Thursday PA Environment & Energy Articles - NewsClips: 12.18.25

“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]

Senate Voting Schedule

January 6, 26, 27, 28

February 2, 3 (Governor’s Budget Address), 4

Budget hearings will be held February 23-26, and March 2

March 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25

April 20, 21, 22

May 4, 5, 6

June 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30

-- Committee Schedule

House Voting Schedule

January 6 (NV), 26, 27, 28

February 2, 3 (Governor's Budget Address, 4

Budget hearings will be held February 23-26, and March 2

March. 23, 24, 25

April 13, 14, 15, 27, 28, 29

May 4, 5, 6

June 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

September 28, 29, 30

October 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21

November 9, 10

-- Committee Schedule

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events 

TODAY 9:00: Virtual/In-Person.  DEP Sewage Advisory Committee meetings on Chapter 71-73 proposed on-lot septic system regulation changes.  Boyertown Community Ambulance Service Building, 2 East 2nd Street, Boyertown, Berks County. 9:00 a.m. Contact: Tomisa Kiskadden at tkiskadden@pa.gov or (814) 332-6677.  (formal notice)

TODAY 11:00: Virtual. Penn State Extension Hosts Webinar On Fireflies In Pennsylvania.  11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

February 19-- In-Person/Online. PA League Of Women Voters, Duquesne University Host Shale Gas & Public Health Conference.  Pittsburgh.  8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

-- PJM Electricity Auction Prices Again At Cap Imposed By Gov. Shapiro’s Lawsuit Settlement, Without It Prices Would Be 59% Higher Driven By A.I. Data Center Demand; Grid Reliability Now Questioned  [PaEN] 

-- Bloomberg: Pressure Mounts To Fix PJM Grid As Electricity Costs Hit New Highs 

-- Reuters: Prices In PJM Power Auction Hit New Record, Signaling Higher Utility Bills Ahead 

-- Philadelphia Solar Energy Association: New Solar Schools Toolkit, Solar Toolkit For Nonprofits, Local Governments Available To Help Deal With Soaring Electricity Costs  [PaEN] 

-- TribLive Guest Essay: New Energy Sources Needed Now To Combat Soaring Electricity Prices - By Kate Harper & Conor Lamb, Energy Future PA

-- TribLive: Westmoreland County Housing Authority Plans To Lease Former State Prison Site, Warehouse Rooftop For Solar Energy Facilities [‘There’s Only One Direction (Electric Prices) Are Going - That’s Up’] 

-- Planet Philadelphia Radio: Dec. 19: Hopeful Sustainability Projects, 4:00 p.m.

-- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Announces Jan. 15 Deadline To Apply For Major Conservation Assistance Program, Including Regenerative Pilot Program  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension: Making Cover Crops Pay: Feb. 20 Webinar On Understanding What Each Cover Crop Contributes To Soil Health  [PaEN] 

-- Tribune-Democrat: Pittsburgh Foundation Funds Flight Path Upgrades At Flight 93 Memorial In Somerset County

A.I. /Data Centers

-- PJM Electricity Auction Prices Again At Cap Imposed By Gov. Shapiro’s Lawsuit Settlement, Without It Prices Would Be 59% Higher Driven By A.I. Data Center Demand; Grid Reliability Now Questioned  [PaEN] 

-- TribLive: Springdale A.I. Data Center Gets Initial OK, But Several More Public Hearings To Come 

-- TribLive: Residents Near Proposed Springdale A.I. Data Center Left Frustrated By Council’s Approval  

-- Observer-Reporter: Potential A.I. Data Center On CNX Resources Land In South Strabane Twp. Dominates Conversation In Washington County [PDF of Article] 

-- Republican Herald: PPL Plans New 37-Mile High Voltage Line Between Sunbury And Frackville To Service A.I. Data Centers [PDF of Article]

-- Pottstown Mercury: East Vincent Twp. Halts Consideration Of A.I. Data Center Zoning In Face Of Potential Legal Challenge In Chester County 

-- KDKA: PA Lawmakers Exploring How To Regulate A.I. Data Centers, Which Drive Up Resident’s Utility Bills

-- Pottstown Mercury: Sen. Pennycuick, Rep. Ciresi Say State Efforts Will Continue To Regulate A.I. Despite President’s Executive Order

