Energy
As PA gubernatorial candidates push more gas production, report collects studies that show fracking harms
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Industry condemns the report, while advocates cite growing climate fears.
Environment
Pennsylvania governor candidates show support for fossil fuels, ignore climate in run-up to primary
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StateImpact Pennsylvania checked in on how climate change and energy issues are playing out in the state’s race for governor.
App NEWS
The race is on (again) to build out a low-carbon hydrogen economy
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Companies in Appalachia pursue $8B in infrastructure funds for network of natural gas and ‘blue’ hydrogen
Energy
New York Climate Action Council holds hearings on greenhouse gas emissions
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Among the goals is requiring 85% of homes and commercial buildings to be equipped with electrified heat pumps instead of fossil fuel-based furnaces.
Environment
Pennsylvania’s climate rule met with applause and court threats upon finalization
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Lawmakers opposed to joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative promised to fight on in court, while environmental groups hailed the move.
Environment
What the latest U.N. climate report says about transportation
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There are still things we can do about climate change, including changes to one of our biggest sources of climate polluting emissions: transportation.
Crime and Justice
Commonwealth Court pauses Pennsylvania’s effort to enact climate rule
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A Pennsylvania court is holding up the regulation that would let the state join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Energy
PA GOP measures to boost natural gas output unlikely to succeed, analysts say
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The measures seek to halt Gov. Tom Wolf’s moratorium on new drilling under state forests.
Energy
Record-breaking offshore wind leases top $4 billion for coastal New York
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Biden Administration touts job-creating potential of wind industry
agriculture
Penn State researchers aim to debunk myths surrounding spotted lanternfly
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While lanternflies can stress trees, it appears they only kill grapevines and tree of heaven, also an invasive species, directly by feeding on them.
Environment
PA House passes change to Clean Streams Law; critics say it will weaken enforcement
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Critics say the one year timeframe for creating new regulations is especially unworkable. New regulations often take up to two years to develop.
Energy
PA adjusts proposed methane rule, but critics say it’s not enough
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“Not only does this put the health of Pennsylvania families at risk, but it also means more methane pollution.”
binghamton
Climate Action Council co-chair optimistic about New York’s emission reduction goals
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“You can’t leave it to the last minute. This is not like a term paper in college that you can just pull an all-nighter and make it happen.”
Environment
PA moves forward with rule to limit ‘forever chemicals’ in water
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The state expects the rule will cost water systems more than $121 million a year for treatment and monitoring.
App NEWS
Advocates call on Governor to expand New York’s bottle bill
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“Right now juices and Gatorade aren’t covered by the Bottle Bill and we need to see those plastics get back into the recycling stream.”
DEC
You’re Uninvited: Stopping the Spread of Invasive Species
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Virtual Panel & Screening
November 18 at 7pm ET
What would happen if wine, maple syrup, and apples disappeared from our tables? This is what’s at stake with invasive species.
Join us for a screening and panel discussion on ‘Uninvited: The Spread of Invasive Species’ released by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Hear from experts from New York: DEC Forest Health Diagnostic Lab Coordinator Jess Cancelliere, Ag & Markets Division of Plant Industry Coordinator Chris Logue, and filmmaker Steve Powers. They will share which invasive species are having a large impact on ecosystems and the economy and what New York State is doing to help.
Environment
New York Proposition Two Would Guarantee Right To Clean Air And Water
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There are pros and cons to a ballot proposal that would guarantee New Yorkers’ rights to clean air and water.
App NEWS
Environmental Rights Are On New York’s Ballots This Election
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“15 simple words, each person shall have a right to clean air and clean water and a healthful environment.”
Crime and Justice
PA Charges Energy Transfer With Environmental Crimes Over Mariner East Pipeline Project
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Texas-based pipeline builder Energy Transfer faces 48 criminal charges related to construction of its Mariner East pipeline project.
App NEWS
Vineyard Pest Found In Finger Lakes Region
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Treatments include “trap-trees” with a synthetic insecticide, a full-year applied pesticide, and treating any egg masses with a soybean-based product.
Environment
By 2035, Only Electric Cars Will Be Sold In New York State
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“Gasoline and diesel fuel vehicles are responsible for smog, toxic particulate matter that drives adverse health outcomes.”
Energy
New York Governor Sets New Solar Energy Goal, Announces Major Infrastructure Projects
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“This is a major, major initiative to deliver clean, healthier air and more electricity to New York City.”
