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]

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Pennsylvania's Margaret Mead, World Renowned Cultural Anthropologist

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

February 2-- Punxsutawney Phil Winter Weather Forecast Gala. Begins 6:00 a.m. Forecast around 7:00 - 715 a.m. Click Here to watch online.

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 House Bill 2150 (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; and House Bill 2151 (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. 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. 11:30 a.m. Click Here to watch online.

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 Energy Committee meets to consider House Bill 2150 (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; and House Bill 2151 (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. Room G-50 Irvis Building. 10:00 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 4-- Agenda Posted. DEP Radiation Protection Advisory Committee meeting. 9:00 a.m. Contact: John S. Chippo jchippo@pa.gov. (formal notice) [Proposed fee increases]

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-- 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.

-- 111 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 - February 2 [PaEN]

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

-- Gov. Shapiro Renews Call On PJM To Extend Electricity Capacity Auction Price Collar Protection To Consumers, Build Lasting Grid Reform [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Jan. 3 to 30: 56 Conventional Abandoned Well Violations Start The Year; 1.2 Million Gallons Of Drilling Fluid Lost; Shale Water Pipeline Freezes; 1.5 Million Gallons Of Wastewater To Remove [PaEN

-- TribLive: Go Laurel Highlands Annual Photo Contest Captures The Region’s Beauty

A.I. /Data Centers

-- WVIA: Archbald Council Hears From Data Center Developer Eyeing 500-Acre Site, Possible Mine Water Use For Cooling In Lackawanna County