130 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Here are 130 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!

-- Guest Essay: The Hoopla Of Earth Day Is Over, The Problems Remain, Only Time Will Tell If These Demonstrations Accomplished Anything  [PaEN] 

-- Morning Call Guest Essay: Earth Day Is About Environmental Protection, Why That’s Also A Religious Concern - By Rev. Larry Smith, Unitarian Universalist Church of the Lehigh Valley [PDF of Article]

-- 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] 

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: Greater Nanticoke Area School District Team Wins Luzerne County Envirothon Competition

-- WNEP: H. S. Students Tackle Nonpoint Source Pollution At Schuylkill County Envirothon

-- Eastern PA Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation 30th Anniversary Celebration Sept. 19 In Luzerne County  [PaEN]

-- Republican Herald: Schuylkill County Conservation District Celebrates Drinking Water Week - Don’t Take Clean Water For Granted

-- Observer-Reporter: PennDOT Honors Adopt-A-Highway Litter Cleanup Crews In Washington County 

-- TribLive: West Mifflin School District Creates Trail Walk And Arboretum That Serves Wide Audience In Allegheny County 

-- Tribune-Democrat: Sept. 11 National Memorial Trail Alliance Breaks Ground On New Connector In Somerset County 

-- Pennsylvania Turnpike Releases Report On Award-Winning Pollinator Initiative  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Allegheny Land Trust Working To Expand Lowries Run Conservation Area In Allegheny County

-- Warren Times: Growing Tradition: Community Members Gathered At Crescent Park To Celebrate Arbor Day

-- DEP Invests Over $1 Million In 46 Environmental Education Projects, Supporting Summer Camps, Field Research, Classroom To Creek Learning Across PA; Next Grant Round Opens In August  [PaEN]

-- DEP: Peregrine Falcon Eggs Are Hatching On The DEP/DCNR Rachel Carson Building In Harrisburg! [Watch Live!] 

-- Environmental Health Project Calls On Gov. Shapiro To Address Health Hazards Of Fossil Fuels  [PaEN]

-- DEP Receives Federal Funding To Study Human Health Impacts Of Leaking, Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells; Conventional Regulation Updates Delayed; Reports On Setback Petition By End Of 2026  [PaEN]

-- DEP - Day 245: Expand Operating LLC Continuing Cleanup Of Ongoing Shale Gas Fracking Wastewater Release From Well Pad In Great Bend Twp., Susquehanna County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Signs Consent Orders With CNX Gas, Leatherwood LLC Requiring The Plugging Of 5 Conventional Coal Bed Methane Wells Prior To Longwall Coal Mining In Center Twp., Greene County  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - April 25 to May 1: Violations For Conventional Well Abandonment Top 204; Cleaning Up Shale Gas Wastewater Release For 245 Days  [PaEN] 

-- ‘Emergency’ Upset Natural Gas/Chemical Flare At MarkWest Harmon Cryogenic Natural Gas Processing Plant In Washington County Was Briefly Almost As Bright As The Moon Last Night   - Live Breathe Project Cameras   [April 30]

-- TheDerrick.com: Drones Survey Venango County For Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells As Part Of Environmental Defense Fund Project  [PDF of Article]

-- House Committee Approves Bill To Strengthen State Response To Spills Of Hazardous Substances After Energy Transfer/Sunoco Jet Fuel Pipeline Spill In Bucks County [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] 

-- [Backward Leadership] 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]  [Warning] 

-- EPA Revises April 9 Revision Of  Oil & Gas Rules To Allow Even More Flaring In Response To Industry Comments; More Changes Coming  [Warning]

-- [Warning] US Dept. Of Energy Cyber Threat Center Issues Another Warning To Oil & Gas Industry About Automatic Tank Gauge Manipulation By Malicious Cyber Threat Actors  [PaEN]  

-- Pittsburgh Gateways Flips The Switch On New Rooftop Solar Energy System On Energy Innovation Center  [PaEN] 

