The information you need to follow legislation in the House and Senate- starting with articles and NewsClips from last week--

Environment & Energy NewsClips--

Gov. Shapiro

-- Spotlight PA - Stephen Caruso, Katie Meyer: Shapiro Rebuilt A Bridge, Weathered A Messy Budget, Walked Fine Partisan Lines In 2023

-- Politics PA: Shapiro Speaks To First Year In Office

Budget

-- Senate, House Release 2024 DEP, DCNR, Agriculture Agency Budget Hearing Schedule  [PaEN]

-- Final State Budget Bills Passed, Go To The Governor  [PaEN]

-- Spotlight PA: Budget Boost To Payments For DCNR-Owned Land Will Benefit Rural PA Counties

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Letter: Transfer Of $150 Million From Game Commission Rightly Stopped - By Rep. Haddock

-- Independent Fiscal Office Estimates 2023 Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fee Revenue Will Drop By Nearly $105 Million, While Almost 400 New Wells Were Drilled So Far In 2023  [PaEN]

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Per Well Fee Revenues To Drop $105 Million

-- Post-Gazette: PA Shale Gas Impact Fee Revenues Drop $105 Million

Oil & Gas Health Impacts

-- Former Employees Of Eureka Resources Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Company Ask For Criminal Investigation Of Eureka And An Audit Of DEP Over Alleged Workplace, Environmental Violations  [PaEN]

-- Public Herald: I Turned Blue - Workers Share Horrifying Experiences Treating Oil & Gas Wastewater

-- Williamsport Sun: Ex-Employees Seek Criminal Probe Against Eureka Resources Oil/Gas Wastewater Treatment Plant In Williamsport

-- NorthcentralPA.com: Former Eureka Resources Employees Ask Lycoming County DA Gardner For Criminal Investigation Of Workplace At Oil/Gas Wastewater Treatment Plant

-- Citizens Voice: Former Eureka Employees Ask Lycoming County DA For Criminal Investigation Of Workplace At Oil/Gas Wastewater Treatment Plant

-- Williamsport Sun: Fracking Water Spills At Eureka Resources Oil/Gas Wastewater Treatment Plant In Williamsport

-- Senate Environmental Committee Reports Independent Energy Information Office Bill; Democrats Attempt To Table Environmental Hearing Board Nominee  [PaEN]

-- Videos Now Available From PA League Of Women Voters, University Of Pittsburgh School Of Public Health Shale Gas & Public Health Conference; Dept. Of Health Pushing For Changes To Reduce Adverse Health Impacts  [PaEN]

-- TribLive Letter: For Natural Gas Industry, Concern For Health Should Trump Industry Profits

-- Lock Haven Express Letter: Who Does Senator Yaw Represent? - By Karen Elias

-- The Daily Item Letter: We Deserve A Refund, Too, From The Legislature [Pitt Shale Gas Health Studies]  - By Trey Casimir

-- HEI Energy Hosts Dec. 18 Webinar On New Research On Community Exposures To Oil & Gas Development & Groundwater Contamination In Beaver, Greene & Washington Counties  [PaEN]

-- Williamsport Sun Letter: ‘Any Legislation Or Regulation That Seeks To Further Restrict The Development, Transportation or Use Of Natural Gas Will Harm Our Economy, Undermine Personal Property Rights, Weaken National Security And Reverse The Significant Environmental Program Enabled By This Clean Abundant Energy Source’ - By Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition

Gas Explosions

-- TribLive: Cottage Explosion On Property Of Sewickley Heights Mansion Sends 1 To Hospital

-- TribLive: Neighbor Describes ‘War-Like’ Natural Gas Explosion That Destroyed Sewickley Heights Cottage

-- 6ABC.com: Man, 2 Dogs Lucky To Be Alive After Massive House Explosion In Berks County, Propane Gas Used For Heat

Train Derailments

-- TribLive/AP: EPA Begins Formal Review Of Vinyl Chloride, Toxic Chemical That Burned In Norfolk Southern Train Derailment

PA Politics Of Russian Invasion

-- AAA Gasoline Prices: PA- $3.44; National- $3.07; Ohio- $2.71

-- TribLive: National Average Gasoline Cost Falls For 3 Months Straight, At Lowest Level This Year

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drill Rigs Same As Last Week - 20

-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Prices Up 1% On Higher Demand, Record LNG Exports

-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Producer EQT Explores Sale Of Production Assets Worth $3 Billion In NE PA

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Shale Gas Exports Get A Seat At The Global Table: ‘That’s Our Business’  [EQT]

