost So Far  [PaEN] 

-- The Derrick: Titusville Under DEP Deadline To Take Action On Underground Jet Fuel Leak At Titusville Airport [PDF of Article]

-- TribLive: Some Defendants In Plum Boro Fatal Natural Gas Explosion Case Ask Judge To Dismiss Negligence Claims 

-- Sen. Yaw Bill To Subsidize Building Only Natural Gas Power Plants To Help Meet The Energy Demands Of A.I. Data Centers; Continues ‘One Of The Above’ Energy Policy  [PaEN]  [Warning]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Permits For 5 Large Electric Transmission, Substation Projects In 14 Counties, Including 150 Mile Piney-Seward and Erie South-Piney Transmission Project Crossing 8 Counties  [PaEN] 

-- Scranton Times: A.I. Data Center Developer Tied To Projects In Archbald, Blakely Proposes Projects In Dickson City; 54 Data Center Buildings Now Proposed Across Archbald, Dickson City, Jessup In Lackawanna County [PDF of Article] 

-- Morning Call - Elizabeth Deornellas: How A.I. Data Centers Are Driving Up The Cost Of Electricity And What Grid Operators Can Do [PDF of Article]

-- Scranton Times - Chris Kelly Opinion: PPL Proposed 7% Rate Hike A.I. Data Center Driven  [PDF of Article] 

-- Scranton Times: Customer, Elected Officials Blast Proposed PPL Rate Increase, Concerns About Ratepayers Footing The Bill For A.I. Data Centers   [PDF of Article] 

-- Morning Call: Lehigh Valley Residents Warn Of Affordability Crisis, Ask PUC To Reject PPL’s Proposed 7% Rate Increase 

-- PA Capital-Star: Energy Market Watchers See Electric Bills In PA, Other States Rising As A.I. Data Center Demand Continues 

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: PJM Grid Operator Covering PA Failing To Plan For Responsible A.I. Data Center Load Growth, Observers Say

-- PA Capital-Star: Shapiro Urges FERC To Consider Consumer, State Regulator, Power Company Comments On A.I. Data Centers Connecting To PJM Grid Proposed By PJM’s Market Monitor To Protect Reliability, Affordability

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: What’s Important In Affordable Energy?  A Conversation With A Carnegie Mellon Energy Justice Professor

-- Politics PA: New Poll Says 48% Of Pennsylvanians Surveyed Say A.I. Will Have Negative Impact On Economy, 46% A Negative Impact On The Environment;  55% Says A.I. Will Decrease The Number Of Jobs

-- The Center Square: Pennsylvania Straddles The A.I. Divide - Advocates, Concerns About Furious Pace Of A.I. Data Center Development 

-- The Guardian: More Than 230 US Environmental Groups Demand Halt To New Energy-Hungry A.I. Data Centers Causing Soaring Electric Bills 

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Concerns Raised About PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ In A.I. Data Centers

-- Lower Susquehanna RiverKeeper Hosts Jan. 14 Data Centers in the Susquehanna River Basin – Let's Talk Water Usage With SRBC [PaEN] 

-- EPA Publishes Guide To Getting Air Permits For A.I. Data Center Projects

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Potential For More Air Pollution From A.I. Data Centers Causes Concern In Virginia

-- KDKA: New Data Shows Air Quality Improvements Across Pittsburgh Area

-- Wall Street Journal: The Political Skirmish Over President’s A.I. Order Is Just Beginning The Populist Opposition Against Technology That Holds The Promise Of Eliminating Lots Of Jobs [PDF of Article]  

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - December 15  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Awards $17.7 Million To Support 222 County Water Quality Cleanup Projects In Chesapeake Bay Watershed  [PaEN]

-- DEP Releases Draft 2026 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring, Assessment Report For Comment; Touts Cleaning Up 67 Miles Of Streams 7,105 Acres Of Lakes Since 2024  [PaEN] 

