Commonwealth Court pauses Pennsylvania’s effort to enact climate rule

Rachel McDevittApril 7, 2022

The regulation allowing Pa. to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative was set to take effect Saturday. Republican lawmakers asked to court to stop the rule until all legal questions are resolved.

Climate ChangePolitics

Lawmakers move to block Pennsylvania from climate program, offer federal money instead

Rachel McDevittApril 1, 2022

The bill would give $250M in federal COVID money for emissions reduction programs. But RGGI could bring in as much as $700M a year if Pa. joins.

Climate ChangePolitics

Pennsylvania lawmakers push pro-fossil fuel bills, citing Russia’s war and energy security

Rachel McDevittMarch 30, 2022

A slate of bills aimed at boosting the natural gas industry under the claim of energy security has passed a committee in the Pa. House.

Climate ChangeEnergy

Sulfuric acid spills from storage tank at Shell ethane cracker plant

Reid FrazierMarch 25, 2022

Faulty equipment is blamed for the 2,000-gallon spill which was contained on site. The plant is expected to come online later this year.

EnergyPollution

DEP looks to add 40 staff to oversee water programs

Rachel McDevittMarch 23, 2022

Gov. Tom Wolf’s final budget proposal calls for a $5 million increase to the Department of Environmental Protection to hire new staff.

PoliticsWater

Pennsylvania asks for input on PFAS drinking water rule

Rachel McDevittMarch 18, 2022

PFAS are a class of toxic chemicals used to make water-, heat- and stain-resistant things like non-stick cookware and carpets.

PollutionWater

U.S. Steel fined $1.8 million for ‘rotten egg’-gas pollution near Pittsburgh

Reid FrazierMarch 8, 2022

A county monitor exceeded limits for hydrogen sulfide 153 times in the last 2 years. A study showed the pollution was "entirely" from the Clairton Coke Works.

HealthPollution

U.S. Steel appealing nearly $900K air pollution fines

Reid FrazierMarch 4, 2022

The Allegheny County Health Department issued the fines for visible emissions at the company’s Clairton Coke Works for infractions over the last nine months of 2021.

HealthPollution

Pennsylvania gas producers look to export to Europe amid Russian invasion of Ukraine

Julie GrantFebruary 25, 2022

But ramping up enough gas to replace Russian sources won’t happen overnight. It could take "a period of years."

Energy

Geothermal energy lies right beneath our feet. Could Philadelphia tap into it?

Susan PhillipsFebruary 25, 2022

Geothermal could help the city reach its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. It just has to convince the city-owned gas works.

Energy