PA Environment Digest Blog: 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]