-- Foundation For Pennsylvania Watersheds Awards $265,000 In Grants To Support 16 Local Watershed Restoration, Conservation Projects  [PaEN]

-- ARIPPA, Eastern PA Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation Award Lackawanna River Conservation Association Mini-Grant; Next Round Opens Jan. 1  [PaEN] 

-- Watershed Profile: Aultmans Run Watershed - From Orange Streams To Green Dreams, Healing An Abandoned Mine-Scarred Watershed In Indiana County  [PaEN]

-- Stroud Water Research Center Fall Salt Snapshot Found Most Streams Still Exceeded Chloride Standards Months After Last Road Salt Was Applied  [PaEN]

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: PennDOT Plan For Rt. 322 In Centre County Draws Fire From Environmentalists, Farmers

-- Interns Wanted: Pennsylvania Sea Grant Seeks Summer Undergraduate Interns  [PaEN]

-- EPA, Corps Of Engineers Dec. 15 Hybrid Hearing In Pittsburgh On Proposed Changes To Waters Of The US Rule  [Heads-Up] 

-- PA Drought Task Force Adds 8 More Counties To Drought Watch, Total Now 37   [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Low Flow Water Conditions Trigger Water Withdrawal Restrictions On 40 Shale Gas Water Withdrawal Points; 17 Shale Gas Withdrawals Blocked By Ice Conditions  [PaEN] 

-- PA American Water Asking Customers To Reduce Water Consumption Amid Drought Watch In 17 Service Counties

-- Tribune-Democrat: Water Authority To Begin Repairs On North Fork Dam; Expects State To Order Work At Another Dam

-- Pottstown Mercury: Perkiomen Creek Mapping And Flood Mitigation Plan Completed

-- Spotlight PA: Rate Hike, Bankruptcy, Or Sale: PUC Judge To Decide What’s Next For Privately-Owned Rock Spring Water Company In Centre County

-- PA Capital-Star: USDA Will Spend $700 Million To Support Regenerative Agriculture As Part Of Make America Healthy Again

-- The Allegheny Front: Penn State Hershey Researchers Find Link Between Skin Cancer Rates In Areas Of Farming, Herbicide Use In PA 

-- Post-Gazette: US Farmers Say President’s $12 Billion Bailout Won’t End Industry Slump [Caused By President’s Tariffs, Low Crop Prices]

-- 265 MW Solar Energy Facility Approved By Rush Township In Centre County On Nearly 2,000 Acres Of Abandoned Mine Land  [PaEN]

-- Centre Daily Times: 265 MW Black Moshannon Solar Energy Facility On Abandoned Mine Land Takes Next Step In Centre County 

-- Altoona Mirror: 342 MW Solar Energy Facility Approved In City Of Altoona, Blair County [PDF of Article]

-- Williamsport Sun: Bat Expert Says Muncy Solar Array Could Confuse Bats Into Thinking Solid Panels Are Water  [FYI: Bats Don’t Like Water]

-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: Philadelphia Signs Agreement To Buy Electricity From Clearfield County Solar Energy Facility To Stabilize Energy Costs 

-- TribLive: Western PA Townships On Front Line As PA Eyes Regulations For Solar Energy Facilities  

-- Tribune-Democrat: Superloads Of Windmill Blades For Highland North Wind Farm To Move Through Blair, Cambria Counties Tuesday, Wednesday 

-- Post-Gazette: President’s Ban On Wind Energy Projects Rule Illegal By Federal Court [We Need Every Electron We Can Get]

-- The Center Square Analysis: Demise Of RGGI Carbon Pollution Reduction Program ‘Worth The Wait’ For PA Taxpayers In Late State Budget [RGGI Never Implemented]

-- AP: Federal Judge Orders FEMA To Restore Billions In Canceled Disaster Mitigation Funding [PA Included] 

