PA Environment Digest Blog: Wednesday 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 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

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]

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

January 14-- 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.

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.

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 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.]

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.

-- Vistra Corp. Acquires Cogentrix Energy Natural Gas Power Plants, Including 2 In PA, As Part Of Strategy To Feed A.I. Data Centers [Locking Up More Energy For A.I. Data Centers] [PaEN]

-- PJM Interconnection: 2025 Year In Review Part II: PJM Revised Market Rules With Goal Of Supporting Efficiency, Increasing Generation Resources [PaEN]

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Supreme Court Dismisses Appeals To Revive RGGI Carbon Pollution Reduction Program [Part Of State Budget Deal]

-- Green Building Alliance Hosts Jan. 13 Online Roundtable On Restoring, Renovating Commercial Buildings Using C-PACE Financing [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh Area Dollar Energy Fund Sees Requests For Heating Assistance Double From Last Year

-- TribLive: PA Consumers Have Options To Save On Utility Bills This Winter

-- Daily American: Larry Hutchinson, Shade Creek Watershed Assn. In Somerset County, Honored By PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference

-- Reminder! Register Now For Penn State Extension 9-Part Woods In Your Backyard Webinar Series Jan. 14 to March 11

-- Wildlife Leadership Academy To Host Online Info Sessions Jan. 13, Feb. 4 For Students, Parents, Nominators On Summer Residential Field Experiences For Students 14 to 17 [PaEN]

-- Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy Partners With Robin Read, John Bierley To Conserve 116 Acres In Lycoming County [PaEN]