Environment
New York Assembly Considers Limiting A Pesticide Linked To Bee Deaths
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The compounds, known as Neonicotinoids, or “neonics,” have been widely used during the past 15 years in a pre-treatment for corn, soy and wheat seeds.
Environment
PA Study Finds Drilling Wastewater Not Usually Best Option For Road Treatment
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Earlier research found oil and gas brines contain harmful material
Education
As Climate Change Urgency Grows, PA Is Still Working On New Standards For Teaching About It
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Students heading back to school may not hear about climate change in the classroom because of outdated science education standards.
Environment
PA’s 25-Year Plan For State Parks Stresses Need To Address Effects Of Climate Change
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The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources says climate change is front-and-center as it plans for the future of the Commonwealth’s parks. CLICK HERE.
Energy
When It Comes To Electricity, Pennsylvanians Have Lots Of Options. Experts Say Do Your Homework
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Pa. adopted rules intended to protect people from market volatility like what Texas saw last winter
Environment
Endangered Birds Spark Debate Along Lake Ontario
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“I mean, they’re adorable, but unfortunately… these two tiny birds [could] cause the livelihoods and the property values of a lot of people.”
Energy
Renewables Overtake Coal, But Natural Gas Still Dominates U.S. Power Generation
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Natural gas still leads as the nation’s top source of electricity, generating 1,617 kWh last year, or about 40% of U.S. power generation.
App NEWS
Flood Recovery Efforts Continue In Otsego County
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“We’re starting to see it more and more. The weather patterns, I think are changing.”
App NEWS
Partners Celebrate Milestone In Sturgeon Restoration Effort
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Sturgeon are native to Lake Ontario and the Genesee River, but habitat loss and overfishing decimated the population, causing it to dwindle to almost nothing by the early 1900s.
App NEWS
Study: Biden Climate Policy Would Have $1T In Health Benefits, Save Thousands Of Lives
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Pennsylvania would be among top beneficiaries of cleaner air
App NEWS
Environmental Advocates Call for Changes To Proposed Federal Climate Legislation
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“We would like him to remove all dirty fossil fuel solutions, including, for example, the combined heat and power plants, which run on fracked gas. That, under Mr. Tonko’s definition, is clean energy,”
Energy
EPA-Approved Fracking Fluids Include Substances That Form ‘Forever Chemicals’
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STATEIMPACT PENNSYLVANIA – Companies that drill for natural gas in Pennsylvania have used EPA-approved PFAS or pre-cursors to PFAS in fracking operations in other states, according to a report by Physicians for Social Responsibility. CLICK HERE.
Energy
State Report: PA Extracted More Natural Gas Than Ever During Pandemic
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Unconventional wells produced 7.1 trillion cubic feet of gas last year, even as national and regional natural gas prices dipped in response to the pandemic.
A Mystery Illness Is Killing Pennsylvania Songbirds
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Wildlife officials are asking people not to feed birds or provide bird baths amid dozens of reports of mysterious songbird deaths.
Environment
November Ballot Question Will Determine Right to Clean Air and Water
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“Voters are going to be asked a simple question. Should we add to New York state’s bill of rights, the right to clean air, clean water and a healthful environment?”
Environment
What Researchers Are Learning About Air Pollution And The Pandemic Shutdown
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“The pandemic made it clear that traffic is an important source of pollutants for the air that we breathe. But the fact that we have this data will allow us to understand those interactions better.”
Environment
‘Left At The Altar’: New York Climate Activists Lament Unapproved Bills
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The Students for Solar Act passed with unanimous support in the state Senate, but never reached the floor of the Assembly for a vote.
‘Crazy Worms’ Threaten New York’s Trees — And (Gasp!) Our Maple Syrup
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The invasive worms, which reproduce rapidly, are creating havoc in forests. They thrash around so violently that they can jump out of a person’s hand. They also lose their tail — on purpose.
Dunkirk unveils 7 Possible Re-uses For Former NRG Power Plant
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Originally known as the Niagara Mohawk Power Plant, the facility operated from the 1950s until 2015. Decommissioning began last year.
App NEWS
PA Sprays For Gypsy Moths In 19 Counties, Hoping To Reduce Spike In Leaf-Rating Insect
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Pennsylvania hopes to bring down a boom in the gypsy moth population, spraying for the invasive species of caterpillar in 19 counties, including northwest Pennsylvania.
Energy
Climate Bill Before New York Senate Could Lead To Higher Prices At The Pump
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“The car is a way of life here. It is not just for recreational purposes. People need this to go to work. People need this to take care of business.”
