PA Environment Digest Blog: Sunday 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]

Senate Voting Schedule

January 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 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

January 10-17-- 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show. Harrisburg.

January 13-- Agenda Posted. DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. 12:30 p.m. Contact: Ian Irvin iirvin@pa.gov or 717-579-0329. [Agenda: DEP Oil & Gas Program Update; EQB Rulemaking Petition Process; Data Centers & Water Use] Read more here on agenda.

January 13-- Agenda Posted. DEP Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board meeting. 10:00 a.m. Contact: Daniel E. Snowden (717) 783-8846 or RA-EPMININGADVISORY@pa.gov. (formal notice)

January 13-- In-Person. US Environmental Protection Agency Public Meeting On Status Of Palmerton Zinc Pile Superfund Site Cleanup. Palmerton, Carbon County. 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

January 13-- Virtual. Green Building Alliance Hosts Online Roundtable On Restoring, Renovating Commercial Buildings Using C-PACE Financing. 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.

January 13-- Virtual. Wildlife Leadership Academy To Host Online Info Sessions For Students, Parents, Nominators On Summer Residential Field Experiences For Students 14 to 17. 6:00 p.m.

January 13-- Penn State Extension Webinar - Spotted Lanternfly Research Updates & Panel Discussion. Noon to 1:30 p.m.

January 14-- Agenda Posted. DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee meeting. 9:30 a.m. Contact: Bob Haines robhaines@pa.gov or 717-787-7565. [Agenda: Biosolids Program Update, Draft Fee Reports]

January 14-- Agenda Posted. DEP Coastal Zone Advisory Committee meeting. 9:30 a.m. Contact: Stacey Box 717-772-5622 or sbox@pa.gov.

January 14-- Agenda Posted. DEP Technical Advisory Committee on Diesel-Powered [Coal Mining] Equipment meeting. DEP New Stanton Office. 10:00 a.m. Contact: Peggy Scheloske mscheloske@pa.gov or 724-404-3143.

January 14-- Lower Susquehanna RiverKeeper Hosts Data Centers in the Susquehanna River Basin – Let's Talk Water Usage With SRBC. Wrightsville, York County. 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

January 17-- In-Person. Protect PT Hosts Living Near Shale Gas Facilities Community Workshop. Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills, 1240 Washington Road, Pittsburgh. 1:00 to 4:30 p.m.

January 20-- NEW. Agenda Posted. Joint House Energy & Consumer Protection Technology and Utilities Committees hearing on Energy Affordability. Room 60 East Wing. 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Click Here to watch online.

January 22-- In-Person. Solar United Neighbors, Protect PT Host Solar Energy In Southwest PA Community Meeting In Westmoreland County. Protect PT Community Environmental Education Center, 3344 Route 130 Suite B, Harrison City. 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

January 27-- NEW. House Energy Committee hearing on House Bill 2076 (Venkat-D- Allegheny) establishing a legal framework for the regulation of geothermal energy resources that are greater than 5,000 feet deep. Room B-31 Main Capitol. 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online. [Confirmed speakers Seith Pelepko, DEP Deputy Secretary for Oil and Gas Management, John Walliser, PA Environmental Council.]

January 27-- Virtual. Protect PT, FracTracker Alliance Host Online Program Providing The Latest On Shale Gas Development And Information Tool. Noon.

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.

February 26-- NEW. Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearing: 1:00 - Department of Environmental Protection.

March 2-- NEW. House Appropriations Committee budget hearing: 1:00 - Departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources. Click Here to watch live.

March 3-- NEW. Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearing: 1:00 - Public Utility Commission.

March 5-- NEW. House Appropriations Committee budget hearing: 1:00 - Public Utility Commission. Click Here to watch live.

-- 109 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA [PaEN]

-- Stories You May Have Missed Last Week: PA Environment & Energy Articles & NewsClips By Topic [PaEN]

-- Environment & Energy Educational Opportunities For Students & Adults [PaEN]

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - January 12 [PaEN]

-- Top 10 Stories: Harrisburg/PA Politics Reported By Local News Media Last Week [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania Could Lose $200+ Million In Federal Funding For Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Plugging Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Abandoned By Their Owners Under Budget Bill Passed By US House [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: A Training Center In Homewood Teaches Home Energy Efficiency

-- Observer-Reporter: Keeping Warm While Saving Energy Amid Rising Utility Costs

-- PennLive: 2026 PA Farm Show Kicks Off With Large Crowds: ‘This Is A Phenomenal Show’

-- Morning Call Letter: Pennsylvania Road Litter Gives State A Bad Image - By Mark Porcaro, Palmer Township, Northampton County