Capitol Building, Capitol Complex Closed

The House of Representatives and Senate will close their offices at 10:30 due to a water main break cutting water supplies to the Capitol Building. The Governor's Office announced all state offices in the Capitol Complex, which is offices in the buildings between Seventh and Front streets, and Chestnut and Reilly streets in Harrisburg.

Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power Extend Home Energy Makeover Contest

FirstEnergy Corp.'s Metropolitan Edison Company (Met-Ed), Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec) and Pennsylvania Power Company (Penn Power) have extended their Home Energy Makeover Contest contest deadline to May 1. The contest will provide thousands of dollars in energy efficiency improvements and prizes to three customers.

Participants must have a home that is at least one year old and in need of energy efficiency improvements, including new heating and air conditioning systems, upgraded insulation, efficient windows, air sealing, efficient lighting and energy-efficient appliances.

Upgrades for winning homes will be determined based on the results of an energy assessment by a certified energy auditor.

The contest marks the start of marketing efforts aimed at increasing awareness of the benefits of energy-efficient remodeling and new construction for Pennsylvania residents and businesses.

This contest coincides with the launch of two new residential energy efficiency programs by FirstEnergy: the Whole House Program and the Energy Efficient New Homes Program.

As part of a suite of programs from FirstEnergy's Pennsylvania utilities, these programs will provide financial incentives and support for builders, remodelers, energy auditors and homeowners interested in improving the energy efficiency of their homes.

For more information on FirstEnergy's Pennsylvania residential energy efficiency programs and contest details are posted on the Home Energy Makeover Contest webpage or call 800-537-6745.

Monday NewsClips

Q&A: Pat Lupo, Christians, Environmentalists Share Special Day
Earth Day's Impact Seen In NE's Cleaner Environment
Why Are Philadelphians Pigs? Volunteers Cleanup
How Should Philadelphia Get Rid Of All That Litter?
Blog: Corbett: I'm Not Going To Let Drillers Poison The Water
Hanover Gas Drilling Treatment Site Planned
Group States Anti-Frack Water Case
Rail Upgrades Will Aid Marcellus Gas Project
Wyoming Land Trust Tempted By Marcellus Shale Gas Riches
Alcosan Projects Remove Streams From Sewer System
South Side Water Plant Under Construction
PA's Recycling Effort Called Rudderless, Drifting
Couples' Solar, Energy Efficient Home Doesn't Look Weird
Building Codes Getting Greener
Armstrong Wells To Be Checked For Chemical Contamination
Trails Project Project Proposals To Be Proposed In Luzerne
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest

Sunday NewsClips

Squad Declares Warn On Litter
Groups Give Lackawanna County A Spring Cleaning
Environment Center Hosts Blustery Earth Day Bash In Frick Park
A Call To Revamp PA Recycling Law
Editorial: Rubber Stamp Poor Standard For Gas Permits
Editorial: Strengthen Drilling Regulatory Regime
Patriot Cartoon: DEP Rubber Stamps
What Fines Reveal About Drilling In State
Column: Marcellus Gas Industry Pays Taxes, But Not Many
Drilling Economics Divides Struggling Communities
Fracking For Natural Gas Splits Towns, Families
Letter: Corbett Fumbles Marcellus Shale Oversight
Letter: Marcellus Shale Directive Causes Much Confusion
Co-Op To Deal With Gas Drilling
Chemicals Were Injected Into Wells, Congressional Democrats Report
Marcellus Forum Set For Friday At Slippery Rock
Drilling Still Stalled In Wayne County
Learning Your Legal Rights On Gas Drilling
Drilling Companies Sponsor Conference In Hershey
Alternative Natural Gas Market Showing Little Energy In PA, NJ
Editorial: Head To Gannon For New Perspectives On Marcellus Shale
Longwall Mining Destructive Study Says
Op-Ed: A Primer On The Dangers Of Radiation
Danger From Below? Butler Mine Tunnel
Much Waste Remains Beneath Pittston
Trout Season Opens Amid Blustery Conditions
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest

Saturday NewsClips

Kids Have Fun With Earth Day Activities
Senate Democratic Budget Plan Includes Severance Tax
Groups Urge Extension Of Delaware Gas Drilling Moratorium
Voluntary Online Registry Of Fracking Chemicals Draws Praise
Marcellus Shale Symposium Held In Kidder Township
Federal Grant Funds Railroad Work For Marcellus Traffic
UGI To Step Up Pipeline Replacement
Ashland To Test Sewage Plant Upgrades
Green Ideas Proposed For New Harrisburg Courthouse
Bayer Headquarters To Get Green Updates
National GOP Pushes To Deregulate Environment At State Level
NYT: National GOP Pushes To Deregulate Environment At State Level
Op-Ed: Our U.S. Senators Should Not Weaken The EPA
Suitor For Harrisburg Incinerator Waits As Officials Ponder Offer
Dauphin County Tire Recycling Event April 23
Editorial: Great Climate Debate, Bogus Protocol
Anglers Get Their Feet Wet On First Day Of Trout Season
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest

April 18 PA Environment Digest Now Available

April 18 PA Environment Digest now available. Click here to print this Digest.

Sen. Scarnati Supports Conservation Districts In Marcellus Shale Impact Fee Proposal

The PA Association of Conservation Districts this week applauded Senate President Pro Tempore Senator Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) for his support of conservation districts by dedicating a portion of his proposed impact fee legislation to help fund them.
Sen. Scarnati recently reported his intent to introduce legislation creating an impact fee for Marcellus shale activities at a Tioga County Conservation District legislative meeting. Click Here to read more…

Help Wanted: John James Audubon Center Environmental Educator Intern

Audubon Pennsylvania is seeking an environmental education summer intern for the John James Audubon Center in Audubon, PA. Deadline for applications April 20. Click Here for more details.

DEP Sets Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan Meeting April 21

On April 16 the Department of Environmental Protection published notice of an April 21 meeting of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Management Team at the DEP Southcentral Regional Office in Harrisburg starting at 12:30.

The meeting is intended to begin the process of developing Pennsylvania Phase 2 Watershed Implementation Plan

For more information, visit DEP's Chesapeake Bay webpage or contact Karen Price at 717-772-4785 or send email to: kprice@state.pa.us.

Friday NewsClips

35,000 Oppose Gas Drilling Near Delaware River
Drilling Water Treatment Plant Threatens Lawsuit Against Volz
Former Pitt Professor Continues To Blast DEP, Drillers
Drilling Highlights PA Firefighter Need
Washington County Panel: Caution Must Mix With Shale's Promise
Brook Trout Can Keep Drillers From Polluting PA Waters
USA Today PA Marcellus Shale Job Analysis
Kids Plant Philly's Trash Tree In Atlanta (Video)
Turkey Hill Wind Turbines Power Production Of Beverages, Ice Cream
Lancaster Project Gets National Brownfield Award
Garb Oil & Power Corp Will Build Tire Recycling Plant In Reading
Feds Ax Regs Treating Spilled Milk As Pollutant
Easton To Be Part Of Shad Spawning Program
Lakeland Students Traverse Nature Trail
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest