Of the 50 outages in Pennsylvania last year, 47 were caused by severe weather. Lightning, excessive rain, wind, ice and extreme temperatures all spell trouble for power companies.
The Environmental Justice designation is aimed at protecting poor and minority communities that often bear the brunt of pollution. But the update leaves out oil and gas drilling operations.
Families in Butler County sued the fracking company when their well water had a strong smell and a bad taste after drilling began. Their water is still bad.
Environmentalists and lawmakers from both parties welcomed the announcement, saying it was an overdue move by an official who sought to undermine the mission of the agency he headed.