Energy
New York Lawmakers Seek to Expand Electric Vehicle Access By Allowing Direct Sales
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“We want to make it easier for customers to have access to them wherever you live in New York state, not just in the downstate markets.”
Environment
Spotted Lanternflies Due To Hatch. Learn How To Make A Trap For This Invasive Insect
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There are strict orders in quarantine counties aimed at stopping the invasive pest’s spread westward or even between municipalities within a county.
Environment
DEC Commissioner Says Funding Necessary for New York’s Environmental Projects
|
“We do need to find a way to pay for all the transportation, housing, industrial changes that the state will undertake.”
Economy
Republicans Claim Proposed New York Climate Bill Will Hurt Consumers
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Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt said he was concerned about a proposed fee in the legislation that would charge fossil fuel companies $55 per ton of greenhouse gases.
Arts & Culture
New Book Explores Private Land, Public Good And Fracking In PA
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Fracking caused upheaval over the disruption and environmental degradation in the rural communities surrounding Williamsport, and challenged the rural values of independence and sovereignty over private property.
Environment
Disposable Mask Pollution Concerns Environmentalists
|
Environmental experts urge people to cut the ear loops off their masks before throwing them in the trash. Sea turtles, birds, and other marine wildlife can become entangled in the loops.
New York Governor Urges Biden To Order 100% Zero-Emission Car Sales By 2035
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In a letter to the president, 12 governors asked that the White House order a ban on greenhouse gas-emitting cars and light trucks within 14 years.
Energy
New York Invests $400 Million of Pension Fund Into Renewable Sources
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“New York State’s pension fund is at the leading edge of investors addressing climate risk, because investing for the low-carbon future is essential to protect the fund’s long-term value.”
App NEWS
Biden’s Climate Pitch Could Hit Turbulence From Some Fossil Fuel-Friendly Unions
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“Jobs in renewables don’t always match up for displaced workers.”
New York Announces Agreement To Decommission Indian Point Nuclear Plant
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New York state leaders say an agreement has been reached concerning the decommissioning and cleanup of the Indian Point nuclear power plant in the lower Hudson Valley.
Environment
Aboard The Lake Guardian, Scientists Fish For The Story Of Lake Ontario
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When the ice melts each spring, the ship visits each of the five lakes to measure basic water quality and sample the “lower food web” — the tiny animals, plants, and algae that support fish and other aquatic life.
Energy
Injection Wells Exist To Hold Fracking Wastewater, But The Water Can Move. Here’s how
|
Salty wastewater produced by fracking for oil and gas has to go somewhere. Often, it’s injected into disposal wells deep underground. But sometimes that wastewater can find its way back to the surface and cause environmental problems.
App NEWS
PA Finds PFAS In A Third Of Public Water Systems; None Exceeded EPA Limit
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Critics push PA to set enforceable drinking water levels to protect public health
App NEWS
Note To Nesting Songbirds: Avoid Natural Gas Compressors
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A study by Penn State researchers found that songbirds nesting near the sound of natural gas compressors had fewer hatched eggs.
New York State Urged To Lower Lead Levels In Schools
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“We know that in particular young children are at risk of neurological and behavioral health consequences associated with developing bodies and that is something that lasts forever.”
Environmental Advocates Say New York Should Keep Promise And Fund Climate Change Initiatives
|
Environmental advocates say money in the state budget meant for environmental initiatives needs to stay intact. Advocates want the state to fund the environmental programs they promised.
App NEWS
PA Proposal To Join Regional Cap-And-Trade Program Draws 13,000 Comments
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“The public comment period just makes it clear that Pennsylvanians are really clamoring for concrete action to reduce climate pollution.”
App NEWS
With Biden’s Vow To Rejoin Paris Agreement, PA Cities Anticipate Federal Partnership On Climate
|
“We need Joe Biden to demonstrate that he truly is a man that believes in science and believes in honoring the commitment to protect future generations.”
Environment
Climate Scientist Michael Mann Interview: ‘We’re Going To Need Every Tool We Have’
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“We should engage in everyday actions and changes in our lifestyle, that reduce our environmental footprint, that often make us healthier and happier and save us money, things we ought to do anyway.”
Emerald Ash Borer Leads To Cornell Plan To Cut Some Ash Trees, Save Others
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“As the ash borer population increases and the tree health declines, they become a safety hazard.”
Energy
Governor Unveils Ambitious Green Energy Program For New York
|
Plans include new solar farms and off shore wind turbines, and more transmission lines across the state.
Environment
Pennsylvania Pays $34 Million For Water Cleanup
|
Of the 149 projects granted money from the Growing Greener program, 43 in south central Pennsylvania will get $12 million.
