143 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Here are 143 new stories in the PA Environment Digest about individuals, groups, local governments, farmers, businesses, watershed groups and many more working all across Pennsylvania to restore and protect the environment and show others the beauty that surrounds us.

Thank you for your leadership!

-- Warren Times - Audubon Community Nature Center: Spotlighting The Women Of Nature [PDF of Article]

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: Taylor Allderdice High School Students In Pittsburgh Are Raising $5,000 To Fund A Well Done Foundation Project To Plug A Conventional Oil & Gas Well To Reduce Methane Emissions

-- Penn State Extension: Twin Brook Farms’ Conservation Transformation In Wayne County 

-- Penn State Extension Watershed Winds News: Stroud Water Center Recognized; Livestock Fencing; Rain Barrel Kits; Online Learning Opportunities 

-- DCNR: Since 2023, US Bureau Of Economic Analysis Data Shows PA Outdoor Recreation Economy Grew By 21%, Added 12,000 Jobs  [PaEN] 

-- ABC27: Appalachian Trail Conservancy - PA Part Of Appalachian Trail Had More Than 2.7 Million Visitors In 2025 

-- The Allegheny Front: Allegheny County Health Dept. To Make Recommendations On How To Better Protect Residents From Health Impacts Of Shale Gas Development  [PaEN]

-- DEP To Tighten Residual Waste Coproduct Regulations That Allow Unrestricted Disposal Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater By Dumping It On Public Roads  [PaEN]

-- The Allegheny Front: DEP Proposes Shell Petrochemical Plant Air Permit With Higher Emission Limits In Beaver County  [PaEN] 

-- WPXI: Beaver County Shell Petrochemical Plant Seeking Air Quality Permit, Residents Express Concerns 

-- WTAE: Shell Petrochemical Plant Wastewater Treatment Plan Raises Environmental Concerns In Beaver County 

-- Reminder: DEP Holds March 19 Meeting, April 7 Hearing On Proposed Shell Petrochemical Plant Air Quality Plan Approval In Beaver County 

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - March 14 to 20 - Conventional Well Owners Failed To Comply With Orders To Plug Wells, Restore Drilling Sites; Stop Gas From Bubbling Out Of The Ground  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Invites Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For 5-Mile Long Expand Operating LLC Water Pipeline To Support Shale Gas Development In Auburn Twp., Susquehanna County [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved 22 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In February; 54 In 2026  [PaEN] 

-- Energy Security & Freedom Blog: Two Rivers, No Justice!  It’s Time The Delaware River Basin Commission Ban On Fracking Is Ended  [Warning]

-- PUC: Deadly West Reading Chocolate Factory Explosion Prompts PUC Safety Complaint Against UGI Proposing $2,576,627 In Penalties  [PaEN] 

-- AP: PUC Seeks $2.6 Million In Penalties For Deadly 2023 Chocolate Factory Natural Gas Explosion In Reading 

-- PUC Schedules 10 Hearings On Proposed UGI Utilities 8.05% Natural Gas Distribution Rate Increase Starting March 30  [PaEN] 

-- PUC Sets Hearings On Proposed National Fuel Gas 7.4% Natural Gas Distribution Rate Increase Starting March 31  [PaEN] 

-- Physicians For Social Responsibility-PA Establishes Scientific Advisory Board To Advise The Group On Scientific Issues  [PaEN] 

-- Washington & Jefferson College Center Expands Role, Becomes Center For Energy And The Built Environment In Washington County [PaEN]

-- March 22: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Still Going Up-- 82 Cents/Gallon To $3.93 Since Feb. 27  

-- March 22: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $3.94 Ohio- $3.71  PA- $3.93

-- Feb. 27: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $2.98  Ohio- $2.79  PA- $3.11

-- PA Capital-Star: Pain Of Soaring Gasoline, Diesel, Heating Oil, Propane Prices Compounded By Electricity, Natural Gas Increases Across Pennsylvania

-- Post-Gazette: Winds Of President’s War: Consumers Across Western PA Feeling Impact Of Price Spikes

-- PA Senate Republicans Pass Bill To Protect The Right Of Pennsylvanians To Drive Diesel And Gasoline Powered Vehicles; Average PA Price Of Gasoline Rose 69 Cents To $3.80/Gallon Since Feb. 27  [PaEN]  [?????}

