PA Environment Digest Blog: Friday 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

November 9, 10

-- Committee Schedule

Senate Voting Schedule

November 17, 18

-- Committee Schedule

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events

November 7-- In-Person. PA Forestry Association Annual Forest Symposium In State College

November 10-- Agenda Posted. Joint DEP Citizens Advisory Council + DEP Environmental Justice Advisory Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 12:30 a.m. Read more here on agenda.

November 10-- In-Person. DEP meeting/hearing on renewal of NPDES Water Quality Mining Activities for the LCT Energy Rustic Ridge #1 underground coal mine in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County and Saltlick Township, Fayette County. St. Raymond of the Mountains Parish, 170 School House Lane, Donegal. 6:00 p.m.

November 10-- Virtual. Environmental Health Project, Food & Water Watch, Partners Host Webinar On Shale Gas Fracking, Data Centers And Your Health. 7:00 p.m.

November 10-- In-Person. Penn State Extension To Hold In-Person Workshop On Solar Energy Trends - Siting, Law And Local Impact On Communities. Youngsville, Warren County. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

November 10-- In-Person. Green Building Alliance Hosts Resilient Reading Progress Report -- Revitalizing Buildings And Strengthening Community In Berks County

November 11-- In-Person. Penn State Extension To Hold In-Person Workshop On Solar Energy Trends - Siting, Law And Local Impact On Communities. Smethport, McKean County. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

November 12-- DEP Public Water System Technical Assistance Center Board meeting. Next scheduled meeting Nov. 12. (formal notice)

November 12-- In-Person. PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Hosts In-Person Southeast Regional Watersheds Workshop In Montgomery County.

November 12-- Virtual. PA Interfaith Power & Light, Partners Host Webinar -- Canopy Calling: Tree Equity From The Roots Up, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

November 12-- In-Person. Penn State Extension To Hold In-Person Workshop On Solar Energy Trends - Siting, Law And Local Impact On Communities. Tionesta, Forest County. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

November 13-- WeConservePA: 2026 Municipal Open Space Summit. Chester Springs, Chester County.

November 14-- In-Person. Regenall Climate Summit In Lancaster County. 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

November 14-- In-Person. Penn State Extension Volunteer Riparian Buffer Plantings. City of Lancaster, Lancaster County. 9:00 a.m.

November 16-- DEP - PA Energy Development Authority Board meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00 a.m.

November 16-- Virtual. Western PA Conservancy Webinar On Freshwater Mussel Conservation Plan To Help Guide Conservation Efforts In Pennsylvania. Noon.

November 17-- In-Person/Virtual. Public Utility Commission To Hold Technical Conference On Utility Costs Driven By A.I. Data Centers, Other Large Loads. 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

November 18-- Agenda Posted. DCNR Conservation & Natural Resources Advisory Council Meets Nov. 18 On Conservation And Wildlife Law Enforcement. 10:00 a.m. Read more here.

November 18-- In-Person. DEP hearing on proposed revisions to the State Air Quality Implementation Maintenance Plan for the Lancaster Nonattainment Area for Fine Particulate. DEP Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. 1:00 p.m. (formal notice)

-- In Memoriam: Ronald D. Castille, Former Chief Justice PA Supreme Court, Author Of 2013 Landmark PA Environmental Rights Amendment Decision [PaEN]

-- Green Philly Announces 2026 SustainPHL Award Recipients Celebrating Philadelphia's Environmental Changemakers [PaEN]

-- PJM Interconnection Winter Outlook: Power Supplies Should Be Available To Meet Expected Cold Weather Conditions [PaEN]

-- Lehigh University Joins PA Team To Turn Aging Shale Gas Well Into Geothermal Power Source In Indiana County; Studies Show Geothermal Could Meet 100% Of PA Electricity, Heating, Most Industrial Needs [PaEN]

-- Williamsport Sun: Republican Senate Environmental Chair Gene Yaw Expects To Work With Democrat Majority; His Priorities: Legalizing Recreational Marijuana; Not Destroying The Natural Gas Industry; Legalizing Skill Games

-- Guest Essay: All Brine From Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Contains Hazardous Pollutants, Why Are We Still Dumping It On Our Roads? - By David E. Hess, Former Secretary, PA Department Of Environmental Protection [PaEN]

-- DEP To Hold Dec. 8 In-Person Community Update On Energy Transfer/Sunoco Jet Fuel Pipeline Rupture Cleanup In Upper Makefield Twp., Bucks County [PaEN]

-- KYW: Jet Fuel Pipeline Struck During Construction In Bridgeport Boro, Montgomery County

-- PUC Approves $150,000 Penalty Settlement With UGI For Faulty Plastic Natural Gas Pipe Installation Practices [PaEN]

-- Lancaster-based Belmont Solar Celebrates 25 Years Of Installing Solar Energy Systems, Promoting A More Sustainable Future [PaEN]

-- PA Solar Center: Ambridge Borough Flips Switch On New Rooftop Solar Energy System Saving Taxpayers $509,000 In Beaver County [PaEN]

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: EOS Energy Storage Manufacturer Begins Shift To Larger Production Facility

-- PUC Approves New Rules To Allow Certain Duquesne Light Customers To Automatically Enroll Certain Customers In Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Programs

-- PennLive: A Mountain Of Coal Waste Is Burning, For Mount Carmel Twp., The Scars Run Deeper In Northumberland County

-- November 7 -- Pennsylvania Bulletin Now Available

-- WPSU: Crews Battle Wildfires In McKean, Clinton Counties As Region Sees ‘Abnormally Dry’ Weather

