-- Article I, Section 27 Pennsylvania Constitution [It’s Not A Suggestion]
House Voting Schedule
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
Senate Voting Schedule
May 4, 5, 6
June 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30
TODAY’s Calendar Of Events
May 4-- NEW. [Agenda Changed] House Energy Committee meets to consider House Bill 2450 (Mehaffie-R- Dauphin) increases and makes other changes to the fees for nuclear power plants to fund safety and emergency preparedness programs; House Bill 2264 (Davidson-D-Cumberland) establishes requirements for regulating virtual power plants [draft amendment] [draft amendment]; House Bill 2429 (Cerrato-D-Montgomery) requires utilities to publish accessible maps showing distribution system hosting capacity [draft amendment]. [Temporarily removed from agenda: House Bill 2348 (Fiedler-D- Philadelphia) makes numerous changes to PUC net metering requirements [draft amendment]] Room B-31 Main Capitol. 10:30 a.m. Click Here to watch online. Read more here.
May 5-- Agenda Posted. DEP: Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority meeting. Rachel Carson Building, Harrisburg. 10:00 a.m.
May 5-- In-Person. PA Emergency Management Agency Flood Recovery Workshop. Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Conference Room 112, 301 Peninsula Drive, Erie. 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
May 5-- In-Person. Penn State Extension Pennsylvania Groundwater Symposium. Harrisburg.
May 6-- Agenda Posted. DEP Environmental Justice Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00 a.m. Contact: Fernando Treviño, Special Deputy Secretary, (717) 783-7753, FTrevinoMa@pa.gov. (formal notice)
May 7-- Agenda Posted. DEP Public Water System Technical Advisory Center Board meeting. Rachel Carson Building, Harrisburg.9:00 a.m.
May 7-- In-Person. PA Emergency Management Agency Flood Recovery Workshop. Allegheny Co Public Safety Center, 150 Hookstown Grade Road, Coraopolis. 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
May 7-- Virtual. POWER Interfaith Webinar On Energy Rate Cases And Energy Affordability Advocacy At The PUC. 6:00 p.m.
May 7-- Tri-County Regional Planning Commission 60th Anniversary Luncheon featuring guest speaker Jill Whitcomb, DEP Deputy Secretary for Water Programs. Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel, 4650 Lindle Road, Harrisburg. 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
May 8-- Virtual. Physicians For Social Responsibility PA Host May 8 Online Southeast PA Environmental Movement Committee Meeting On A.I. Data Centers, Chester Incinerator, LNG Gas Terminal Proposals. 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
May 11-- In-Person. DEP Hearing On North Centre Twp. PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Hazardous Site Response In 12 Municipalities In Columbia County Involving Contaminated Sewage Sludge. Central Columbia High School Auditorium 4777 Old Berwick Road, Bloomsburg. 5:00 p.m. open house. 7:00 p.m. hearing.
May 12-- CANCELED. Environmental Quality Board meeting. 9:00 a.m. Contact: Laura Griffin, Regulatory Coordinator, laurgriffi@pa.gov, (717) 772-3277. (formal notice)
May 12-- Agenda Posted. DEP Citizens Advisory Council meeting. 12:30 p.m. Contact: Ian Irvin iirvin@pa.gov or 717-579-0329. Read more on agenda.
May 12-- In-Person. DEP Hearing On Individual Stormwater Permit For the 5.8 Mile HCPP 30-Inch Natural Gas Pipeline Serving The 4.5 GW Homer City A.I. Data Center Campus Power Plant In Indiana County. Indiana Theater, 637 Philadelphia Street in Indiana. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council Meets May 12 For Presentations On A Data Center Guide From Chester, Montgomery Counties; PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Contamination In Biosolids [PaEN]
-- Environmental Defense Fund: PA Public Utility Commission Moves To Protect Consumers From A.I. Data Center Grid Costs: ‘The Stakes Are High Given The Scale And Speed Of Data Center-Driven Growth’ [PaEN]
-- LOTS GOING ON! PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - May 2 [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For 4.5 Mile EQT ARO Natural Gas Pipeline On State Forest Land In Lycoming County [PaEN]
-- READ CAREFULLY! DEP Posted 62 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In May 2 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
-- DEP To Hold June 16 Hearing On Water Quality Permit For Rustic Ridge II Coal Mining Permit In Westmoreland County [PaEN]
-- DEP To Hold May 21 Informal Conference To Take Comments On The Proposed Addition Of 7,154 Acres To The Rosebud Mining Company Penfield Coal Mine In Clearfield County [PaEN]
-- DEP Accepting Comments On 2nd Stormwater Permit For SNA North LLC/QTS A.I. Data Center Project In Salem Twp., Luzerne County [PaEN]
-- Pittsburgh Gateways Flips The Switch On New Rooftop Solar Energy System On Energy Innovation Center [PaEN]
-- National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition: US House Passes Farm Bill, But Slashes Funding For Popular Farm Conservation Programs [PaEN]
-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: How Long Will The Impacts Of The Massive Potomac River Sewage Spill Be Felt?
