142 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Here are 142 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!

-- Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s Michelle Dunn Honored With Governor’s Lifetime Environmental Achievement Award   [PaEN] 

-- Kinsley Construction Recognized With Governor’s Environmental Award For Oil Creek Restoration Project In York County 

-- Celebrate Park And Recreation Professionals Day July 17!  [PaEN] 

-- Warren Times: Warren County Conservation District Announces Student Scholarships

-- Inquirer: Peter Grove, Award-Winning Science Educator And Lifelong Environmentalist, Has Died At 82 [ ‘Gardening, Is A Real Way To Bring About Change’ ] 

-- DEP: Equitrans Water SVC Reports Wastewater Release From Pipeline Connected To Richter Shale Gas Water Impoundment During Reclamation In Aleppo Twp., Greene County; Drainage Pipes Held Together By Duct Tape  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: Seneca Resources Failed To Notify DEP Of Casing/Cementing Failures In 6 Shale Gas Wells For 15 Years In Delmar Twp., Tioga County  [PaEN] 

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - June 27 to July 3: Shale Gas Driller Fails To Notify DEP Of Casing/Cement Failures; Pipeline Spill At Water Impoundment;  313 Conventional Abandoned Well Violations  [PaEN]  

-- Erie Times: Citing Health Concerns, FracTracker Appeals DEP Mineral Brine Conventional Well Permit In Erie County

-- PUC Investigation Finds Fatal 2025 Philadelphia Rowhouse Natural Gas Explosion Not Related To Philadelphia Gas Works Facilities, Operations  [PaEN] 

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Negotiations On Proposed LNG Natural Gas Export Facility In Eddystone Boro On Delaware River Occurring In Secret Under Nondisclosure Agreements With State Officials In Delaware County 

-- Inside Climate News: What Happened When An LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Came To A Louisiana Town 

-- Reuters: US LNG Natural Gas Exporters Divert Cargoes To Asia Where Prices Surge ​

-- Bloomberg: Bad News For LNG Natural Gas Buyers As Qatar’s Export Revival Falters

-- York Daily Record: Firefighters Battle Blaze At The 839 MW Hunterstown Natural Gas Power Plant In Adams County

-- Inquirer: US Refinery Accidents, Including In PA, Raise Questions About Cost Impact As Fuel Demand Rises; Monroe Energy Refinery Fire Recent Example In Delaware County 

-- WPXI: Tank Truck Leaks 1,000 Gallons Of Oil Into Monongahela River Tributary

-- PA House Republicans Unveil Energy Package To Eliminate Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards; Take Away Citizen Appeal Rights; Eliminate Right Of Citizens To Petition For Rule Changes; Limit Environmental Standards To Federal Standards  [PaEN]   [Warning]

-- Bloomberg: Fracking, Booming Energy Demand, Enthusiastic Political Support Power Natural Gas Rise, But For How Long?; LNG Exports Likely To Raise Domestic Prices Undermining Competitive Advantage Of Gas

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: EQT Sets Shale Gas Well Drilling Record-- 7.1 Miles Deep, 5.5 Mile Horizontal Well, In WV, Near PA Border  [Facebook post ]  [Warning]

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Pennsylvania Natural Gas Powers The Region, So Why Are Pennsylvanians Paying More? - By Sen. Kim Ward [Reality - Data Center Demand Spikes, 60% Of Electric Comes From Natural Gas And Its Price Spikes] 

-- PennLive Letter: Natural Gas Keeps Pennsylvania Powered And Prosperous - By Roger Sutton, Enola  [Number of Gas Industry Job Dropped By Nearly Half Since 2014]

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Three Mile Island Nuclear Data Center Power Plant Clears Major Hurdles To Restart, Promises Hundreds Of [Temporary] Skilled Trades Jobs - By Rob Bair, President PA State Building & Construction Trades Council

-- PJM Hot Weather Alert Remains In Place For July 4 For Entire Service Area, July 5 For Mid-Atlantic And Dominion Energy Transmission Zones [PaEN] 

-- PJM Activated Pre-Emergency Demand Response Program To Increase Reserve Generation; Again Extends Maximum Generation And Load Management Alerts To July 3  [PaEN] 

-- PJM Extends Maximum Generation And Load Management Alerts To July 2; Forecast Power Peak On July 2 Still Above All Time Record  [PaEN] 

-- PJM Interconnection Issues Maximum Generation, Load Management, Low Voltage Alerts For July 1; Received Emergency Order To Put Data Centers On Backup Generators; Forecasts Peak Power Above 2006 Record For July 2  [PaEN] 

-- PA Capital-Star: PJM Gets Green Light To Push Data Centers Onto Back-Up Power During Heat Wave

-- Bloomberg: Power Prices Soar As  Energy Emergency Grows In PJM, US Northeast; PJM Electricity Prices Exceed $2,500/MWhour

-- NRDC: PJM Membership Votes On Recommendations To Help Prevent A.I. Data Centers From Overloading The Electric Grid; PJM Board Will Have Final Say  [PaEN]  

-- Utility Dive: PJM Opposes Connection Review Waiver For $2 Billion Gas-Fired Power Plant In Ohio In Fast-Track Interconnection Review 

-- PUC Urges Consumers To Explore #WaysToStayCool and #SaveInPA As Region Faces Extreme Heat; PUC Monitoring PJM Electric Grid Operations  [PaEN]  

-- PennLive: Heat Dome Explained: What’s Causing The Dangerous High Temperatures 

-- PA Capital-Star: Amid High Heat, Power Demand In PJM Territory Could Set Records 

-- TribLive: More Frequent Heat Waves Tax Power Systems, Increasing Demand

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: How The Heatwave Is Straining Pittsburgh’s Electric Grid

-- Inquirer: PECO Electric/Natural Gas Company Workers On Strike - IBEW Local 614- First In Company History; Company Says There Should Be No Service Disruptions

-- WHYY: PECO Electric/Natural Gas Company Workers On Strike July 4th For First Time In Utility’s History  [During Extreme Heat Wave]

-- DEP Issues Code Orange Air Quality Alert For June 30 In Susquehanna Valley, Southeast PA, Lehigh Valley 

-- DEP Declares Code Orange Air Quality Alert For Wednesday, July 1 In Southeast PA  

-- DEP Declares Code Orange Air Quality Alert For Thursday, July 2 In Southeast PA

-- DEP Declares Code Orange Air Quality Alert For Friday, July 3 In Southcentral, Southeast PA 

-- PennLive: July 4th Storms Pummel PA, Stories From A Chaotic Night

-- Morning Call: New Round Of Storms In Lehigh Valley Downs Trees, Cuts Power To Thousands

-- Morning Call: Severe Storms Down Trees, Cut Power To 13,000 Amid Extreme Heat In Lehigh Valley; Communities Declare Emergencies  

-- The Citizens’ Voice: Quick Moving Storm Knocks Out Power To Thousands In Luzerne County

-- WNEP: Thousands Without Power Across Central And Northeastern PA

-- TribLive: Roads Restricted By Flash Floods In Allegheny County Sunday

-- Pennsylvania Power Outages: 202,051 Households Without Power - July 5 - 7:00 a.m.

-- Pennsylvania Power Outages: 263,261 Households Without Power - July 4 - 9:45 p.m. 

-- PPL Electric Power Outages: 125,398 Customers Without Power - July 5 - 7:00 a.m.            

-- PPL Electric Power Outages: 146,454 Customers Without Power - July 4 - 9:45 p.m. 

-- FirstEnergy Electric Power Outages: 52,992 Customers Without Power - July 5 - 7:00 a.m.

-- FirstEnergy Electric Power Outages: 60,919 Customers Without Power - July 4 - 9:45 p.m. 

-- PECO Electric Power Outages: 17,328 Customers Without Power - July 5 - 7:00 a.m. [Union Workers Currently On Strike] 

-- PECO Electric Power Outages: 45,469 Customers Without Power - July 4 - 9:45 p.m.  [Union Workers Currently On Strike]

-- Fortune Magazine: A.I. Data Centers Are So Hot Their ‘Heat Island’ Effect Is Raising Temperatures Up To 6 Miles Away

-- Bloomberg: Amazon, Google Report Carbon Emissions Spike With Runaway Growth Of A.I. Data Centers

-- Wall Street Journal: A.I. Data Centers Use Far More Water Than Most Tech Giants Report 

-- Energy Efficiency Alliance Releases 15 New Case Studies Showing How Southwest PA Businesses, Organizations Are Saving On Energy Bills Thanks To Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency [No Fuel - No Price Spikes]  [PaEN]  

-- Canary Media: Mid-Sized, Community Solar Energy Facilities Could Help Bring Down Electricity Bills In Pennsylvania  [No Fuel - No Price Spikes] 

-- Post-Gazette: Unprecedented Power Surge At Pittsburgh Airport Tested Limits Of Microgrid, Did It Work As Planned? 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Eos Energy Storage Company Secures $125 Million In New Funding For Frontier Power USA Independent Power Venture

-- Spotlight PA: State Lawmakers Want To Lower Electric Bills By Cutting Gross Receipts Tax, But The Budget Impact Might Be Too Big To Swallow

-- PA Capital-Star: Garrity And Shapiro Have Accused Each Other Of Flip-Flopping On A.I. Data Centers - Are They Both Right?

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh Tech Council Urges Pause On Legislation Regulating A.I. Data Centers To Protect Manufacturing Jobs [No Consideration Of What Delay Would Cost Communities, People]

-- Senate Committee Moves Bills Authorizing Individual Municipalities To Enact Moratoriums On Consideration Of A.I. Data Center Proposals-- After Voting Down A Statewide 3-Year Moratorium  [PaEN]  

-- The Center Square: Individual Municipal A.I. Data Center Moratoriums Get Support In Republican-Run PA Senate

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: Instead Of Diving Headfirst - PA Lawmakers Must Pass A Full Moratorium On Considering Hyperscale A.I. Data Center Proposals - By Ginny Marcille-Kerrslake, Food and Water Watch In West Whiteland Twp. 

-- House Committee Amends Senate-Passed Tax Code Bill On Data Centers, Then Adjourned To Sept. 28  [PaEN] 

-- The Center Square: House Passes [3rd] Bill Putting Conditions On Qualifying For State Sales Tax Exemption For Data Centers, Including A Ban On Nondisclosure Agreements

-- PennLive: With A.I. Data Centers In Mind, PA House Votes 193-9 To Close Sunshine Act Public Meeting Notice Loophole After PA Supreme Court Ruling  [House Bill 2146] [Senate Passed Senate Bill 1150 In June] 

-- Inside Climate News: Echoes Of The Past In PA Coal Towns’ Fight Against A.I. Data Centers 

-- Scranton Times: Jessup Boro Considers Suing State Over Not Considering Cumulative Impact Of 7 A.I. Data Center Projects In Their Community: ‘Say Yes Or Get Sued Into Oblivion’

-- Republican Herald: Six A.I. Data Center Hearings Set For Next 8 Days By PUC, Kline Twp. Planning Commission In Schuylkill County

-- Inquirer: East Whiteland Twp. Directs A.I. Data Center Developer To Stop Work On Data Center Project On Superfund Hazardous Waste Site So Township, EPA Can Review Health And Safety Plans In Chester County

-- The Shenandoah Sentinel: Former Rep. Todd Eachus Dragged Out Of Kline Twp. Planning Commission Hearing On A Proposed A.I. Data Center Development In Schuylkill County  

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson:  Middlesex Twp. A.I. Data Center Project Gets More Green Lights For 2nd Of 3 Data Center Campuses Even As Legal Hurdles Loom In Cumberland County

-- ExploreJeffeersonPa.com: A.I. Data Center Debate Heats Up In Jefferson County Over Massive Water Demands 

-- WVIA: Residents Testify Against PPL Electric Transmission Line Project Planned For Data Centers In Luzerne County

-- PA Capital-Star: Advanced Electricity Transmission Tech Could Cut Costs For Consumers, Advocates Say; PA House Passed Bill To Assess Its Uses In Building New Power Lines  

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - July 6  [PaEN]

-- PUC Invites Comments On Potential Regulations For Interconnecting Electric Loads, Including Large Loads, Like Data Centers [PaEN]  

-- DEP Issues 2 Chapter 105 Permits For Project Hazelnut A.I. Data Centers Offsite Utilities In West Hazleton Borough, Luzerne County  [PaEN] 

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: New Environmental Integrity Project Report Shows How Gas/Fossil Fuel Power Plants Would Significantly Increase Pollution In Pennsylvania 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Environmental Integrity Project Report Details Climate And Health Impacts Of Natural Gas Power Plants For PA Data Centers: ‘Fossil Fuels Should Not Power A Technology Of The Future’ 

-- DEP Invites Comments On Renewal Of Title V Air Quality Permit For Keystone Coal-Fired Power Plant In Armstrong County  [PaEN] 

-- WESA: PA Democratic Member Of Congress Summer Lee Introduces Bill To Boost Black Lung Disease Payments For Coal Miners

-- US DOE: CONSOL Innovations, LLC Selected To Participate In $75 Million Program To Recover Critical Minerals From Coal, Coal-Based Feedstocks 

-- Inquirer: Shelter-In-Place Order Lifted After Freight Train Derailment In Bucks County, No Hazmat Leaks

-- WHYY: CSX Freight Train Derails In Bensalem, Bucks County: ‘No Threat To Public Safety’

-- Courier Times: Train Derailments Like The One This Week In Bucks County Appear To Be On The Decline

-- PA Dept. of Agriculture: Get Ready To Apply For Resource Enhancement & Protection (REAP) Farm Conservation Tax Credits  [PaEN] 

-- PA Interfaith Power & Light Issues RFP For At Least 50,000 Trees For Roots Branches & Hands Tree Planting Initiative  [PaEN]  

-- Dept. Of Agriculture To Start Accepting Applications For Sustainable Agriculture Grants July 13  PaEN]  

-- WNEP: An Ancient Lenape Ceremony Blessing The Delaware River In Monroe County 

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Federal Court Hears Arguments To Halt Cuffs Run Pump-Storage Susquehanna River Hydroelectric Project In York County  [PaEN]

-- DEP: Drought Conditions In Berks, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh Counties Worsen From Drought Watch To Warning  [PaEN]  

-- PA American Water Encourages Customers To Practice Wise Water Use As Hotter, Drier Conditions Raised Drought Concerns Across Pennsylvania

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Aug. 5 Webinar On Forested Headwaters And Drinking Water Quality  [PaEN] 

-- Environmental Quality Board Meets July 14 To Consider Final PFAS Land Recycling Program Regulation Changes, Hear Fee Reports On Water Quality Permits, Erosion & Sedimentation Permits  [PaEN] 

-- DEP/Agriculture Invite Comments On Updated Safeguards To Prevent PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' In Wastewater Biosolids From Polluting Groundwater  [PaEN]

-- EPA Seeks Comment On Draft Guidance For Reducing Risks From PFOA/PFOS In Wastewater Biosolids [When Released]   [PaEN] 

-- Observer-Reporter: Heatwave Could Contribute To Algae And Bacteria Growth In Local Waterways

-- The Allegheny Front: After Demolition Of Elizabeth Locks & Dam, The Impact  On Monongahela River And Businesses That Depend On It Is Much Different Than Expected 

-- TribLive: Citizen Lawsuit Blames Sherwin-Williams’ Beaver County Plant For ‘Noxious’ Fumes

-- AP: President Pardons 11 People, 9 People Identified By The White House As Having Helped People Bypass Vehicle Emissions Control Systems  [Warning]

-- The Citizens’ Voice: EPA Outlines Remediation Plan For Former Foster Wheeler Superfund Site In Wright Twp., Luzerne County

-- TribLive: Benches Made From Recycled Plastics Popping Up In Brackenridge, Harrison In Allegheny County

-- Allegheny Front: Nature’s Upcycling: How To Find Beach Glass Along Shores Of Lake Erie

-- French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust Preserves 34 Acres In North Coventry Twp., Chester County  [PaEN] 

-- ChestnutHillLocal.com: PA Senate Republican Bill Putting Limits On The Rights Of Private Property Owners To Sell Their Land For Conservation Purposes Opposed By Conservationists  