-- Wall Street Journal: Sick Of High Gasoline Prices? Electric Vehicle Deals Are Everywhere Right Now

-- TribLive Letter: Legislators Must Help Bring Down Skyrocketing Utility Bills - By Diana Vahabzadeh, Pittsburgh

-- Scranton Times: Advocacy Groups, Constituents Rally In Favor Of Affordable Energy [PDF of Article]

-- DCED Invests $1.4 Million To Expand Natural Gas Service To Customers In Bradford, Somerset County  [PaEN] 

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Pennsylvania Energy Helps Stabilize A Volatile World - By Luke Bernstein, PA Chamber Of Business & Industry  [?????]

-- Financial Times: World Faces Natural Gas Supply Cliff As Gulf’s Final LNG Gas Shipments Approach Ports Sending Prices Soaring  [Warning]

-- Bloomberg: Attacks On Qatar LNG Natural Gas Facilities Make Worst Nightmare A Reality Leaving Buyers Scrambling For Supplies [American Customers Must Now Compete For Their Own US Gas As Prices Spike] 

-- Reuters: President, Iran Step Up Threats Over Energy Infrastructure Targets As War Escalates  [Warning]

-- Bloomberg: Oil And Natural Gas Prices Jump As Strikes On Gulf Facilities Escalate Threatening Long-Term Damage  

-- Food & Water Watch Blog: President’s War Against Iran Exposes The Lie Of How ‘Energy Independence’ Based On Oil & Natural Gas Will Lower Prices For Consumers - Prices Are  Unbreakably Linked To International Markets As War Price Spikes Again Show 

-- Inside Climate News: Iran War Shows That Doubling Down On Oil/Natural Gas Is ‘Delusional,’ UN Climate Chief Says 

-- The Guardian: Congressional Democrats Urge Windfall Profits Tax As Big Oil/Gas Set To Make Billions From President’s War On Iran 

-- PennFuture Calls For A Statewide Pause On A.I. Data Center Development Until Lawmakers Can Adopt Strict Policies To Site These Facilities Properly  [PaEN]  

-- City & State PA Guest Essay: PA Lawmakers Must Do More To Protect Residents From A.I. Data Centers - By Joseph Minott, former Executive Director Of The Clean Air Council

-- WNEP: Archbald Boro Ousts Council President, Vice President, President Pro Tem From Their Leadership Positions Over A.I. Data Center Issues

-- Scranton Times - Chris Kelly Opinion: Archbald Boro Reshuffles The Deck On A.I. Data Centers [PDF of Article]

-- DeSmog: A.I. Data Centers Poised To Engulf Archbald Boro In Pennsylvania; Developers Weakened Local Limits On Giant Projects

-- Scranton Times: Throop Declares Own Zoning Invalid, Buys Time To Regulate A.I. Data Centers [PDF of Article]

-- Scranton Times: National Developer Spends $580 Million On Dozens Of Properties In Salem Twp. For Data Center Campus In Luzerne County [PDF of Article] 

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: With A.I. Data Center, Housing Growth Coming, Middlesex Authority Approves Boost In Water Storage In Cumberland County

-- PA House Committee Hears How Virtual Power Plants, Advanced Transmission Line Technologies Allow Us To Quickly Get More Out Of Our Energy Infrastructure In Less Time, Without Huge Investments Or Delays  [PaEN] 

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Lawmakers Seek To Get More Out Of PA’s Existing Energy Infrastructure

-- The Center Square: Virtual Power Plants Up For Consideration In Pennsylvania

-- Scranton Times: PPL Utilities: A.I. Data Centers Are Poised To Consume More Electricity Than Northeast PA Can Deliver [PDF of Article]

-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: Precedent-Setting PPL Utility Rate Proposal Would Protect Residential Electricity Customers From A.I. Data Center Costs 

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader: PPL Electric, PA American Water Discuss Capacity, Reliability Regarding A.I. Data Centers; Increasing Power Costs, Not Enough Generation

-- DEP Invests $10 Million To Support 6 Projects To Improve Electric Grid Reliability And Resiliency In 9 Counties [PaEN] 

-- Post-Gazette - Laura Legere: NextEra/Exelon Power Line Proposed To Cut Across 200 Miles Of SW, SC PA From WV To Perry County And Emerging A.I. Data Center Alley; Latest Mega-Project Tied To Data Centers