-- Penn State Extension May 27 and June 24 Webinars On Private Water Supply Education And Water Testing, 1:00 p.m.
-- Penn State Extension Master Gardener Plant Sale Directory By County
-- Tribune-Democrat: Sept. 11 National Memorial Trail Alliance Breaks Ground On New Connector In Somerset County
-- TribLive: Keystone Trail Assn. Hosts Spring Hiking Weekend In Laurel Highlands
A.I. /Data Centers
-- AP: Building Trades Unions Emerge As Key Political Allies Of Tech Giants In Push For A.I. Data Centers [PA Highlighted]
-- The Center Square: Labor Union Back PA US Sen. McCormick’s Plan To Reform Federal Energy Infrastructure Permitting
-- Scranton Times: 2nd Notice Claiming Approval Of An 18 Building A.I. Data Center Project In Archbald Sets Appeal Deadline
-- Williamsport Sun: Muncy Twp., Lycoming County Passes 9 Month Moratorium On A.I. Data Centers Until Zoning Ordinance Can Be Adopted To Regulate Them
-- PennLive - Charlie Thompson: US Interior Secretary Says Restart Of Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant To Serve Microsoft A.I. Data Centers Is Part Of America’s ‘Energy Dominance’ Plan
-- The Center Square: PA Republican Senator Says Ending Data Center Sales Tax Exemption Could Be Used To Reduce The State’s Gasoline Tax
-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council Meets May 12 For Presentations On A Data Center Guide From Chester, Montgomery Counties; PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Contamination In Biosolids [PaEN]
-- DEP Accepting Comments On 2nd Stormwater Permit For SNA North LLC/QTS A.I. Data Center Project In Salem Twp., Luzerne County [PaEN]
-- Public Utility Commission Sets July 10 Telephonic Hearing On PPL Condemnation Of 30 Properties For The Sugarloaf 500/230KV Transmission Line In Luzerne County To Serve Data Centers [PaEN]
-- Environmental Defense Fund: PA Public Utility Commission Moves To Protect Consumers From A.I. Data Center Grid Costs: ‘The Stakes Are High Given The Scale And Speed Of Data Center-Driven Growth’ [PaEN]
Today’s Oil & Gas Violations
-- DEP has issued 200 violations to owners of conventional oil and gas wells for abandoning and not plugging their wells so far in 2026
-- Today’s Violations: DEP inspection of Diversified Production Co. abandoned conventional well in Fayette County, Luzerne Twp. was not properly plugged using alternative methods, leaking gas in violation of DEP order. Violations issued. DEP inspection report,
-- Today’s Violations: DEP inspection of North East Ind Fuel Co. conventional well in Erie County, North East Borough found it abandoned, not plugged, no annual reports filed. Never inspected. Violations issued. DEP inspection report.
-- Today’s Violations: DEP inspection of Steven P. Beach conventional well in Erie County, North East Borough found it abandoned, not plugged. Never inspected. Violations issued. DEP inspection report.
-- Today’s Violations: DEP inspection of an Expand OPER LLC shale gas well pad spill site in Bradford County, Wysox Twp.. found the spill had not been cleaned up using Act 2 Land Recycling process as requested and material was still being removed from the site after 60 days. Violations continued. DEP inspection report.
International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas
[Energy Independence Means Renewables]
-- May 2: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Up Another 9 Cents A Gallon From Yesterday, Now $1.39/Gallon Higher To $4.50 Since Feb. 27 [PA Average Price Spikes 35 cents since last Saturday; Forest County, PA Average Price Highest at $4.69]
-- May 2: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $4.43 Ohio- $4.89 PA- $4.50
-- Feb. 27: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $2.98 Ohio- $2.79 PA- $3.11
-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs- 18 - Same As Last 5 Weeks
Federal Administration
-- EPA Revises April 9 Revision Of Oil & Gas Rules To Allow Even More Flaring In Response To Industry Comments; More Changes Coming
PA Politics - Everything Is Connected
-- Morning Call Guest Essay: PA US. Sen. John Fetterman Could Learn Something From Former Lehigh Valley Republican Congressman Charlie Dent - By Bill White
-- TribLive: Affordability Talks Ripple Across Western PA Colleges As Pitt Slashes Tuition For Families Making Under $75,000
-- PA Dept. Of Labor & Industry Reports March Unemployment Remained At 4.2%, Below National Average
-- PA Dept. Of Revenue Reports April State Tax Revenue $519 Million (8.4%) Above Estimates; Year To Date $992.8 Million (2.4%) Above Estimate
-- Independent Fiscal Office Reports April State Tax Revenue $466 Million (7.5%) Above IFO Estimates; Year To Date $831 Million (2%) Above Estimate
-- TribLive: ‘Severe’ Staff Cuts Begin At Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Union Says
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[Posted: May 2, 2026] PA Environment Digest