-- PA iMapInvasives Program Invites Public To Search For Wavyleaf Basketgrass Invasive Species During Basketgrass Bonanza;  July 29 Webinar [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Center For Pollinator Research News: Master Gardeners Support Pollinator Research; Beescape Updates; Lehigh Valley Biology Professor Honored With National Award

-- City & State PA: Philly’s New Tree Coalition Leading Street Tree Planting Movement And Cooling Neighborhoods In The Process 

-- Inquirer: Schwenksville Couple Builds Wildflower Meadow In Their Front Yard In Montgomery County 

-- Post-Gazette: Want More Fireflies?  You Can Attract Them Next Summer With Master Watershed Stewards Native Plant Kits 

-- Williamsport Sun: Reflections In Nature: Plants Have Ways Of Defending Against Insect Predators In Nature

-- Penn State Extension: Pennsylvania Roots Of American Plant Knowledge- John & William Bartram, Henry Muhlenberg 

-- DCNR To Open Southern Portion Of Catawissa Recreation Area, Expanding Off-Highway Vehicle Recreational Opportunities In Weiser State Forest In Schuylkill, Luzerne Counties 

-- York Daily Record - Brian Whipkey: DCNR Opens Catawissa Recreation Area Dirt Bike Trails July 6

-- WVIA: DCNR To Open Southern Half Of Catawissa Off-Road Recreation Area In Schuylkill County: Rocky, Steep, Tight, Fun

-- DCNR Grants News: 4 City Outdoors For All Day Tour Kicks Off; All-Wheels Skatepark Opens In State College; Friendship Park Opens In Bethlehem; Conestoga River Of The Year 

-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation Welcomes Interns Natalie Nichols And Annalise Velasquez   [PaEN] 

-- Tribune-Democrat: Johnstown Gathering Celebrates Region’s Trails: ‘Unbelievable Outdoor Recreation’

-- Tribune-Democrat: 12th Annual Chernisky Classic July 6 On Ghost Town Trail

-- TribLive: International Junior Athletes To Compete For Disc Golf Championship In Western PA

-- Williamsport Sun: Get Your Kids Outdoors This Summer

-- Williamsport Sun: 3 Dozen Veterans Connect With Volunteers, Nature While Sharing Stories

-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy Accepting Entries For Summer Confluence: Land, Water, Wildlife Photo Contest Aug. 3 to 31

-- The Nature Conservancy-PA News: Enjoy Guided Hikes, Summer Experiences; Students - Dive Into Creek Critter Adventure! Volunteer For Cove Mountain Preserve Restoration

-- Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Highlights Summer Experiences, Events, Educational Programs 

-- TribLive: Why Early Diagnosis Matters When It Comes To Lyme Disease Carried By Ticks 

-- Inquirer: President’s Administration Removes Mentions Of Slavery From Independence Hall, Thomas Jefferson Portrait  [Warning] 

-- The Guardian: Inside President’s Campaign To Erase US History From National Parks: ‘A Sanitized View Of America’  [Warning] 

-- State Agencies Launch Initiative To Make Roads Safer, Reduce Wildlife Collisions By Developing A Statewide Wildlife Connectivity Strategy To Promote Wildlife Crossings  [PaEN]

-- Beaver Times - Brian Whipkey: Pennsylvania Creates Work Group To Create Road Crossings For Wildlife

-- Planet Philadelphia Radio Show: July 3 - Saving Nature In Urban And Wild Lands, 4:00 p.m. 

-- WHYY: ‘Rewilding Philadelphia’ Greening Project Brings Pocket Forest To Kensington

-- Erie Bird Observatory, Presque Isle State Park, Tom Ridge Environmental Center Host Pennsylvania Piping Plover Fest In Erie On July 18-19  [PaEN]

-- PennLive: Raven Ridge Wildlife Center Rescues Albino Cardinal In Lancaster County 

-- Williamsport Sun Guest Essay: Throughout Central PA, Birds Come And They Go -  By Gary Metzger, Lycoming Audubon Society

-- WTAE: President Launches Program To Give Babies Born During His 2nd Term  $1,000 To Invest In The Stock Market; Does Your Child Qualify?

Visit the PA Environment Digest website to learn more.

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[Posted: July 5, 2026]   PA Environment Digest