PA Environment Digest Blog: Tuesday PA Environment & Energy Articles

“The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.”

-- Article I, Section 27 Pennsylvania Constitution [It’s Not A Suggestion]

House Voting Schedule

September 28, 29, 30

October 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21

November 9, 10

-- Committee Schedule

Senate Voting Schedule

September 28, 29, 30

October 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21

November 17, 18

-- Committee Schedule

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events

TODAY 6:00 p.m.: DEP Hosts Community Meeting July 14 On Proposed Air Quality Permit For Amazon Data Center In Falls Twp., Bucks County

TODAY 6:00 p.m.: Virtual. Penn State Extension Webinar: Preview Of 2026 Watershed-Friendly Tree And Shrub Sale To Help You Choose Plants Confidently. 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

July 15-- Agenda Posted. DEP Cleanup Standards Scientific Advisory Board meeting. Rachel Carson Building, Harrisburg. 9:30 a.m.

July 15-- Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA To Hold State Technical Committee Meeting In Harrisburg

July 15-- Virtual. Penn State Extension Webinar On Private Water Supply Testing Packages Available From Penn State's Agricultural Analytical Services Lab. 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

July 15-16-- In-Person. PA Sea Grant Aquaponics Educator Workshop. Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Erie.

July 16-- In-Person. Penn State Extension Workshop On Understanding PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Private Water Supplies. Uniontown, Fayette County. 1:00 p.m.

July 16-- In-Person. Powering America's Next 250 Years Energypath Conference Set For At Moravian University

July 22-- Agenda Posted. DCNR Conservation & Natural Resources Advisory Council meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00 a.m. Read more here on agenda.

July 23-- Agenda Posted. DEP Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board meeting. Rachel Carson Building, Harrisburg. 10:00 a.m.

July 27-- Virtual. Outdoor Business Alliance Of PA Hosts Webinar On Outdoor Participation Trends And What They Mean For Your Business. Noon to 1:00 p.m.

August 4-- DEP: Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority meeting. Rachel Carson Building, Harrisburg. 10:00 a.m.

-- More Reactions: Final State Budget Fails To Take On Growing Concerns About Energy Affordability And Keeping The Lights On [PaEN]

-- PJM Issues Hot Weather Alert For July 14 - 17; PJM Confirmed It Reached New All-Time Peak Load Demand 2,595 MW Over Previous Record [PaEN]

-- DEP Declares Code Orange Air Quality Alert For Tuesday, July 14 For Southwestern PA

-- KDKA: PJM Interconnection To Release Results Of Latest Electricity Auction Today

-- The Allegheny Front: Lawmaker Introduces Bill To Authorize Balcony Solar To Offset Electricity Bills

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: RISE PA Decarbonization Grants Expected To Reduce Industrial Air Pollution In Pennsylvania

-- PennLive: After Years Of Complaints About Brutal Odors, Legislation Sets Course To Regulate Food Waste Residual Disposal On Farms

-- PA Capital-Star: Farmers’ Use Of Food Processing Waste Will Be Regulated Under New PA Law

-- Republican Herald: Schuylkill Headwaters Assn. Receives $6.6 Million Federal Grant To Restore Coal Waste In North Manheim Twp

-- Penn State Center For Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training Hosts Aug. 19 Webinar On Staying Safe During Farm Visits, 9:00 a.m.

-- 2027 Penn State Extension Landowners Conference Sponsor, Exhibitor Opportunities - March 4-6, State College

-- Central Pennsylvania Conservancy To Hold Special Fundraising Event Aug. 29 At The Cameron-Masland Mansion At Kings Gap State Park In Cumberland County [PaEN]

-- Erie Times: Festival On July 18-19 To Celebrate Return Of Piping Plover To Presque Isle State Park

A.I. /Data Centers

-- TODAY 6:00 p.m.: DEP Hosts Community Meeting July 14 On Proposed Air Quality Permit For Amazon Data Center In Falls Twp., Bucks County

-- York Daily Record: Remember The $5 Billion A.I. Data Center Planned In Peach Bottom? It Could Be Dead

-- LancasterOnline: Residents Of Rural Drumore Twp. Register Concerns Against A.I. Data Centers Ahead Of Draft Ordinance

-- Scranton Times: A.I. Data Center Developer Sues Jessup Boro Asking Court To Clear The Way To Building 7 Data Center Buildings

-- WNEP: Farmers In Union, Lycoming Counties Share Concerns About Proposed PPL Transmission Line Project That Would Help Power Proposed A.I. Data Center

-- Morning Call: Allentown Planning Commission To Review Plans For A.I. Data Center At July 16 Meeting; Here’s What To Know

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: PA State Budget Saves $500 Million Data Center Sales Tax Exemption Amid Growing Opposition To A.I. Boom

-- Reuters: US PJM Power Grid Auction Prices Expected To Stabilize Near Record Highs

Today’s Oil & Gas Violations

-- Today’s Violation: DEP notified by Diversified Prod LLC of a release at a conventional well site on State Game Lands in Clearfield County, Bell Twp. and found an animal chewed thru the bottom of a 1,260 gallon tank releasing unknown quantity of contaminated water. Initial cleanup underway. DEP inspection report.

International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

[Energy Independence Means Renewables]

-- July 14: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Increased 1 Penny Since Yesterday, Now $3.97/Gallon - $.86/Gallon Higher Than On Feb. 27 [Beaver County Average Price Still Highest at $4.26]

-- July 14: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $3.85 Ohio- $3.78 PA- $3.97

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

PA Politics - Everything Is Connected

-- TribLive Editorial: How Would You Score Pennsylvania On State Budget?

-- PennLive: Here’s What’s In And Not In $50.8 Billion State Budget

-- The Center Square: ‘Fiscally Responsible’ Budget Pushes Billions ‘Off The Books’ Says Republican Rep. Diamond

-- PennLive: PA Lawmakers Break Without Taking Up Unconstitutional Murder Sentences Leaving 1,000 Individuals Serving Life In Prison In Limbo

-- PennLive: PA Legislature Awards Millions In No-Bid Contracts With Vague Receipts

-- PennLive: PA Taxpayers Paid $34 Million For Each Of 4 House, Senate Caucuses To Operate Their Own Computer Systems