DEP fines Shell $670K for erosion, spills during Falcon pipeline construction

Reid FrazierOctober 13, 2022

Violations occurred numerous times along the Falcon pipeline that will feed ethane to Shell's Beaver County ethane cracker.

EnergyPollutionWater

Pa. moves natural gas well emissions rule forward, seeks to beat federal deadline

Rachel McDevittOctober 12, 2022

The rule covers conventional oil and gas sites that have already been built or drilled. Reducing VOC emissions is expected to also lower leaks of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Climate ChangeEnergyPollution

Pa. needs to finish emissions regulations for oil and gas sites by December or face sanctions, EPA says

Rachel McDevittOctober 4, 2022

Pennsylvania could lose $500-$750 million in federal highway funds if it doesn't submit plans to EPA by Dec. 16 to reduce VOCs at oil/gas sites.

EnergyPollution

Researchers find spreading drilling wastewater on Pa. roads can lead to harmful runoff

Rachel McDevittAugust 12, 2022

Wastewater from oil and gas drilling has been used as a cheap dust suppressant in rural Pa. for years, but it can contain toxins.

EnergyHealthPollutionWater

Allegheny County Council votes to ban fracking in county parks, overriding Fitzgerald’s veto

Julia ZenkevichJuly 22, 2022

Rich Fitzgerald, who has supported the industry, opposed the measure despite the fact that there are no current proposals to drill on the county land.

EnergyRecreation

EPA asks a Bitcoin ‘mining’ operation in Clearfield County for information

Anne DanahyJuly 22, 2022

Big Dog Energy installed 30 natural gas-powered generators and a gas-producing unit at a well pad without authorization from DEP. Now, EPA is involved.

EnergyTechnology

An industry campaign re-brands natural gas as climate-friendly to people of color

Kara HolsoppleJuly 22, 2022

The $10 million dollar campaign is to improve the opinion of natural gas to make sure it doesn't go the way of coal.

Climate ChangeEnergyEnvironmental JusticeYour Environment Update

Gov. Wolf vetoes GOP effort to block local climate legislation

Susan PhillipsJuly 15, 2022

The bill is part of a nationwide effort to stop municipal bans on natural gas hook-ups in buildings. Wolf said it would hamper local climate efforts.

Climate ChangeEnergyPolitics

For a rural Pennsylvania area, a cryptocurrency mine brought noise pollution

Anne DanahyJuly 13, 2022

One neighbor describes the noise coming from the Bitcoin mining site at a nearby gas well as “basically like a jet engine."

EnergyFood and AgricultureTechnology

Impact fees from drilling rebounded in 2021 after pandemic slowdown

StateImpact PennsylvaniaJuly 1, 2022

Natural gas companies in Pennsylvania are paying $234.4 million in impact fees, the highest amount since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

EconomyEnergy