-- DEP Invites Comments On A Chapter 105 Permit For The Limerick 67 MW PECO Energy Transmission Line Crossing The Schuylkill River In Chester, Montgomery Counties  [PaEN]

-- Utility Dive: North American Electric Reliability Corp: January’s Winter Storm Fern Was ‘Classic Near-Miss’ For US Electric Grid As Reliability Risks Are Risking

-- DEP Issued Chapter 105 Permit For Homer City Generation LP A.I. Data Center Campus Natural Gas Power Plant Site In Indiana County  [PaEN] 

-- CapitolWire: Pennsylvania Scraps RGGI Carbon Market, Races To Build More Natural Gas Power Plants [For A.I. Data Centers]

-- Reuters: Constellation Energy To Sell Some PJM Generation Assets To LS Power In Calpine Deal Remedy [In PA - Bethlehem, York 1, York 2, Hay Road and Edge Moor Facilities]

-- The Progress: Clearfield County Senior Environment Corps To Host April 6 Program On Pennsylvania’s Energy Future

-- Scranton Times: A.I. Data Center Developer Applies To Archbald Boro For Power Plant Permit Close To School, Park; Few Details Available

-- Post-Gazette: PA Awaits Information About New 4.3 GW Natural Gas Power Plant In SW PA: ‘Will Play A Critical Role In Meeting The Rapidly Growing Electricity Demand’ [Code Words For Data Centers]

-- NextEra Energy Receives Approval From President For Up To 10 GW Of Natural Gas Power Generation, Including 4.3 GW Plant In SW PA [No Details On How Much Power Will Be Available To Anyone Other Than Data Centers]

-- Utility Dive: US DOE Emergency Orders For Fossil Power Plants Complicate Utility Planning, Experts Say; Orders Cost Ratepayers $230 Million So Far 

-- Scranton Times: NE PA A.I. Data Centers Could Look To Abandon Mine Water To Cool Server Farms

-- E&E News: Nuclear Regulatory Commission Taking Steps To End ‘As Low As Reasonably Achievable’ Radiation Exposure Standard For Nuclear Power Plants As Three Mile Island Other Plants Go Thru Restart

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader/AP: President Urges Congress To ‘Preempt State A.I. Laws’ That He Views As Too Burdensome [Warning]

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - March 23 [PaEN] 

-- Gov. Shapiro Joins Other States In Lawsuit Against EPA Over Repeal Of 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding  [PaEN] 

-- AP: 24 States [Including PA], 10 Cities Sue EPA Over Repeal Of Greenhouse Gas ‘Endangerment’ Finding Central To Climate Fight

-- LancasterOnline.com Guest Essay: Despite EPA’s Decision To Repeal The Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding - You Can’t Fool Mother Nature - By Richard D. Clark, Professor of Atmospheric Science Emeritus, Millersville University  [PaEN]

-- The Allegheny Front: How Climate Change Is Pressuring Western PA Farms, Restaurants And Food Supply

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: What EPA Repeal Of Climate ‘Endangerment’ Finding Means For Chesapeake Bay

-- Penn State Extension Holds April 29 Webinar On How Climate Change Is Impacting Seasonal Events In Nature - Migration, Bud Break, Fall Leaf Color, Human Activities Tied To Seasonal Cycles  [PaEN] 

-- Erie Times: ‘Extreme’ Temperatures Could End This Year’s Maple Season In Erie Area

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh Faces Longer Allergy Seasons, Study Finds

-- Mon Valley Initiative, PA Solar Center Announce RFP For Qualified Solar Developers  [PaEN] 

-- Tribune-Democrat: Johnstown Airport Exploring Solar Energy Facility As Possible Revenue Stream

-- AP: President’s EPA Is Paving The Way For Haze To Return To National Parks, Conservationists Warn

-- Green Building Alliance To Hold Free Virtual Green Professional Operations & Maintenance Certification Training For PreK-12 School Facilities Teams April 29 – May 1; Technical Assistance Available  [PaEN]

-- Observer-Reporter: Smith Township Abandoned Mine Reclamation Project Receives $193,493 DEP Grant In Washington County

-- Pike County Courier: Coalition For The Delaware River Watershed Advocates Meet With Members Of Congress  

