“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 next voting day April 29, 30, May 1, 6, 7, 8, 20, 21, 22, June 3, 4, 5 -- Committee Schedule Senate next voting day April 29, 3 ..read more

On April 22, Erie regional nonprofits, municipalities, and agencies are teaming up to offer an event series focused on what Lake Erie Watershed communities can do to reduce stormwater pollution starting April 25.  Events this spring and summer will highlight what elected officials and leaders, property owners, and households can do to protect Lake Erie - through action and education.  “During spring, heavy rainfall and snowmelt occur, which causes water to flow down roads and driveways,” said Jenny Tompkins, PennFuture’s Erie Campaign Manager. “This water carries many pollutants su ..read more

On April 22, members of the Public Utility Commission voiced concerns over the potential impacts on water and wastewater public utilities and the resulting financial burden on Pennsylvania water customers as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency moves toward finalizing its proposal to designate Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) – also known as “forever chemicals” – as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). The PUC recognizes the critical role that regulated water and wastewater public utilities play in provid ..read more

On April 22, PennFuture’s Legal Team unveiled its latest guidebook: Public Participation, Public Power: A Community Guide to Local Land Use Decision-Making in Pennsylvania. This new resource is designed to educate and equip community members across Pennsylvania so that they can feel empowered to advocate for themselves and effectively engage in processes that they have often felt left out.  "When a significant land development proposal comes to town — a massive distribution center, a sprawling resort, a shopping center — locals are left wondering how it will impact their neighborhoods a ..read more

On April 22, Gov. Josh Shapiro joined Department of General Services Secretary Reggie McNeil, Constellation President & CEO Joseph Dominguez, and Lightsource bp Senior Vice President Alyssa Edwards to unveil the Commonwealth’s renewable energy initiative, the Pennsylvania Project to Utilize Light and Solar Energy (PA PULSE).  By next year, Pennsylvania will get 50 percent of its electricity from ten new solar arrays around the Commonwealth – making Pennsylvania the first state in the country to commit to getting half of its energy from solar power.  With that commitment, Pennsy ..read more

On April 22, Dickinson College, Haverford College, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, Muhlenberg College and Swarthmore College announced they have joined with three colleges in North Carolina as a part of an innovative, large-scale solar energy facility in western Kentucky. The joint initiative will allow the schools to access the benefits of renewable energy through a deal typically only feasible for large customers. “It’s really exciting to be a part of this project,” says Ken Shultes, AVP for Sustainability and Facilities Planning at Dickinson. “When combining this project with our 3 ..read more

On April 22, the Clean Air Council and Sierra Club noted the federal government finalized a significant rule that increases minimum bonding amounts from $10,000 to $150,000 per oil and gas lease on federal land.  Well bond amounts are the money that drilling companies have to put aside for eventual cleanup and plugging before being allowed to drill a new well.  However, when bond amounts are less than the actual cost of plugging, taxpayers are left responsible for cleanup costs when companies go out of business and abandon their well.  [There are as many as 250,000 abandoned c ..read more

On April 22, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority at DEP has been selected to receive over $156 million through the Solar for All grant competition to develop long-lasting solar programs that enable low-income and disadvantaged communities to deploy and benefit from distributed residential solar.  This award is part of the historic $27 billion federal Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which was created under the Inflation Reduction Act to lower energy costs for families, create good-quality jobs in communities that have been left ..read more

“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 next voting day April 29, 30, May 1, 6, 7, 8, 20, 21, 22, June 3, 4, 5 -- Committee Schedule Senate next voting day April 29, 3 ..read more

Lancaster received an early Earth Day gift of 100 new trees during the weekend. Dr. Zeshan Ismat of Lancaster City, and Dart Corporation employees. planted 100 trees on the company’s property at 110 Pitney Road, Lancaster, Saturday morning. Dr. Ismat received a 2022 Mira Lloyd Dock Partnership Diversity Award from the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership for her conservation and Environmental Justice work in under-represented portions of her community.  The Partnership is coordinated by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The Dock Award presentation to Ismat, and Saturday’s tree planting, w ..read more