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: Hill District Energy Tech Hub In Pittsburgh Puts ‘Lazy Roof’ To Work With New Solar Energy Installation

-- LancasterOnline: Solar Energy Facilities vs. Farmland: Lancaster County Weighs Sheep Grazing As Energy Solution 

-- The Daily Item: 2 Solar Energy Facilities Planned For 323 Acres In Freeburg, Snyder County

-- PA Technical Assistance Program July 16 Webinar On Funding, Incentives For Energy Efficiency Improvements For Manufacturers  [PaEN] 

-- Community Choice Aggregation Working Group Hosts May 13 Webinar On How Boroughs Can And Other Municipalities Could Purchase Power For Their Residents, Business And Lower Electric Bills  [PaEN] 

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak & Laura Legere: A.I. Data Center Power Demand May Extend Conemaugh, Keystone Coal-Fired Power Plant Operations, Jobs For Years - But At A Cost

-- [Backward Leadership] The Hill  US Dept. Of The Interior To Pay Two More Companies $885 Million To Abandoned Gigawatts Of Much-Needed Wind Energy Generation Projects; Will Instead Invest In Oil & Gas Production, LNG Gas Export Facilities, Not Generation  [Warning] 

-- 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 

-- 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] 

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

-- 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] 

-- Montour County: What A.I. Data Center Developers Don’t Like In Zoning Ordinances: Decommissioning Safeguards For When Their Tech Becomes Obsolete; No Noise Limits On Diesel Generators; No Property Value Impact Studies  [PaEN]  

-- The Daily Item: Montour County Board OKs Amendments To A.I. Data Center Rules Increasing Height Limit, Setbacks from Sensitive Receptors 

-- Chestnut Hill Local - Abby Weiss: Philadelphia Developer [Brian O’Neill] Seeks To Build A Cluster Of A.I. Data Centers In Upper Merion Twp., Montgomery County 

-- Scranton Times Chris Kelly Opinion: Archbald Is The Canary In The A.I. Data Center ‘Coal Mine;’  90 Data Center Buildings Proposed In Lackawanna County  [PDF of Article]

-- 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

-- FOX43: Massive, 700 Acre A.I. Data Center Project Construction In Cumberland County Bringing Noise, Concerns To Nearby Residents 

-- The Center Square: Nesting Eagles, Threats, Lack Of Information All Stir A.I. Data Center Discussion In South Annville Twp., Lebanon County 

-- WVIA: Governor’s Office Removes Project Gravity 7 Building A.I. Data Center Project In Luzerne County From Fast Track Permitting Program  Due To Lack Of Transparency  [PaEN]  

-- WVIA: Fast Track No More: State Kicks Project Gravity 7 Building A.I. Data Center Project In Archbald Out Of Fast Track Permitting Program

-- Heatmap.News: Inside Josh Shapiro’s Attempt To Navigate The A.I. Data Center Backlash  [Based On Concerned Citizens Of Montour County Right To Know Request]

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

-- PA House Passes Bill To Require A.I. Data Centers To Report Water Use, Discharges To DEP  [PaEN]

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

-- PUC Adopts Voluntary Large Load, Data Center Tariff Framework To Help Protect Ratepayers   [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] 

-- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Approves Extension Of PJM Capacity Auction Price Cap, Floor For Next 2 Auctions  [PaEN] 

-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: Gov. Shapiro Says Regulated Electric, Natural Gas, Water Utility System In PA Is ‘Broken’ In Letter To 24 Companies Laying Out New System To Rein In Corporate Profits 

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: Utility Shutoffs Pose Dire Risks To Families Unable To Afford Energy Bills - By David Taylor, Director Of Patient Advocacy, Drexel University College Of Medicine

-- 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 

-- PA 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]

-- Utility Dive: FirstEnergy Opposes PJM Backstop Procurement Plan Critical To Making A.I. Data Centers Pay The Cost Of Expensive New Electric Generation 

-- 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

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: As A.I. Data Centers Drive Energy Demand, PJM Eyes New Power Generation Projects, Including First Nuclear Fusion Plant

