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

March 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

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

TODAY 10:00: Agenda Posted. DEP Solid Waste Advisory Committee meeting. 10:00 a.m. Contact: Laura Henry lahenry@pa.gov. [Coproduct Regulation Update - Oil & Gas Wastewater]

TODAY 11:00: PUC Hosts PA Sustainable Energy Board meeting. Hearing Room 1 of the Commonwealth Keystone Building, Harrisburg. 11:00 a.m.

TODAY 6:00: DEP Public Meeting On Shell Petrochemical Plant Air Quality Plan Approval Application. Penn State Beaver Auditorium, 100 University Drive in Monaca, Beaver County. 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. [Hearing April 7] Read more here.

TODAY 6:30: In-Person. Protect PT To Hold Workshops In Monessen, Westmoreland County On How To Protect Your Community From Environmental Threats Caused By Shale Gas Development. Monessen High School, 1245 State Rd, Monessen from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

March 23-- NEW. House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee meets to consider House Bill 289 (Briggs-D-Montgomery) establishing requirements for radon testing and mitigation in schools; House Bill 2161 (Salisbury-D-Allegheny) Requiring public utilities to replace trees on public property if requested by a municipality; House Bill 2229 (Mako-R- Lehigh) Provides for spill notification requirements by DEP to municipalities; House Bill 2246 (Webster-R-Montgomery) Provides for water withdrawal oversight for data centers. Room 515 Irvis Building. 10:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online.

March 23-- House Energy Committee informational meeting on the PA Energy Development Authority. Room G-50 Irvis Building. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Click Here to watch online.

March 24-- House Energy Committee hearing on House Bill 2076 (Venkat-D-Allegheny) establishing a regulatory framework for geothermal energy for residential, commercial and industrial uses. Room B-31 Main Capital. 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online.

April 16-- DCED PA Grade Crude [Oil] Development Advisory Council meeting. Penn State, State College. 10:00. Contact: Adam Walters 717-214-6548 or adwalters@pa.gov.

April 30-- DEP Oil & Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting. 10:00 a.m. Contact: Todd M. Wallace twallace@pa.gov. (formal notice)

-- 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

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

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

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

-- 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]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-- Penn State Extension: Upcoming Pennsylvania Forest Seminar Series

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

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

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

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

-- 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

A.I. /Data Centers

-- Spotlight PA/Grist: Six A.I. Data Center Campuses Planned For Archbald Boro, Residents Are Fighting Back

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