Economy
Families And Advocates Criticize PA’s Fracking Health Studies
|
State announced $3.9 M studies after pressure from families of rare cancer patients in SW PA
Environment
What’s Next For Energy And Environment Under Biden?
|
President-elect Biden says he will rejoin the Paris Agreement on day one.
Environment
Trump And Biden Differ Sharply On The Environment — And That Means The Election Stakes Are High For PA
|
Energy, pollution policies are felt deeply in Pennsylvania.
App NEWS
New York State, Advocates Hope Public Will Help Enforce Plastic Bag Ban
|
“It could not come a day too soon. New Yorkers use a staggering 23 billion plastic bags every year.”
Environment
New York Begins Plastic Bag Ban Enforcement October 19th
|
The COVID-19 pandemic, and an unsuccessful lawsuit brought by the plastics industry delayed its implementation.
Economy
New York To Begin Enforcing Plastic Bag Ban Oct. 19
|
New York state will begin enforcing its ban on single-use carry-out plastic bags next month after a brief hiatus of the law due to a legal challenge brought earlier this year.
Mockingbirds Catch A Break As New York Judge Strikes Down Trump Bird Opinion
|
In 2017, the Trump administration scaled back protections of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. A federal judge has now struck down the rule change — and cited To Kill a Mockingbird in so doing.
Education
Participants Sought To Help New York Rate Creeks, Streams
|
“And the really cool thing is when you fill out a survey on your smartphone, it geolocates you. We’re able to go back to that exact same spot and we’ll do the water quality testing.”
Environment
New York Adopts Drinking Water Standards For Three Emerging Contaminants
|
“I think these are still historic and appropriate and protective drinking water standards that will protect New Yorkers for decades to come.”
Environment
Cuomo Scraps $3 Billion Environmental Bond Act
|
New York, fearing the financial implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, has decided to pull an item from this year’s ballot to decide if the state should borrow $3 billion to fund a series of environmental projects related to climate change.
New York State Bids For Large-Scale Renewable Energy Projects
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Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul tweeted it is “the largest ever combined solicitations for renewable energy ever issued in the U.S.”
Environment
Upstate’s Howie Hawkins Picked As Green Party Candidate For President
|
This will be the 25th time Hawkins has run for office, but his first national campaign. He’s run for Congress, U.S. Senate, governor and several other state and local offices.
How To Clear Invasive Species? Get Goats!
|
“They’re tipping the balance towards a more diverse ecosystem. The result will be beauty and color in the landscape, new homes for butterflies improved water quality and a stronger web of life.”
Crime and Justice
Republican Lawmakers Defend Shale Gas Industry; Grand Jury Says PA Failed To Protect Public From Fracking
|
Secretary of Environmental Resources and Energy panel said he was offended by AG’s characterization of natural gas industry
Crime and Justice
PA Grand Jury Report On Fracking: State Failed To Protect Public Health
|
Grand jury makes proposals on regulation, oversight of fracking industry
Energy
PA Says 2 Gas Drilling Companies Committed Environmental Crimes. Here’s Why People Are Rarely Charged
|
“When a crime is committed because of how a company does business, rather than an individual’s actions, we charge the company.”
Trump Administration Limits New York’s Power To Stop Oil And Gas Pipelines
|
In recent years, climate activists and states have used the Clean Water Act to block pipelines and other fossil fuel projects. A new EPA rule makes that harder,
Energy
Study Finds Methane Leaks In PA Much Higher Than State Reports
|
Estimates don’t capture leaks from ‘abnormal’ conditions, Environmental Defense Fund says
App NEWS
Coronavirus Delays Conservation Efforts In Pennsylvania
|
“The whole spring season is basically lost.”
App NEWS
Pipeline Explosion Resulted In Huge State Fine. Now, PA Has Found Hundreds Of New Violations
|
Regulator, company at odds over erosion, hillside slips
Environment
New York’s Plastic Bag Ban Effectively On Hold
|
“The science just does not back up shifting to plastic bags. But everyone is trying to make the best of a really difficult situation.”
Energy
The Struggling Coal Industry Hammered Further By Coronavirus
|
‘Everything that can go wrong, has gone wrong’
50 Years After Its Debut, New York Professor Explores The ‘Genius Of Earth Day’
|
“Politicians took notice. Nothing like this had ever happened. It was obvious that people really cared more than anyone had known about clean air and clean water.”