-- TribLive: Allegheny County Condemns PJM Power Grid Operator For Slow Connection Approval Process For New Electric Generation

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

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

-- ABC27: Shapiro Names First Special Counsel For Energy Affordability, Will Examine Utility Rate Requests, Take Legal Action To Stop Utility Companies From Making Exorbitant Rate Increases

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

-- AP: Building Trades Unions Emerge As Key Political Allies Of Tech Giants In Push For A.I. Data Centers [PA Highlighted]

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

-- 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

-- [Warning]  The Guardian: Anthropic’s Claude A.I. Agent’s Confession After Deleting A Firm’s Entire Database: ‘I Violated Every Principle I Was Given’ 

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - May 4  [PaEN] 

-- May 3: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Up Another 2 Cents A Gallon From Yesterday, Now $1.41/Gallon Higher To $4.52 Since Feb. 27  [PA Average Price Spikes 37 cents since last Saturday; Forest County, PA Average Price Highest at $4.69] 

-- May 3: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $4.44 Ohio- $4.88  PA- $4.52

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

-- PennEnvironment: New Tool Shows Pennsylvania's Higher-Mileage Drivers Can Save $3,000 A Year By Switching To Electric Vehicles [PaEN]

-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Futures Hit 3-Week High As Output Falls And Companies Like EQT Cut Production Due To Low Spot Prices 

-- Financial Times: Total Profits Jump 29% As Iran War Drives Oil, Natural Gas Price Surge And Trading Gains

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

-- Financial Times: Exxon, Chevron Defy US President’s Pressure To Boost Oil Production; Stick To Prewar Strategies Despite White House Plea For More Drilling To Curb Soaring Petrol Prices 

-- The Economist: The Crisis In Oil Markets Will Get Bigger Before It Goes Away; Nothing In The Tank

-- Wall Street Journal: Iran War Is Breaking Down Global Energy Order Accelerating Shift From Oil Market And Economic Efficiency To One Shaped By Politics And Conflict

-- Daily American: Citizens to Save The Allegheny Mountain Hold May 5 Press Conference At PA Capitol To Press Their Opposition To PA Turnpike Plan To Carve A Massive, Miles-Long Open Gash Through The Allegheny Mountain

-- South Mountain Partnership, Shippensburg University: Warehousing And Particulate Matter Pollution Study In The Cumberland Valley  [PaEN] 

-- Reading Eagle: Threats Of Violence Against Both Sides Dogging A.I. Data Center Projects In Limerick Twp., Montgomery County  [PDF of Article]

-- TribLive Editorial: Do Rigid Public Comment Rules Help? When People Feel Their Voices Are Being Muted, They Shout Louder. Someone Needs To Give In On This Staring Contest, And It Shouldn’t Be the Public [Springdale, Allegheny County] 

-- DEP Chesapeake Bay Update Highlights Additional Investments In Bay Watershed Cleanups; County Water Quality Plan Progress; Assistance Programs Available  [PaEN] 

-- CBF: PA Supreme Court Ruling Local Stormwater Management Charges Are A Tax Is A 'Gut-Punch' To Clean Water Efforts  [PaEN] 

-- Interfaith Partners For The Chesapeake Bay Host May 7 Webinar On Faith And Flood Resilience In Our Communities  [PaEN] 

-- Planet Philadelphia Radio Show: May 1 - Local Resilience Training And Planning To Cope With Changing Weather Conditions, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

-- Penn State Extension To Host Keystones Of Ag Best Management Practices In-Person Workshop June 3-4 In State College  [PaEN]

-- FirstEnergy: On April 27 WestPenn Power Announced It Will Distribute Free Trees April 27 In Jeannette, Westmoreland County 

-- Call For Presentations: Delaware River Watershed Forum, Sept. 29-30 University Of Delaware; May 7 Webinar On Submitting Proposals  [PaEN] 

-- [Backward Leadership]  National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition: US House Passes Farm Bill, But Slashes Funding For Popular Farm Conservation Programs  [PaEN] 

-- Canary Media: President Is Blocking Solar Energy Generation For Farmers, Can The Federal Farm Bill Fix That? 