-- Penn State Extension Hosts April 14 Webinar On The Vital Role Of Headwaters - Using The Art Of Haikus For Observing Nature’s Details  [PaEN[

-- Penn State Extension: April 9 Webinar On Uses And Benefits Of Rain Barrels  [PaEN]  

-- Penn State Master Watershed Stewards: Call For Street 2 Creek Storm Drain Artists

-- Penn State Extension: Upcoming Pennsylvania Forest Seminar Series  

-- Penn State Extension Ag Conservation Currents: Online Learning Opportunities

-- Beaver Times: Two Farms Preserved In Beaver County Thru State Preservation Program

-- Financial Times: US Fertilizer Companies Cash In As Iran War Boosts Prices, Shares

-- Lower Susquehanna RiverKeeper Speaker Series: April 1: Dr. Dorothy Merritts, Dr. Robert Walter And The Potential Of Restoring Buried Pre-Colonial Landscapes And Removal Of Legacy Sediments  [PaEN]

-- Help Wanted: PA Interfaith Power & Light Tree Program Manager

-- WESA/The Allegheny Front: Three Rivers WaterKeeper Files Intent To Sue US Steel Over Oily Releases Into Monongahela River

-- Adams County Conservation District, Master Watershed Stewards Host April 23 Earth Extravaganza In Gettysburg  [PaEN] 

-- Alliance For The Chesapeake Bay Wild & Scenic Film Festival Lancaster Screening April 14  [PaEN] 

-- Aqua Pennsylvania Marks Fix A Leak Week By Spotlighting Its Leak Repair Program For Income-Eligible Customers  [PaEN]  

-- PUC Sets Hearings On Proposed American Water Works, Essential Utilities Water/Wastewater Subsidiaries Merger Starting April 21

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader: PA American Water Issues Boil Water Advisory For Portion Of Luzerne County

-- Morning Call: Lehigh Valley Residents React With Shock To Storm Damage As Cleanup Begins 

-- WTAE: Day 4: Power Outages Continue To Impact Communities In Allegheny County 

-- Post-Gazette: Dayslong Power Outages Leave Some Pittsburgh Residents, Schools, Businesses Reeling 

-- Post-Gazette: Fast-Moving Brush Fire Challenges Firefighters As Pittsburgh Region Again Faces Strong Winds 

-- Morning Call: Federal ICE Responds To DEP Order For Proposed Berks County Warehouse Detention Center On Water, Sewage Issues, Said It Will Appeal The Order

-- PA Capital-Star: Federal ICE Responds To DEP Order, Asks For More Time To Address Concerns With Proposed Berks Warehouse Detention Center; DEP Has No Plans To Modify Order

-- Spotlight PA: Berks Officials Grappling With Federal ICE’s Warehouse Detention Center Plans Want Assurances From The Feds 

-- Republican Herald: Schuylkill County Commissioners Say President’s ICE Will Not House Children Or Families At Proposed Tremont Warehouse Detention Center

-- Spotlight PA: President’s Secretive, Fast-Tracked Process To Pick Who Will Run PA’s New Warehouse Detention Centers 

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Real Transparency Means Meeting People Where They Are - By David Sanko, Executive Director, PA State Association of Township Supervisors

-- PA Capital-Star: The Ever-Constant Evolution Of PA’s Right-To-Know Law

-- WITF: Fighting For Public Records Is More Common In Pennsylvania, Sometimes Aided By A.I.

-- DEP Issues Order To J&K Junkyard In York To Cease Operations, Begin Removing Waste; Asked Commonwealth Court To Jail The Owner For Failure To Comply With 2024 Court Order  [PaEN]

-- York Daily Record: DEP Orders J&K Junkyard To Close, Seeks Jail For Owner For Not Complying With 2024 Court Order 

-- LancasterOnline: DEP Wants York County Junkyard Shut Down, Owner Jailed For Contempt Of Court

-- York Daily Record: Years-Long Trail Of Violations And Citations Led To J&K Junkyard Closing In York County

-- Inquirer: Bill Gates’ Nuclear Company Plans $450 Million Plant In Philly’s Bellwether District Making Radioactive Cancer Treatments

-- Morning Call: Redevelopment Of Brownfield In Catasauqua, Lehigh County Gets Big Boost