App NEWS
On 50th Anniversary Of Earth Day, Social Distancing Could Bring People Back To Nature
|
“I think it is a good time to reflect on the power of nature, and where we were as a planet 50 years ago, and where we want to get.”
Environment
Can Air Pollution Make Coronavirus Worse? Scientists Say Yes
|
“I think that we would have a less severe outbreak if we had lower levels of air pollution.”
Environment
COVID-19 Prompts EPA To Relax Enforcement, But State And Local Governments Do Most Of The Oversight
|
Federal agency said new policy doesn’t mean facilities can exceed allowed pollution limits
App NEWS
Spring Is Here, But Is Nature In Sync?
|
“Trees, as a group, are more responsive to these temperature shifts than wildflowers,”
App NEWS
Mariner East Construction Back On After Waiver Requests Approved
|
Wolf administration grants all of Energy Transfer’s waiver requests
App NEWS
Energy Transfer Seeks Waiver To Continue Some Mariner East Work
|
Company says state has allowed some work to continue.
App NEWS
PA’s Coronavirus Shutdown Order Appears To Include Mariner East Pipeline Construction
|
Construction on the Mariner East pipeline appears to be halted by Gov. Wolf’s new order that shuts down all “non-life-sustaining” operations and businesses.
Featured in Category
Food CO-OP Calls New York’s Upcoming Plastic Bag Ban No Big Deal
|
“We’re lucky that over half of our shoppers are already using reusable bags. We sell dozens of different kinds. It’s kind of a normal thing here.”
Trespassing Charges Dropped Against Ithaca Chase Bank Protesters
|
The group said it occupied the bank to protest its investment in the fossil fuel industry.
Environment
New York Prepares For March 1st Plastic Bag Ban
|
The Department of Environmental Conservation has stepped up its efforts in recent days to help New Yorkers understand the new rules.
Environment
Supporters/Opponents Find Fault With New York’s Plastic Bag Ban Regulations
|
“They’re going to have a mess on their hands when this really goes into effect. There’s going to be some clean up on aisle three.”
App NEWS
PA Governor’s Cap-And-Trade Proposal Takes Step Forward
|
DEP acting on governor’s executive order — which Republicans are challenging
App NEWS
Feds Lower Coal Mine Cleanup Funds For PA
|
Pennsylvania is getting less money from the federal government this year to clean up its old abandoned mines.
App NEWS
Budget Proposal Boosts Staff At PA’s Departments Of Environmental Protection, Conservation and Natural Rresources
|
In annual budget address, Wolf talked about need for pipeline reform
App NEWS
Pennsylvania Poll Finds Registered Voters Split On Fracking Ban
|
Support for a ban strong in cities and suburbs; weak in rural SW Pennsylvania
App NEWS
Governor’s Support For Petrochemicals Raises Climate Worries As PA Tries To Cut Carbon Emissions
|
Plastics build-out could conflict with governor’s climate goals
air quality
PA, New York Join Suit Against EPA Over Chemical-Safety Rules At Industrial Sites
|
New York and Pennsylvania joined 12 other states and the District of Columbia in a federal lawsuit that says the new rules violate the Clean Air Act.
Education
In A Budget Preview, Governor Calls For A Deep Cleanup At PA Schools
|
His latest ask is more than a billion dollars to clean up lead and asbestos in Pennsylvania’s schools, houses and water systems.
binghamton
Wegmans’ Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban Begins
|
The grocery chain is getting an early start on the state-wide ban, which begins in March.
App NEWS
Environmentalists Commend/Challenge Cuomo’s Climate Initiative Budget
|
“If we want to lower our transportation emissions, we have to address getting people out of their personal vehicles or ensuring that the personal vehicles that are left become electrified more rapidly.”
App NEWS
PFAS Chemicals Detected In Water Supplies Nationwide
|
In Philadelphia, the survey found two of the most commonly researched PFAS chemicals at levels far below the EPA’s recommended limit.
Energy
PA Orders Range Resources To Clean Up Its Act On Lycoming County Well
|
DEP quietly withdrew the fine for faulty drilling after the company promised to fix the problems.
Could Organic Solutions One Day Be Part Of De-Icing Strategy On New York Roads
|
“We want to get the job done to make the roads safe, but I don’t want salt laying all over the roads and having piles of it. It’s not good for the environment.”
Trump Seeks Environmental Rules Changes, New York Critics Say It Compromises Public Health
|
Critics of his proposed changes say they would favor corporate interests over public health, allowing the potential for air and water quality to be compromised.
Energy
Study: Replacing Coal Plants With Natural Gas Cuts Pollution, Saved Lives
|
Fracking pollution not included in study; could lessen health benefits, author says
Environment
Wegmans Plastic Bag Ban Starts January 27
|
Wegmans debuted the no-plastic policy at its Corning and Ithaca stores and called the pilot program successful.
App NEWS
New York Governor Proposes Ban On Foam Food Containers, “Packing Peanuts”
|
The measure would make illegal the use of the plastic foam for single-use food containers by restaurants, caterers, food trucks, retail food stores, delis and grocery stores.
App NEWS
Supporters And Opponents Of Plastic Bag Ban Find Fault With New York’s Proposed Regulations
|
State regulators have released new rules to enforce the changes, but groups on both sides of the issue say those rules are flawed.
App NEWS
Green Party Candidate Campaigns In 30 States In Bid To Win Presidential Nomination
|
“I’ve been on the road pretty much constantly for six months.”
Economy
Scotland Is Turning PA’s Shale Gas Into Plastic. What Happens To It Next?
|
Taxes and bans on single use plastics try to combat plastics in the oceans
Environment
Climate Activists Push New York For Tougher Vehicle Emissions Goals
|
They’re delivering petitions to Albany this week, signed by more than 7,000 residents across the state who say they want New York to reduce vehicle emissions by 55 percent by 2035.
Environment
A Third Of PA Drinking Water Samples Contained Toxic Chemicals. The State Says There’s ‘No Widespread Contamination’
|
Amid federal inaction, there’s no consensus on how much of the PFAS class of chemicals is too much.
Energy
Johns Hopkins Researcher: PA Should Ban Fracking
|
“What would I say now? I would say because of the regional and local health concerns and concerns about climate change, we should stop fracking–everywhere.”
Energy
PA Lawmakers, Criticizing Executive Order On Cap-And-Trade Program, Say It’s Their Call To Make
|
Proposed bill would require Legislature to OK Pennsylvania becoming part of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
Featured in Category
Tompkins County Considers Paper Bag Fee
|
Without the fee, Dawson said there is a risk Tompkins County will just swap one trash problem for another.
Economy
Despite Scotland’s Fracking Ban, Imported American Shale Gas Is Key To One Town’s Economy
|
Natural gas is mostly used for heating homes or fueling power plants. But when it comes out of the ground, it contains another key ingredient — ethane, a building block of plastics.
App NEWS
New Ethane Cracker Factories Raise Climate Change And Pollution Concerns
|
To turn ethane into the building block of plastic, petrochemical companies are investing in ethane cracker plants, raising concerns about what these facilities could mean for air pollution and climate change.
Energy
PA Senator Takes Preventative Measures As Dems Call For Fracking Bans
|
Pennsylvania’s Republican US Senator introduced a resolution he hopes will enable Congress to defeat future presidents’ fracking bans in court.
Energy
Trump Administration Proposes Rollbacks For Two Obama-Era Coal Pollution Rules
|
Rules on coal ash ponds, wastewater from coal-fired power plants are targeted
App NEWS
Most Plastics Break Down Into Tiny Pieces Before They Reach The Great Lakes. This PA Researcher Studies Them Before They Degrade
|
Plastic doesn’t go away, but it breaks down in the environment. One bottle can degrade into hundreds, even thousands, of tiny pieces of plastic the size of a grain of sand, which can be eaten by birds or fish.
Economy
Bill Would Allow Reusable Beverage Container Refills In New York
|
Two Democratic state lawmakers have introduced a bill that would give customers in cafes, fast food shops and even in some restaurants, the option to use their own container for coffee, water, or to bring home left overs.
Environment
Given Trump Administration Policies, Ex-FERC Commissioner Says Panel Losing Focus On Climate
|
Cheryl LaFleur fears regulator’s credibility is hurt by more party-line voting
App NEWS
Neighbors Of Mariner East Pipelines Will Urge A Regulator To Stop The Project. It Might Be Their Last Chance
|
Almost a year after lines opened, residents will say the project remains a risk to public safety
App NEWS
PA, CNX Reach $1.48M Settlement On Abandoned Wells
|
Resolves 2018 order involving more than 1,000 wells.
App NEWS
Environmentalists Want Lower Maximum Levels For PFOA And Other Drinking Water Contaminants
|
“This is not 1970, where we can have the concept that because of economic reasons, we can have acceptable levels of materials like this in our drinking water.”
Environment
What Longtime Climate Activist Rafe Pomerance Wants You To Know
|
Rafe Pomerance has been a climate activist for 40 years. As an environmental lobbyist for Friends of the Earth, he was one of the first people to agitate for bi-partisan action after reading a 1978 EPA report on coal.
