Environmental Health Project Calls On Gov. Shapiro To Address Health Hazards Of Fossil Fuels

On April 29, one year ago today, the Environmental Health Project delivered a summary and analysis, along with a letter cosigned by concerned individuals and organizations to Governor Josh Shapiro, outlining ways that his administration could protect the health of communities living near fossil fuel infrastructure. 

EHP subsequently requested and offered to arrange a meeting with the Governor and frontline residents who wanted him to hear their concerns directly. 

The Governor’s office did not respond to the request. 

On the anniversary of sharing this white paper with Governor Shapiro, EHP has published a public statement with an update about his actions and inactions in the last year that indicate a lack of concern about the ongoing public health risks fossil fuel development poses to the people of Pennsylvania. 

EHP illustrates the hyperscale data center boom as a watershed moment for Governor Shapiro to champion a just transition to renewable energy sources. 

EHP’s Executive Director, Alison L. Steele explains--  “We are disappointed that the Governor’s actions have telegraphed clear support for fossil fuels, clothed in the language of opportunity. 

“In the last year, we have seen Governor Shapiro pull Pennsylvania out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), extend the lives of two highly polluting coal plants, continue to remain silent on the known health risks of gas development, and pave the way for massive gas industry expansion in the state, despite claiming to be an advocate of “all of the above” energy solutions. 

“In 2020, while serving as Pennsylvania’s Attorney General, Josh Shapiro understood and elevated the concerns of frontline residents grappling with the health consequences of shale gas development. 

“But as governor, his actions have often contradicted those words, disappointing impacted communities in the process. Governor Shapiro touts his administration’s efforts to lower energy costs, protect air and water, and grow the economy, but Pennsylvania is still falling behind the rest of the country in renewable energy generation, which could drive the state’s economy with green job creation and better public health outcomes.  

“Improvements in renewable energy, battery storage, and energy efficiency technologies are making clean energy the cheapest option for meeting new demand. 

“Renewable energy sources are also faster to build and connect than fossil fuels, and that speed will be critical with energy supply shortfalls expected as early as this year in the PJM regional grid. 

“Public polling also indicates a strong preference for clean energy over fossil fuels when it comes to new generation sources. 

“Rather than investing in renewable energy sources as quicker, cleaner, cheaper, healthier, and more popular alternatives to fossil fuels, the Governor seems to be taking Pennsylvania backwards. 

“Just last week, on the eve of Earth Day, Shapiro announced that two coal-fired power plants, Keystone in Indiana county and Conemaugh in Armstrong county, would continue operations through 2032. 

“Combined with last fall’s official departure from the Regional Greenhouse Gas initiative, Governor Shapiro is giving clear signals of a preference for fossil fuels, despite his claim of being an “all-of-the-above energy governor.” 

The Environmental Health Project is a nonpartisan, nonprofit public health organization that defends public health in the face of shale gas development. 

EHP provides frontline communities with timely monitoring, interpretation, and guidance while engaging diverse stakeholders: health professionals, researchers, community organizers, policy makers, and others.  

Resource Links:

-- Environmental Health Project Releases New White Paper: PA's Shale Gas - What We Can Do Now To Better Protect Public Health  [PaEN] 

-- Environmental Health Project: 34 Organizations Sign Letter Urging Pennsylvania To Adopt Measures To Better Protect Public Health, Environment From The Impacts Of Shale Gas Drilling  [PaEN] 

-- Environmental Health Project: Lois Bower-Bjornson Shares Her First-Hand Experiences With Shale Gas Health, Environmental Impacts In Washington County  [PaEN] 

-- 7 Years Ago, People From 70 Households Gave First-Hand Accounts Of How The PA Shale Gas Industry Impacted Their Health, Lives And Communities To A State Grand Jury Describing The ‘Sometimes Harsh Reality’ Of These Operations  [PaEN] 

-- Shale Gas & Public Health Conference: Alison Steele, Environmental Health Project - The Science Is In, Shale Gas Development Harming Public Health - Arming People To Prevent, Reduce Harm  [PaEN] 

-- Clean Air Council, Environmental Health Project, Residents Urge State To Stop Headfirst Jump To Power A.I. Data Centers With Fossil Fuels  [PaEN] 

-- Environmental Health Project Releases Compounds Of Concern Online Tool To Help Frontline Residents Better Understand Health Symptoms Related To Chemicals In Industrial Pollution, Released By Oil & Gas Facilities  [PaEN] 

-- Environmental Health Project, Partners Host Sept. 25 Webinar On Health Professionals Toolkit For Protecting Patients From Medical Conditions Related To Oil & Gas Development [PA Medical Society Learning Center Course Available]  [PaEN] 

-- Environmental Health Project Launches AirView Public, New App To Help Communities Protect Residents From Oil & Gas Pollution; Communities Can Join Today  [PaEN] 

-- Environmental Health Project Seeking Communities To Participate In HealthWatch Program To Better Understand Local Health Impacts Of Shale Gas Development  [PaEN] 