-- AP: President Pursues New Import Taxes Americans Will Pay To Replace Tariffs Declared Illegal By US Supreme Court  [Warning] 

-- House Committee Unanimously Reports Out Bipartisan Bill To License Water, Geothermal, Geotechnical Well Drillers  [PaEN] 

-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Hosts May 7 Webinar On Licensing Water Well Drillers To Enhance Drinking Water Safety  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension May 27 and June 24 Webinars On Private Water Supply Education And Water Testing, 1:00 p.m. 

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Future Of Chester Water Authority Reservoir Remains Unclear: Public To Private?

-- LancasterOnline: EPA Team To Check Drinking Water Pipes For Lead In Lancaster City 

-- Scranton Times: PA American Water Lawyer: Merger With Essential Utilities Will Not Raise Rates

-- PA House Committee Unanimously Reports Out Bipartisan Legislation To Ban PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' In Baby And Personal Care Products  [PaEN] 

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Leader Guest Essay: Reflecting On Progress Protecting Public Health And The Environment In The Wyoming Valley - By Andy Reilly, CEO of Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority 

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: How Long Will The Impacts Of The Massive Potomac River Sewage Spill Be Felt?

-- WESA/Allegheny Front: Three Rivers WaterKeeper Takes Aim At Neville Chemical Over Thousands Of Water Pollution Violations

-- TribLive: Laurel Highlands Stream Remains Impaired With Elevated Lead Levels From Highland Sporting Clays Runoff In Westmoreland County

-- [Backward Leadership] Natural Resources Defense Council: Congress Raids Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund [$500 Million], Well Plugging Funds [$285 Million] That Help Rural Communities  [Cuts Impact PA] 

-- TribLive: Family Of Westmoreland County Woman Who Died In Abandoned Mine Sinkhole Sues Restaurant, US Steel

-- 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 To Hold June 16 Hearing On Water Quality Permit For Rustic Ridge II Coal Mining Permit In Westmoreland County  [PaEN]  

-- Post-Gazette: A Year After Pittsburgh’s Massive, Deadly Derecho Storm, Structural Damage And Personal Trauma Linger

-- Wall Street Journal: Natural Disasters Are Rewriting Home Insurance Costs; See How It Impacts You

-- Post-Gazette: Late Freeze Deals Blow To Fruit, Other Crops Across PA

-- Erie Times/USA Today: Pennsylvania Winters Are Shorter; The Change Shows Up In Every County 

-- [Backward Leadership] TribLive/AP: US EPA Administrator Supports Slashing  Agency Budget By Half At Contentious Congressional Hearings

-- Environmental Defense Fund Budget Briefing: EPA Administrator To Testify On Budget Request Before Congress To Defend Record Budget Cuts, Agency Policies 

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Explore Pine Creek Rail Trail, Pennsylvania’s Trail Of The Year

-- TribLive: Keystone Trail Assn. Hosts Spring Hiking Weekend In Laurel Highlands

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

-- Warren Times: Allegheny National Forest Controlled Burn Concludes, Achieved Objectives

-- Williamsport Sun: Talen Energy Shares Details On Spillway Upgrade Project At Montour Preserve

-- WHYY - Zoe Read: Pennsylvania Encourages Homeowners To Ditch Their Lawns For Meadows 

-- Penn State Extension Master Gardener Plant Sale Directory By County

-- Fish & Boat Commission Summary Of April 27 Board Of Commissioners Meeting

-- DCNR: Governor’s Advisory Council For Hunting, Fishing & Conservation Seeking Candidates To Serve On Game Commission Board In 2 Regions 

-- Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Spring Migration Underway: Latest Counts Now Available  

Visit the PA Environment Digest website to learn more.

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[Posted: May 3, 2026]   PA Environment Digest