App NEWS
As Three Mile Island Stops Generating Electricity, This PA Community Is Bracing For Change
|
Last Friday around noon, Three Mile Island nuclear power plant stopped producing electricity, part of Exelon Corp.’s plan to close and decommission the plant over the next 60 years.
App NEWS
With Three Mile Island Closed, Nuclear Advocates Shift Their Concerns To PA’s Other Plants
|
Those people who support nuclear worry that without tax breaks, the plants will be shut out of a competitive energy market
App NEWS
Small Hydropower Plants Say New York Should Help Keep Clean Power Competitive
|
Owners of existing clean energy power plants in New York say they’d like the same support from the state for their businesses that new ones get.
Global Youth Climate Strike Expected To Draw Large Crowds In New York
|
Strike organizers are calling on their fellow young people to skip school Friday and rally to demand greater action against climate change.
App NEWS
Oneida Indian Nation Uses Drones For Land Management
|
“When you’re looking down on something rather than at ground level, you certainly get to see more of what’s going on.”
Energy
Court Ruling Clears Way For Mariner East Construction To Restart
|
The Commonwealth Court said last week that the Democratic senator, an outspoken critic of Sunoco, did not have personal or legislative standing to bring a complaint
App NEWS
PA Business Advocates Celebrate Trump’s Clean Water Rollback
|
Meanwhile, environmental groups like the Chesapeake Bay Foundation say the move is an “assault” on clean water.
App NEWS
Group Calls For National Monitoring Standards For Algal Blooms
|
The Environmental Working Group wants a standardized monitoring system across the U.S. to better inform the public about harmful algal blooms.
Environment
Senator Says USDA Wrongly Halted Research Into Honeybees
|
“At this time, when our bees are dying off, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has done a very quiet but very dumb thing. They’ve stopped collecting critical scientific data on honeybees.”
App NEWS
Cortland County Dairy Farm Receives Environmental Award
|
Whey Street Dairy received the 2019 State Agricultural Environmental Management Award.
Energy
Sunoco Says Mariner East 2 System ‘Backfired’ During Maintenance
|
The company did not explain what caused the backfire but apologized for the noise, which alarmed neighbors and fueled longstanding concerns about the safety of the new pipelines, which carry highly volatile natural gas liquids.
Anti-fracking movement
New York Study: Fracking Causes Environmental Damage, Birth Defects
|
A New York metastudy details the adverse effects fracking has on Pennsylvania’s environment, its climate and human health.
Energy
PA Pipeline Foe Expected State Information On Mariner East Risk. But Now He’s Facing Court Fight
|
An opponent of the Mariner East project says he will ask an appeals court to order the Public Utility Commission to disclose documents containing its calculations on the effects of an accidental release of natural gas liquids from the pipelines.
Energy
Three Mile Island Unit 2, Site Of Nation’s Worst Nuclear Accident, To Be Sold, Dismantled
|
A Salt Lake City-based company is in talks to purchase and dismantle Three Mile Island’s long-mothballed Unit 2 reactor — the site of the nation’s worst nuclear accident in 1979.
Energy
Nation’s Largest Power Grid Operator Asked To Focus On Clean Energy
|
The power grid operator has received appeals from around the country to ensure its next leader prioritizes clean energy.
Environment
National Group Goes After Invasive Mussels In The Great Lakes
|
Quagga mussels have few natural predators, and have been successful in the Great Lakes and other lakes across North America since being carried here by ships from Europe in the 1980s.
Featured in Category
New York Adopts The Nation’s Most Aggressive Targets For Reducing Carbon Emissions
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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation Thursday mandating 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, and an 85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. That’s below levels from 1990.
Government
Congressman Praises New York’s Water Contaminant Standards, Wants Action From EPA
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Earlier this week, the state said it will set the nation’s lowest allowable level for industrial chemicals that have contaminated some communities’ drinking water.
Environment
Groups Criticize PA Budget For Shifting $10-Million From Environmental Fund
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It’s absolutely the wrong direction to be decreasing, rather than increasing, our contributions to environmental programs through the state budget.”
Energy
Trump Ditches Obama Climate Policy That Targeted Coal Emissions
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Pennsylvania is the third-largest coal producing state in the country. But coal generated electricity plants have struggled to compete with cheaper natural gas and renewable energy.
App NEWS
Climate Measure Sets Ambitious Goals For New York
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“It’s going to create a road map to 2050, and it’s going to recommend regulations, incentives and a plan to really change the whole economy.”