-- Post-Gazette - Laura Legere: US Energy Secretary Touts $1 Billion Taxpayer Loan To Restart Undamaged Three Mile Island Nuclear Reactor To Feed Microsoft A.I. Data Centers 

-- PA Capital-Star: US Energy Secretary Says Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant Restart Delivers On President’s Promises [Will Provide Power To Feed Microsoft A.I. Data Centers]

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: US Energy Secretary Visits Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant, Now Helped By Federal Taxpayer Money  [Will Provide Power To Feed Microsoft A.I. Data Centers]

-- Post-Gazette: Survey Says Pennsylvanians See The A.I. Revolution As A ‘Significant Threat To Humanity’ 

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Maryland Legislature Overrides Governor’s Veto Of Bills To Study Costs Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions In MD; Economic, Energy, Environmental Impacts Of A.I. Data Centers, Setting Up State Energy Office 

Today’s Oil & Gas Violations

-- Today’s Violation: DEP: Follow-up inspection of a BKV OPR LLC shale gas well in Forest Lake Township, Susquehanna County found “continuous bubbling” indicating a new casing/failure in a well drilled in 2010. Bubbling found in previous inspections. First violation issued: Read more here. 

-- Today’s Violations: DEP: Follow-up inspection of TWO Formentera OPR LLC shale gas wells in Upper Fairfield Township, Lycoming County found plugging operations did not stop the flow of gas from the wells due to casing/cement failures. More work needed. Wells drilled in 2013. Read more here.

-- Today’s Violations: DEP: Wastewater spills found during inspection of JKLM Energy LLC shale gas well pad in Tioga Township, Tioga County in process for solidification of drill cuttings for landfill disposal. Read more here.

International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

[Energy Independence Means Renewables]

-- Inside Climate News: LNG Gas Exports Driving Up Americans’ Energy Bills, Report Says

Federal Administration

-- The Allegheny Front: EPA Hears Competing Views On New Proposed Rollbacks For Federal Wetlands, Water Protections

PA Politics - Everything Is Connected

-- Morning Call: Special PA House Election Set For Feb. 24 To Fill Josh Siegel Seat In Lehigh County

-- WESA: PA State Police Commissioner Taking A Job With FBI

-- PA Gaming Control Board Reports Record November Gambling Revenue

-- Spotlight PA: Hundreds Of Rapes In Penn State/State College Area Weren’t Reported In Public Police Data Over Nearly A Decade

-- TribLive/AP: 3 PA Congressional Republicans Defy Speaker To Force US House Vote On Extending Health Insurance Premium Subsidies [Fitzpartrick, Bresnahan, Mackenzie]

-- WITF: PA Republican Con. Smucker Votes To Move Republican Health Care Plan Forward  Without Extending Health Insurance Premium Subsidies 

-- WESA: President’s Justice Dept. Says It Won’t Require Names Of Children Receiving Gender-Affirming Care At UPMC

-- The Center Square: VP Vance, Republican Candidate For PA Governor Garrity Stump For President’s Agenda With Midterms On The Horizon

-- TribLive: Federal ICE Involved As Feds Violently Detain Latino Man In Mt. Washington In Allegheny County

-- TribLive: North Braddock Faces Large Property Tax Loss From US Steel

-- Post-Gazette: President’s Veterans Administration Pittsburgh Healthcare Office To Reduce Staff By 10% -- 481 Positions; VA Acknowledges It Will Be Impossible To Continue All Services

-- TribLive/AP: President Gives Partisan Prime-Time Address Insisting The Economy Is Stronger Than Many Voters Feel [And See With Their Own Eyes]

-- TribLive/AP: Former Federal Prosecutor Tells Lawmakers His Team Developed ‘Proof Beyond A Reasonable Doubt’ President Criminally Conspired To Overturn The Results Of 2020 Election 

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Diversity - Equity - Inclusion

[Posted: December 18, 2025]  PA Environment Digest

Philadelphia Solar Energy Association: New Solar Schools Toolkit, Solar Toolkit For Nonprofits, Local Governments Available To Help Deal With Soaring Electricity Costs

The Philadelphia Solar Energy Association now has available updated Solar Energy Toolkits for schools and nonprofit and local government organizations.

