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]

Senate Voting Schedule

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

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

-- DEP Northwest Regional Office Closed Due To Water Main Break Jan. 29, 30

February 2-- House Energy Committee meets to consider House Bill 1834 (Matzie-D- Beaver) authorizing the Public Utility Commission to adopt regulations for data centers to protect ratepayers and the electric grid. Room 60 East Wing. 9:30 a.m. Click Here to watch online. Read more here.

February 2-- Agenda Posted. House Energy Committee hearing on legislation sponsored by Rep. Kyle Donahue (D-Lackawanna) directing the Center for Local Government Services to draft a model ordinance and offer technical support to municipalities with regard to the siting of data centers [draft language] and legislation sponsored by Rep. Kyle Mullins (D-Lackawanna) requiring data centers in Pennsylvania to send information about their energy and water use to DEP and require DEP to aggregate the information and create an annual report on data center impacts [draft language]. Room 60 East Wing. 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Click Here to watch online. Read more here.

February 2-- House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee meets to consider House Bill 1759 (Scott-D-Montgomery) allows municipalities to adopt penalties for dumping tires (sponsor summary). Room 515 Irvis Building. 11:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online.

February 3-- Governor’s Budget Address

February 3-- House Game & Fisheries Committee informational meeting on Game Commission 2025 Annual Report. Room 523 Irvis Building. 9:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online.

February 4-- House Game & Fisheries Committee informational meeting on Fish & Boat Commission 2025 Annual Report. Room G-50 Irvis Building. 9:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online.

February 5-- Agenda Posted. DEP Agricultural Advisory Board meeting. 1:00 p.m. Contact: Bob Haines robhaines@pa.gov or 717-787-7565.

February 5-- Agenda Posted. DEP Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting. 9:15 a.m. Contact: RA-EPAQTAC@pa.gov.

February 6-- Agenda Posted. DEP Environmental Justice Advisory Board meeting. 9:00 a.m. Contact: Mariana Fletcher marifletch@pa.gov or 717-497-0714.

February 9-- NEW. House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee to hold hearing on Stream Impairment In Pennsylvania. Room G-50 Irvis Building. 10:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online.

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

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

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

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

-- You Need To Read This: Highlights Of Shale Gas, Conventional Oil & Gas Compliance Actions During 2025 [PaEN]

-- Major Challenges Faced By DEP’s Oil And Gas Enforcement Program In 2026 [PaEN]

-- DEP: Eureka Resources Has Until Jan. 31 To Remove All Wastewater From Its 3 Closed Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Plants; About 1.5 Million Gallons Of Wastewater Remains In Bradford County Facility [PaEN]

-- DEP: Seneca Resources Failed To Submit Area Of Review Reports To Identify Possible Conflicts With Other Wells Prior To Start Of Drilling 4 Shale Gas Wells In Middlebury Twp., Tioga County.

-- DEP Hosts April 15 Webinar On Trenchless Pipeline Construction Guidance After Major Inadvertent Return Incidents In 2025, Including Release Of 1.2 Million Gallons Into Abandoned Mine Voids In Washington County [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: America Needs Pennsylvania’s Natural Gas - Jim Welty, Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Pennsylvania’s Energy Future Depends On Balance, Not Absolutes - We Need To Grow Renewables, Lead In Protecting Workers, Consumers, Health & Safety Of Our Communities - By Eugene Depasquale, Chair, PA Democratic Party

-- Independent Fiscal Office Mid-Year Revenue Update: Energy Costs Up 10.6%

-- Penn State's Local Climate Action Program Hosts Feb. 4 Online Info Session For Communities Who Want To Prioritize Climate Action [PaEN]

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: NY, PA To See More Than $200 Million In Federal Funds For Electric Vehicle Chargers In Court Win Over President’s Administration