-- Warren Times: Wildfire Reported In Allegheny National Forest’s Bradford Ranger District

-- DCNR Fall Foliage Report Nov. 5 to 11: Enjoy The Last Few Days Of The Fall Foliage Season [PaEN]

-- WeConservePA: Voters Approved 3 Local Ballot Measures Resulting In $182 Million In New Open Space Investments [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Dec. 9 Webinar - Advice From The Woods - Ask Our Experts [PaEN]

-- WITF: Exploring The Appalachian Trail’s Stories And Community In Central PA

-- Post-Gazette - Mary Ann Thomas: Pittsburgh’s Indiana Jones: Archaeologist Discovered Early Signs Of Human Habitation In Washington County

-- TribLive: Fox Chapel Aims To Protect Unique Biodiversity Of Alamander Park In Allegheny County

A.I./Data Center - Politics

-- TribLive: Western PA Voters Question Whether Midterm Election Results Will Make A Difference [Data Centers, Skill Games, End Name-Calling, End Focus On Culture Issues]

-- York Daily Record/USA Today: PA Democrats Have The Votes In Senate, House, Here’s What They Want To Change - Minimum Wage, Boosting Education, Expanding Health Care, Legalize Marijuana [PA Senate Democrats Mentioned Data Centers]

-- Warren Times: A.I. Data Center Disgust Played Significant Role In State Senate Flip, Winners Say

-- Bradford Era: A.I. Data Center Disgust Played Significant Role In State Senate Flip, Winners Say

-- Carlisle Sentinel: A.I. Data Center Disgust Played Significant Role In State Senate Flip, Winners Say

-- BBC: Associated Press Poll Finds 56% Of 79,000 Midterm Election Voters Surveyed Said Data Centers Were A ‘Crucial or Major’ Factor In Their Votes

-- AP: A.I. Data Centers Took A Beating In Midterm Elections, Played Key Role In Flipping Seats To Democrats In State Legislatures [PA Included]

A.I. /Data Centers

-- Scranton Times: Salem Township Solicitor Could Make Millions On A.I. Data Center Community Benefit Agreements In Luzerne County

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: A.I. Data Center Complex In Middlesex Twp., Cumberland County Is Years Away From Being Operation; But Local Tax Revenue, Benefits Have Started

-- Observer-Reporter: Cecil Township Moves Toward Enacting A.I. Data Center Ordinance In Washington County

-- Williamsport Sun: Muncy Township Holds A.I. Data Center Ordinance Hearing In Lycoming County

-- Scranton Times: Archbald Planning Commission Down To 3 Members After Resignations, Need 1 More For Quorum To Address 8 A.I. Data Center Proposals

-- AP: A.I. Data Centers Took A Beating In Midterm Elections, Played Key Role In Flipping Seats To Democrats In State Legislatures [PA Included]

-- South Mountain Partnership Issues White Paper On Potential Impacts Of A.I. Data Centers, Finds Them Incompatible With Some Regional Economic, Natural Resource Goals [PaEN]

-- PUC Updates Comment Schedule On New Tools To Manage Data Centers During Emergency Periods Of Strained Electricity Supplies And Curtailments To Maintain Grid Reliability; Nov. 17 Technical Conference On Data Center Costs [PaEN]

-- Shapiro Administration: PJM Interconnection Selects 3 PA Projects In Expedited Program To Add 1.7 GW Of Generation, Energy Storage To Grid; DEP Accepting New Proposals By Nov. 16 [PaEN]

International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

[Energy Independence Means Renewables]

-- November 6: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Down 2 Pennies Since Yesterday $4.38/Gallon - $1.27/Gallon Higher Than On Feb. 27 [Beaver County $4.65 Highest Average Price]

-- November 6: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $4.06 Ohio- $3.91 PA- $4.38

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

Other States/National/International

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Federal Judge Temporarily Pauses Republican West Virginia Attorney General’s Investigation Of Environmental Groups Over Allegations They Were Misleading Consumers, Harming Energy Companies

PA Politics - Everything Is Connected

-- TribLive: Western PA Voters Question Whether Midterm Election Results Will Make A Difference [Data Centers, Skill Games, End Name-Calling, End Focus On Culture Issues - Comment: No One Mentioned $15 Minimum Wage]

-- Warren Times: A.I. Data Center Disgust Played Significant Role In State Senate Flip, Winners Say

-- Bradford Era: A.I. Data Center Disgust Played Significant Role In State Senate Flip, Winners Say

-- Carlisle Sentinel: A.I. Data Center Disgust Played Significant Role In State Senate Flip, Winners Say

-- BBC: Associated Press Poll Finds 56% Of 79,000 Midterm Election Voters Surveyed Said Data Centers Were A ‘Crucial or Major’ Factor In Their Votes

-- AP: A.I. Data Centers Took A Beating In Midterm Elections, Played Key Role In Flipping Seats To Democrats In State Legislatures [PA Included]

-- AP: Latino Voters Swing Left In Midterm Elections Lifting Democrats To Wins In Texas, Pennsylvania Over Immigration And Economic Concerns About Making Ends Meet

-- Post-Gazette: Shapiro Claims He Was Key To PA Democrats’ Success In The Election, Is He Right? [Comment: Anti-Data Center, Energy Cost Issues Flipped 4 State Senate Seats To Democrats]

-- TribLive: President’s Dept. Of Justice Sues Penn State Over In-State Tuition Policy For Undocumented Students

-- TribLive: President’s ICE Rewarded Butler County Sheriff’s Office With $200,000 For Its Help: Here’s What It Bought; Immigrant Advocate Says It’s ‘Blood Money’

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