Energy
As States Diverge On Climate Policies, Nation’s Largest Power Grid Operator Grapples With Carbon Pricing
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PJM is now trying to walk a fine line between respecting states’ rights and figuring out how to incorporate their climate polices into its wholesale electricity market.
America
New York City Adopts Nation’s First Congestion Pricing Plan
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New York City just became the first city in the US to adopt a congestion pricing plan. The plan is expected to raise about $1.5 billion in revenue every year, mostly for its crumbling subway system.
Energy
Wolf Rejects PA Senate’s Infrastructure Proposal Funded By Forest Drilling
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After months of Democratic Governor Tom Wolf promoting a sweeping infrastructure plan funded by a tax on natural gas drillers, some Senate Republicans have come up with an alternative.
App NEWS
PA Accused Of ‘Foot-Dragging’ On 2-Year-Old Request To Regulate PFAS Chemical
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Environmental group asks appeals court to order Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection to set health standard
App NEWS
New Research: It Isn’t Easy Being Green
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Nudges can change behavior, but for many societal problems like climate change, they are not sufficient.
environment
New Jersey Sues Companies Over PFAS Contamination
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New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal says the eight companies knew for decades that PFOA and PFOS used as a main component of firefighting foam would contaminate the environment.
Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant To Close
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The Three Mile Island nuclear power plant, site of the nation’s worst nuclear accident, will shut down by the end of September. Backers failed to secure subsidies to keep the plant operating.
App NEWS
Bipartisan Bills Have PA Powered 100% By Renewable Energy
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“It’s not just about the environment. It’s about jobs. These are great, high-paying jobs we can create by going to renewable energy.”
Uncategorized
PA Prosecutors Eye Potential ‘Environmental Crimes.’
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“All they’ve ever gotten is a slap on the wrist. It’s time for that to change. I’ll hold the oil and gas companies criminally liable for poisoning our air and our drinking water.”
Energy
PA Lawmaker Faces Backlash For Bringing Nazis Into Pipeline Debate
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“It’s a poor choice of words. It’s not a fair comparison. I mean these are working folk, these are salt-of-the-earth people.”
As Nuclear Waste Piles Up At A PA Power Plant, Private Companies Pitch New Ways To Store It
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Nuclear power plants in Pennsylvania and around the country are running out of room to store spent fuel. Private companies are pitching their own solutions.
Energy
State Senators Seek Answers From DEP Chief Over PA Pipeline
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“Why did they (state inspectors) grant these water permits the way they did? What was the rush in February, 2017? Did anyone put pressure on them to encourage that?”
Environment
Snot Otter? Lasagna Lizard? By Any Name, It’s PA’s Official Amphibian
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It may not be pretty, but supporters of the Eastern hellbender say it’s a vital reminder to keep streams and waterways healthy.
Energy
Methane Hearing Draws Concern Over PA Rules
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Several members of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee met in Pittsburgh for a hearing on methane, the main component of natural gas and a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
Economy
Wegmans To Eliminate Single-Use Plastic Bags At New York Stores
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The supermarket chain wants to get ahead of the curve because of the transition that will be needed to get customers accustomed to using the reusable shopping bags.
Snot Otter Emerges Victorious In Vote For PA’s Official Amphibian
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The Eastern hellbender salamander may not be a looker. But its sensitivity to pollution and changing water conditions makes the creature a useful indicator for water quality in rivers and streams.
App NEWS
What State Governments Are Doing About Plastic Bags — And What Might Happen With PA’s Proposed Ban
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A renewed legislative effort to curb the use of disposable plastic shopping bags in Pennsylvania is milder than measures enacted in some other states.
New York Museum Cancels Gala To Honor Far-Right Brazilian Leader
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Jair Bolsonaro is outspoken about his desire to roll back environmental protections. Mayor Bill de Blasio applauded the American Museum of Natural History’s move “on behalf of our city.”
Environment
Citizen Climate Petition Advances, After PA Board Approves Further Study Of Cap-And-Trade Program
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The ramifications of the petition could be politically significant– allowing major climate policy to be implemented without new legislation.
Environment
PA To Begin Statewide Sampling For Six PFAS Chemicals
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The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said it will sample more than 300 water systems starting in May in a program that is due to last a year.
App NEWS
Gas, Nuclear Lobbies Butt Heads As PA Senate Takes Up Nuclear-Rescue Bill
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“No real reason has been given to pass this legislation, other than we need the money to enhance our profit margin and to charge more for nuclear power.”