-- TribLive: EPA To Conduct Testing Around MAX Environmental Hazardous Waste Disposal Site In Yukon, Westmoreland County 

-- TribLive: Does Your Westmoreland County Home Have Lead Paint? This Free Program Provides Repairs

-- Earth Day 2026: PA Resources Council Invites Participation In Gene Capaldi Lens On Litter Photo Contest To Put The Spotlight On The Litter Problem  [PaEN]

-- Eastern PA Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation Receives Funding From Amazon For Community Litter, Trash And Tire Removal Projects  [PaEN] 

-- Aultman Watershed Association For Restoring the Environment March 28 McIntyre/Coal Run Cleanup Day, Indiana County

-- Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Residents Turn Out For Drive-Thru Electronic Waste, Household Hazardous Waste Collection 

-- PA Fibershed Accepting Applications For University Ambassador Program To Train Next Generation Of Sustainable Textile Leaders; March 27 Info Webinar  [PaEN] 

-- PA Sea Grant: Apply For 2027 Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship By June 3

-- Observer-Reporter: Washington County Community Foundation Offering $250,000 Higher Education, Trade School Scholarships

-- TribLive: Skating Into Science: STEAM Program In New Kensington Helps Girls Discover Science, Math  

-- Penn State Outreach Shaver's Creek Environmental Center In Huntingdon County Names Anna George New Executive Director  [PaEN] 

-- DCNR, Agriculture Announce The Opening Of The PA Invasive Replace-ive Program To Encouraging Replacing Invasive Species With Native Trees, Scrubs In Landscape Plantings; March 26 Webinar  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension: April 11 In-Person Workshop In Beaver County On Managing Invasive Species  [PaEN] 

-- Planet Philadelphia March 20 - Discovering Biological Diversity, 4:00 p.m.

-- Lehigh Valley-based Wildlands Conservancy Highlights Upcoming Experiences, Educational Programs; 2026 Lehigh River Sojourn 

-- Erie Times: Erie Celebrates America 250 With Fireworks, Return Of The Brig Niagara 

-- America250PA: Planting Liberty Trees In All 67 Pennsylvania Counties

-- America250PA: Young Heroes Program Teaches 4th-8th Students Responsible Citizenship; Identify, Research & Act On Social Issues; Constructive Action; Building Self-Confident Changemakers 

-- Western PA Conservancy Awards $25,000 To Support 5 Western PA Canoe, Kayak Access Projects: Now Accepting Applications For Next Round Of Grants  [PaEN]  

-- South Mountain Partnership Now Accepting Pre-Applications For Community Impact Mini-Grant Program  [PaEN] 

-- PA Environmental Council Now Accepting Applications For Pocono Forests & Waters Conservation Landscape Mini-Grants  [PaEN] 

-- TribLive: Proposed Trolley Line Trail Would Connect Irwin, North Huntingdon In Westmoreland 

-- TribLive: Lower Burrell Walking Club Takes Steps To Boost Community Connections In Westmoreland

-- Observer-Reporter: Greene County OKs Contract For Waynesburg To Wisecarver Trail Engineering Work

-- Observer-Reporter: Public Input Sought For Improvements In, Around Youghiogheny River At Meetings March 23, 24

-- TribLive: Jeannette Parks To Receive Interactive Signs Encouraging Activity In Westmoreland

-- LancasterOnline: Lancaster County Planners Unveil First Parks, Trails Master Plan Since 1992 

-- Erie Times: Giant Troll Sculptures Will Lurk In Allegheny National Forest Starting In 2027

-- Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau: Trolls In The Forest Sculptures Coming To PA

-- Allegheny National Forest Spring Prescribed Fire Plan April 1 to May 15

-- York Daily Record - Brian Whipkey: Senate Committee Meeting Looks At How To Keep Hunting, Fishing Affordable In The Future 

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader - Liz Baumeister: The Majesty Of Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area  

-- LancasterOnline: First Of 4 Bald Eagle Eggs Hatch At Livestreamed Lancaster County Nest 

-- Erie Times: Purple Martins Making Way Back To Erie Region As Spring Arrives

-- Erie Times: See Which Birds And Plants You Can Find Around Erie In The Spring

Visit the PA Environment Digest website to learn more.

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[Posted: March 22, 2026]   PA Environment Digest