Energy affordability has become a huge issue as both electricity and gas prices are on the rise in Pennsylvania.  Electricity has risen by an average of 20% in 2025 and is scheduled to rise again.  

Demand from A.I. data centers is the driving factor, coupled with damage to the distribution system caused by increasingly severe weather and compounded by inaction by both PJM and the Pennsylvania General Assembly.  

Solar and energy efficiency are the best defense against high and rising prices. 

Solar Schools Toolkit

Just in time to support the second round of Solar For Schools Grant applicants,  PSEA has updated its Solar Schools Toolkit, both proformas and the model Request for Proposal.  

This Version 2.0 includes all the changes and new requirements to qualify for the federal tax credits, as well as other changes in grants and financing.  

During the last two years, the proformas have been “field tested” so the new versions incorporate improvements that make the proformas easier to use and more robust.

Click Here to download the toolkit.

Solar Toolkit For Nonprofits

Given the differences between public and private entities, and schools, local governments and other nonprofits,  PSEA has also developed a Solar Toolkit for Nonprofits.  

To insure access to the federal tax credits it is critically important for organizations to move as quickly as possible and get their projects underway before July 4 of 2026.  That’s only 200 days from now! 

Click Here to download the toolkit.

Visit the Philadelphia Solar Energy Association website for more information.

Related Articles This Week:

-- PJM Electricity Auction Prices Again At Cap Imposed By Gov. Shapiro’s Lawsuit Settlement, Without It Prices Would Be 59% Higher Driven By A.I. Data Center Demand; Grid Reliability Now Questioned  [PaEN] 

-- Pennsylvania BRIGHT Expands Statewide To Remove Barriers To Bringing Affordable Solar Energy To PA Homeowners Left Out Of Transition To Clean Energy Options  [PaEN] 

NewsClips:

-- TribLive: Westmoreland County Housing Authority Plans To Lease Former State Prison Site, Warehouse Rooftop For Solar Energy Facilities [‘There’s Only One Direction (Electric Prices) Are Going - That’s Up’]

-- Scranton Times: Old Forge School District Seeks Proposals For Solar Energy Facility 

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Gov. Shapiro’s Exit From RGGI Is Smart, Balanced Leadership - By Michael Nutter, Fmr Mayor Of Philadelphia, Co-Chair Leadership Council Of Natural Allies for a Clean Future [RGGI Never Implemented in PA]

-- PoliticoPro: Carbon Prices Jump After Pennsylvania Opts Out Of RGGI Program [Never Implemented In PA]

[Posted: December 18, 2025]  PA Environment Digest

Penn State Extension: Making Cover Crops Pay: Feb. 20 Webinar On Understanding What Each Cover Crop Contributes To Soil Health

The Penn State Extension will host a February 20 webinar in its series Making Cover Crops Pay webinar on Understanding What Each Cover Crop Contributes To Soil Health from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

A skilled tradesman knows which tool to use and when, and the same is true in the field: each cover crop contributes distinct strengths to soil health. 

To make full use of this living toolbelt, growers must understand what each species can do, how to respond to soil feedback, and how to read the data that informs long-term resilience. 

Join organic cropping experts from Rodale Institute as they share how to select and integrate the right cover crops to meet your goals.

Who is this for?

-- Farmers

-- Crop consultants

-- Extension educators

What will you learn?

-- Distinct strengths of major cover crop species

-- Optimal placement in organic crop rotations

-- Cover crops as tools for organic transition

-- Approaches for building long-term soil resiliency

Continuing education credits available.

Click Here to register and for more information.

Visit the Penn State Extension website to learn more about many other educational opportunities.

Related Articles This Week:

-- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Announces Jan. 15 Deadline To Apply For Major Conservation Assistance Program, Including Regenerative Pilot Program  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Feb. 13 Webinar On Making Cover Crops Pay - How Regenified Certification Works  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension: Making Cover Crops Pay: Feb. 20 Webinar On Understanding What Each Cover Crop Contributes To Soil Health  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension In-Person Southeast PA Green Industry Conference March 5 In Montgomery County  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension March 16 Webinar On Elm Zigzag Sawfly Update - Frontiers Of Forest Health  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension Ag Conservation News: Funding For Sustainable Farming; Launch Your Ag Conservation Journey At The PA Farm Show

[Posted: December 18, 2025]  PA Environment Digest