-- Bob Donnan Blog: Unleashing LNG Natural Gas Exports On Pennsylvania’s Habitat

-- Bloomberg: Energy Crisis Grips Pakistan After LNG Natural Gas Traders Left Country In The Cold

-- Reuters: Freeport LNG Natural Gas Plant Settles With EPA Over Safety Failures In 2022 Texas Blast

-- House Hearing: Shapiro Administration Supports Expanding Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards; Renewables Lower Energy Costs; Increase Grid Reliability; More Work Needed To Improve Natural Gas Reliability  [PaEN]

-- PJM Makes Multiple Reliability-Focused Improvements To Prepare For Winter To Deal With 70% Natural Gas, Other Generator Nonperformance In 2022  [PaEN]

-- Utility Dive: North American Electric Reliability Corp Board Risks Missing Deadline For Adopting New Generator Winterization Standards To Ensure Grid Reliability  [Response To Winter Storm Elliot Problems]

-- Reuters: Extreme Cold Still Poses Reliability Challenge For North American Power Generators, Particularly Natural Gas Infrastructure - NERC

-- House Passes Bill Requiring Registration Of Cryptocurrency Mining Operations, Impact Study  [PaEN]

-- Utility Dive: US Electricity Load Growth Forecast Jumps 81% Led By Data Centers, Industry

-- Financial Times: Oil Demand Slowing ‘Drastically,’ Says IEA

Environment/Energy Issues

-- House Passes Bill Requiring Registration Of Cryptocurrency Mining Operations, Impact Study  [PaEN]

-- Carbon County Residents Urge DEP To Deny Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc. Request To Burn Tires To Fuel Its Cryptocurrency Mining Operation At The Panther Creek Power Plant  [PaEN]

-- Utility Dive: US Electricity Load Growth Forecast Jumps 81% Led By Data Centers, Industry

-- Senate Environmental Committee Reports Independent Energy Information Office Bill; Democrats Attempt To Table Environmental Hearing Board Nominee  [PaEN]

-- House Hearing: Shapiro Administration Supports Expanding Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards; Renewables Lower Energy Costs; Increase Grid Reliability; More Work Needed To Improve Natural Gas Reliability  [PaEN]

-- Utility Dive: North American Electric Reliability Corp Board Risks Missing Deadline For Adopting New Generator Winterization Standards To Ensure Grid Reliability  [Response To Winter Storm Elliot Problems]

-- Reuters: Extreme Cold Still Poses Reliability Challenge For North American Power Generators, Particularly Natural Gas Infrastructure - NERC

-- House Passes Bill Requiring Registration Of Cryptocurrency Mining Operations, Impact Study  [PaEN]

-- Carbon County Residents Urge DEP To Deny Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc. Request To Burn Tires To Fuel Its Cryptocurrency Mining Operation At The Panther Creek Power Plant  [PaEN]

-- Utility Dive: US Electricity Load Growth Forecast Jumps 81% Led By Data Centers, Industry

-- Broad+Liberty: PA Manufacturers Say Extreme Solar Power Mandate Would Mean Higher Rates, Potential Blackouts

-- PUC, DEP: PA Reached 1 Gigawatt Of Installed Solar Generation, Enough To Power A City The Size Of Pittsburgh With In-State Solar  [PaEN]

-- Beaver County Times: New Beaver County Solar Energy Facility To Fund Utility Assistance

-- Power Magazine: Community Solar Drives Energy Transition In Longtime Fossil Fuel Region  [Beaver County]

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Beaver County Solar Energy Project Provides Help For Low-Income Households  [Read more here]

-- Republican Herald: Solar For Schools Bill Heads To Committee Voting Meeting

-- Tribune-Democrat: Cambria County Prison Considering Solar Power

-- Altoona Mirror: Logan Twp. Residents Concerned About Proposed Solar Energy Facility

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Despite Concerns, $290 Electric Vehicle Fee Bill Advances

-- PA Capital-Star: PA House Considers Road Use Fee For Electric Vehicle Owners

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Electric Vehicle Owners In PA Could Soon Be Zapped With Highest Annual Fee In The Nation

-- Republican Herald: Solar For Schools Bill Heads To Committee Voting Meeting

-- PA Capital-Star: House Committee Revisits Water Utility Privatization Law As Consumers Face Soaring Water, Sewer Bills

-- National Assn. Of Water Companies: PA Receives Significant Economic, Consumer And Environmental Benefits From Water, Wastewater Utility Privatization And Consolidation

Top 10 Stories On Harrisburg/PA Politics Last Week--

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- Top 10 Stories: Harrisburg/PA Politics Reported By Local News Media Last Week  [PaEN]

On The Governor’s Desk

The following bill was given final action by the Senate and House and now is on the Governor’s desk for his action--

Fiscal Code: House Bill 1300 making changes to the Fiscal Code to implement the state budget agreement [House Fiscal Note & Summary]. Signed into law as Act 34. Read more here.