-- Utility Dive: US DOE Offers $134 Million To Boost Rare Earth, Critical Minerals Recovery Projects 

-- US DOE Announces $134 Million In Funding To Strengthen Rare Earth, Critical Mineral Supply Chains

-- Inquirer: Would PA Coal Miners Really Turn Down A ‘Beautiful, Magnificent’ Manhattan Penthouse, As President Claims?  We Asked Them  [Spoiler: ‘Sure As Hell Wouldn’t Turn A Penthouse Down’]

-- Observer-Reporter: Robena Coal Mine Disaster That Killed 37 In 1962 Remembered In Greene County [PDF of Article]

-- Inquirer: Former Philadelphia Refinery To Be Redeveloped Into Site For DrinkPAK Manufacturer

-- Pottstown Mercury: DEP Spent $1 Million So Far On Boyertown Landfill Contamination, Testing Continues, EPA May Declare It Federal Superfund Site In Montgomery County

-- ​​EPA Awards Pittsburgh, Delaware County $6.6 Million In Solid Waste/Recycling Infrastructure Grants  [PaEN] 

-- Republican Herald: DEP Says Schuylkill County Biosolids Company Broke Environmental Rules  [PDF of Article]

-- Inquirer: Cleanup Of Ridley Creek Tanker Truck Oil Spill Almost Complete

-- PA Invests More Than $6.9 Million To Preserve 27 Farms, 2,354 Acres Of Prime Farmland In 13 Counties  [PaEN]

-- The Nature Conservancy-PA Adds 279 Acres To Gallitzin State Forest In Cambria County  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Jan. 13 Webinar - Spotted Lanternfly Research Updates & Panel Discussion  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Feb. 7 Woodlands Owners Conference At PennWest Clarion University  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Feb. 17 Webinar On The Oystershell Scale Invasive Insect - Frontiers In Forest Health  [PaEN] 

-- DCNR Grants News: Tools For Evaluating Park Equity Webinar; 2 New Columbia Boro Parks; Next Grant Round Opens Jan. 22 

-- DCNR Resource News: How Do Trees And Plants Migrate?  Community Tree Assistance Available; Jan. 1 First Day Hikes - 250 Celebration!  [PaEN] 

-- Dec. 12 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation Now Available

-- South Mountain Partnership Holds Winter Partnership Meeting Jan. 30 In Franklin County  [PaEN] 

-- Morning Call: Once A Family Home And Nature Setting, It Will Become Lehigh Valley’s Newest Park 

-- Altoona Mirror: Irvona Man Killed In Morning ATV Crash In Clearfield County

-- Tribune-Democrat: Fulton County UTV Crash Kills One, Injures 3

-- DCNR Invests Nearly $530,000 To Support 15 Projects To Protect Pennsylvania’s Native Biodiversity Across the Commonwealth  [PaEN] 

-- Forests For The Chesapeake Bay News: Wooly Caterpillar Weather Forecasts; Eastern Hemlocks; Phenological Fun!

-- TribLive: Avian Enthusiasts Prepare For Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count

-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy Dec. 18 Eagle Watch Volunteer Training, Zoom Option, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy: Eagle Watch Bus Tours Start Jan. 3

-- York Daily Record: Bald Eagles Return To Hanover Nest Livestream

-- Williamsport Sun: Bat Expert Says Muncy Solar Array Could Confuse Bats Into Thinking Solid Panels Are Water  [FYI: Bats Don’t Like Water]

-- The Allegheny Front: Hellbenders Share Spotlight With History At New Hellbender Preserve In Bloomingdale, Ohio

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: Local Experts Share Concerns Over Weighing ‘Economic Impact,’ Other Changes To Federal Endangered Species Act; Comments Due Dec. 22 

--  The Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: How President’s Rollbacks On Water And Species Protection Could Impact Pennsylvania 

Visit the PA Environment Digest website to learn more.

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[Posted: December 14, 2025]   PA Environment Digest