-- Environmental Health Project: State Dept. Of Health Progress On Implementing Recommendations After Pitt Health Studies Show Impacts From Shale Gas Development ‘Extremely Limited’  [PaEN] 

Related Articles This Week:

-- Gov. Shapiro Announces $267 Million Investment In 31 PA Industry Projects To Reduce Air Pollution, Cut Energy Costs, Create Jobs, And Combat Greenhouse Gas Emissions In 23 Counties; Next Grant Round Opens May 15  [PaEN] 

-- Senate Committee Hears Electric Grid Issues Getting Worse; PJM Has Attracted 220 GW Of New Generation Proposals; PJM ‘Backstop’ Procurement Critical To Making Data Centers Pay For New Generation [PaEN] 

-- House Energy Committee Sets May 4 Meeting To Act On More Bills To Address Electric Grid Reliability, Affordability Issues: Authorize Virtual Power Plants, Update Net Metering, More  [PaEN]

-- Concerned Citizens Of Montour County: Data Center Developer Wants To Make It Harder For Citizens To Appeal Zoning, Permits; DCED Secretary Explains More On How They Want New GRID Principles To Work  [PaEN] 

-- Gov. Shapiro Appoints Mark Szybist New Special Counsel For Energy Affordability  [PaEN] 

-- Tri-County Regional Planning Commission Publishes Model A.I. Data Center Ordinance; Links To Other Model Ordinances  [PaEN] 

-- DCNR: Grid-Scale Solar Energy Installations Are Not Permitted On Any DCNR Lands Or On Lands That Have Received DCNR Grant Funds  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Defense Fund: Rollback Of Federal Methane Emission Limits On Oil & Gas Facilities Have Wasted $4.8 Billion Worth Of Natural Gas That Could Have Served 22 Million Homes- And Counting  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: PA DEP Industrial Decarbonization Program RISE PA Doles Out First Large Grants

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: CNX Green Ventures LLC Received $31.5 Million RISE PA Decarbonization Grant For Coal Mine Methane Recovery, Largest State Grant 

-- PJM Interconnection: 220 GW Of New Power Generation Project Proposals Submitted To Connect To The Grid Under New Process 

-- Reuters: PJM Grid Operator To Begin Processing 220 GW Of New Generation Project Proposals

-- Utility Dive: 106 GW Of Natural Gas-Fired Generation Leads PJM’s Newly Reopened Interconnection Queue; A.I.-Enabled Google Tapestry Will Be Used To Review The Applications 

-- Utility Dive Guest Essay: In 2025, PJM Energy Capacity Costs Were Up 300%, Congestion Costs Up Almost 80%, Total System Costs Up Over 50% - Massive Demand Shock Is Here - By Shahid Mahdi, EnerKnol 

-- Scranton Times: Dedicated Eynon Jermyn Road A.I. Data Center Power Plant Proposal Scrutinized In Archbald

-- WNEP: Archbald’s Energy Debate Heats Up At Conditional Hearing For Proposed, Dedicated A.I. Data Center Power Plant

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: As A.I. Data Center Site Work Starts In Cumberland County, Neighbors Struggle With ‘The Monster Next Door:’ Blasting, Twp. Roads Failing, Failure To Communicate

-- ABC27: A.I. Data Centers Dominate Statewide Township Leaders Convention 

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Leader Guest Essay: Public Backlash Against A.I. Data Centers Creating A Buildability Crisis - By Peter Clark, InsideSources.com 

-- PA Capital-Star: Electricity Grid Maps Could Speed Addition Of Renewable Energy To PA, PA House Panel Hears

-- City & State PA Guest Essay: Choosing Electric, Natural Gas Suppliers Works For Pennsylvanians, Don’t Let New House Bill Take It Away [House Bill 2131 (Boyd-D-Delaware)] - By John Hanger, Former PUC Commissioner 

-- Utility Dive: NYISO Grid Operator Says Extended Heat Wave Could Cripple New York’s Grid This Summer; Reliability Margins Will Be Lowest In Recent History  

-- Utility Dive: Independent PJM Market Monitor Opposes 1.3 GW Natural Gas Power Plants Deal Taking Generation Out Of Capacity Auction Locking It Up To Serve A.I. Data Centers 

-- Utility Dive: PA Cong. Brian Fitzpatrick, Other Republican Members Of Congress Introduced Bill To Restore Renewable Energy Production, Investment Tax Credits For Much-Needed Generation Capacity 

-- Reuters: US Consumers Face Rising Electricity Prices Pushed By A.I. Data Center Demand, Rising Natural Gas Prices, Tariffs On Steel/Aluminum, While Benefits From Low-Cost Clean Power Capacity Emerge 

-- Financial Times: BP Warns Against Windfall Taxes As Iran War Helps Profits Hit 3-Year High

[Posted: April 29, 2026] PA Environment Digest