Administrative Code: Senate Bill 941. Signed into law as Act 66.

Tax Code: Senate Bill 815 [House Fiscal Note & Summary]. Signed into law as Act 64.

Education Code: House Bill 301 [House Fiscal Note & Summary] - Signed into law as Act 33

Senate, House Bills Moving Last Week

The following environmental and energy bills saw movement last week--

House

Cryptocurrency Operation Reporting: House Bill 1476 (Vitali-D-Delaware) reporting cryptocurrency operation energy and water use to DEP and providing for an impact study was removed from the Table, amended with a minor change, referred into and out of the House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House 102 to 101.  The bill now goes to the Senate for action.

Ag Easement Funding For Land Trusts: House Bill 1777 (Brennan-D-Bucks) earmarking a portion of Agricultural Conservation Easement funding for land trusts was referred into and out of the House Appropriations Committee [House Fiscal Note & Summary] and passed by the House 155 to 48.  The bill now goes to the Senate for action.

Agrivoltaic Farming Study: House Resolution 224 (Rabb-D-Philadelphia) directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study and establish an advisory committee to review and analyze the opportunities for benefits of agrivoltaic farming systems was adopted by the House 102 to 101. 

Alternative Fueled Vehicle Fees: Senate Bill 656 (Rothman-R-Cumberland) setting annual fee for electric and alternative fueled vehicles was reported out of the House Transportation Committee and was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

Electric School Bus Transition: House Bill 1542 (Markosek-D- Allegheny) establish a grant program to help school districts transition to electric school buses (sponsor summary) was amended and reported out of the House Education Committee and Tabled.

Tax Value Of Mineral Deposits: Senate Bill 654 (Bartolotta-R-Washington) changing the valuation of mines, oil and gas and other mineral deposits for tax purposes was reported from the House Finance Committee and referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

Local Stormwater Fees: House Bill 31 (Struzzi-R-Indiana) authorizing local stormwater management fees in Boroughs and House Bill 32 (Struzzi-R-Indiana) authorizing local stormwater management fees in Townships of First Class were reported out of the House Local Government Committee and Tabled.

Senate

Nominations: Paul Bruder and Mary Anne Wesdock were confirmed by the full Senate as judges on the Environmental Hearing Board.  Read more here.

Independent Energy Office: Senate Bill 832 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would establish the Independent Energy Information Office to provide “impartial, timely and data driven analysis to guide the state in determining and meeting future energy needs” modeled on the current Independent Fiscal Office was amended and reported out of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Increasing Penalties for Scattering Rubbish: House Bill 95 (Bullock-D-Philadelphia) increasing penalties for scattering rubbish was reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Bill Calendars

House (January 2):  House Resolution 196 (Matzie-D-Beaver) designating the week of September 18-24 Rail Safety Week; House Resolution 228 (Otten-D-Chester) designating the week of October 1 through 7, 2023, as "Climate Week" in Pennsylvania. <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (January 2): Senate Bill 265 (Laughlin-R-Erie) amending the Sewage Facilities Act to allow garage floor drains to discharge into on-lot septic systems;  Senate Bill 831 (Yaw-R- Lycoming) would direct the state to apply for primary authority to regulate Class VI carbon dioxide underground injection wells from the US Environmental Protection Agency and establish a legal and regulatory framework for potential carbon dioxide capture, utilization and sequestration in Pennsylvania; House Bill 95 (Bullock-D- Philadelphia) increasing penalties for scattering rubbish <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committee Meetings

House   

January 17-- House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee hearing on House Bill 1077 (Matzie-D-Beaver) reauthorization of Chapter 14 water, gas, electric customers billing and shut-off requirements.  Room 140 Main Capitol.  10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch online.

<>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate

 <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Bills Pending In Key Committees

Check the PA Environmental Council Bill Tracker for the status and updates on pending state legislation and regulations that affect environmental and conservation efforts in Pennsylvania.

Session Schedule

Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House--

Senate

January 2, 16, 17

February 5, 6, 7

Budget Hearings: February 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29; and March 5, 6, 7 

Click Here for Senate Agency Budget Hearing Schedule.

March 18, 19, 20

April 8, 9, 10, 29, 30

May 1, 6, 7, 8

June 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

House

January 2 (non-voting)

February 6

March 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27

April 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 29, 30

May 1, 6, 7, 8, 20, 21, 22

June 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

[Posted: December 17, 2023]

12/18/2023