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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
-- Gov. Shapiro’s Proposed 2024-25 Budget Includes DEP Permit Modernization Initiative, Expands PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Testing; Expands DCNR Trails Program, PA Outdoor Corp [PaEN]
-- Inside Climate News: In His First Year As Governor, Josh Shapiro Forged Alliances With The Natural Gas Industry, Angering Environmentalists Who Support Him
-- TribLive: Environmentalists, Natural Gas Drillers’ Group Divided On Transparency On Fracking Fluid Disclosures
-- WESA/WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: Whole-House Repairs Program Resucitated In Shapiro’s PA Budget Proposal
-- WHYY: Gov. Shapiro Proposes $4 Million To Erase Medical Debt For Thousands Of Pennsylvanians, Issue Hits Rural Areas Hard [Ironically, Hits Oil & Gas Counties Of Warren, Greene, Bradford, McKean hardest]
Budget
-- Gov. Shapiro’s Proposed 2024-25 Budget Includes DEP Permit Modernization Initiative, Expands PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Testing; Expands DCNR Trails Program, PA Outdoor Corp [PaEN]
-- WESA/WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: Whole-House Repairs Program Resucitated In Shapiro’s PA Budget Proposal
-- WHYY: Gov. Shapiro Proposes $4 Million To Erase Medical Debt For Thousands Of Pennsylvanians, Issue Hits Rural Areas Hard [Ironically, Hits Oil & Gas Counties Of Warren, Greene, Bradford, McKean hardest]
Oil & Gas Impacts
-- Philadelphia Medicine Magazine: Pitt Drops A Bombshell - The PA Health And Environment Studies On Fracking - By Dr. Ned Ketyer, Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania
-- Physicians For Social Responsibility Pennsylvania: Fact Sheet On Deal Between Gov. Shapiro, CNX Natural Gas Driller Allows Voluntary Self-Regulation Of A Fracking Company
-- PA Utility Law Project, Public Citizen Host Feb. 16 Webinar Exploring The Impact Of LNG Natural Gas Exports On Pennsylvania Families [PaEN]
-- Inside Climate News: Q&A: New Rules In PA Require Drillers To Disclose Toxic Chemicals Used In Fracking
-- WHYY: Gov. Shapiro Proposes $4 Million To Erase Medical Debt For Thousands Of Pennsylvanians, Issue Hits Rural Areas Hard [Ironically, Hits Oil & Gas Counties Of Warren, Greene, Bradford, McKean hardest]
Train Derailments
-- The Allegheny Front: Reporters Roundtable: What We Learned About Norfolk Southern Train Derailment In East Palestine, OH
-- The Allegheny Front: ‘We Refuse To Die:’ East Palestine Residents Mark 1 Year Since Norfolk Southern Train Derailment
-- WESA/The Allegheny Front: A Year Later, The Stream Flowing Under Peoples’ Homes In East Palestine Is Still Polluted From Norfolk Southern Train Derailment
-- Post-Gazette: Biden Will Visit Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Site Friday
-- Warren Times Editorial: Reassurances After Train Derailment, Protecting The Health, Safety Of Those In The Region
-- NPR - Scott Detrow, et al: How The Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Split A Village In Two: ‘People Do Avoid Me’
-- WTAE: Questions Remain After Decision To ‘Vent And Burn’ In Norfolk Southern Train Derailment
-- TribLive: NTSB To Release Cause Of Norfolk Southern Train Derailment At June Hearing
PA Politics Of Russian Invasion
-- AAA Gasoline Prices: PA- $3.42 National- $3.16 Ohio- $3.13
-- Bloomberg Guest Essay: Big Gas Needs To Be A Backup Instead Of A Bridge
-- Markets Insider: New Study Questions LNG Natural Gas As A ‘Bridge Fuel’ In Decarbonization
-- PA Utility Law Project, Public Citizen Host Feb. 16 Webinar Exploring The Impact Of LNG Natural Gas Exports On Pennsylvania Families [PaEN]
-- PJM Reports Natural Gas Power Plants Were Over Half The Forced Outages During Winter Storm Gerri In January; Special Procedures Used For Gas Generators Raised Questions About Market Impacts [PaEN]
-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs Increased 2 From Last Week-- 23
-- Bloomberg: Pittsburgh-based EQT Slams Biden’s Pause On New LNG Natural Gas Export Facilities A Political Stunt
-- Forbes Guest Essay: US Natural Gas Prices Could Spike 14% Without Biden’s Pause On New LNG Export Terminal Permits Costing Consumers $18 Billion
-- Environmental Integrity Project: Biden’s Pause In New Permits For LNG Natural Gas Facilities Won’t Slow The Flow Of US Natural Gas Abroad
-- Markets Insider: New Study Questions LNG Natural Gas As A ‘Bridge Fuel’ In Decarbonization
-- PA Capital-Star: Biden’s Pause On New LNG Natural Gas Export Facilities Fought Over By US House Panel
-- Reuters: US Lawmakers Tuesday Hold First Of 2 Hearings On Biden’s Pause On New LNG Natural Gas Permits
-- Reuters: US Says Allies ‘Reassured’ New LNG Natural Gas Facility Permit Pause Does Not Affect Current Exports
-- Bloomberg: Exxon, Chevron, Shell Deliver Cash Gusher For Investors
Environment/Energy Issues
-- Just 14 Days: PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Jan. 27 to Feb. 9 - More Abandoned Conventional, Shale Gas Wells; Spills, Venting Gas, Contaminated Water Supplies [PaEN]
-- DEP OKs Cameron Energy Applications For Plugging 3 Orphan Conventional Wells Under Blanket Bond Increase Waiver Program; Denied 1 Plugged Well Leaking Crude Oil [PaEN]
-- PennLive Letter: HB 1467 Community Solar Bill Would Help Solar Energy Become More Affordable, Increase Grid Resiliency In PA - By Don Umberger
-- Philadelphia Medicine Magazine: Pitt Drops A Bombshell - The PA Health And Environment Studies On Fracking - By Dr. Ned Ketyer, Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania
-- Physicians For Social Responsibility Pennsylvania: Fact Sheet On Deal Between Gov. Shapiro, CNX Natural Gas Driller Allows Voluntary Self-Regulation Of A Fracking Company
-- Sen. Yaw Introduces SB 1058 To Abrigate RGGI Power Plant Carbon Pollution Reduction Program; Repeal ‘RGGI Carbon Tax;’ Yaw’s Committee Reports Bill To Full Senate
-- PA Environmental Council, Environmental Defense Fund, PA League Of Women Voters Oppose Senate Bill Abrogating Final Rule Reducing Carbon Pollution From Power Plants [RGGI] [PaEN]
-- The Center Square: RGGI ‘Carbon Tax’ Power Plant Carbon Pollution Reduction Program Repeal Effort Reignited With Sen. Yaw Bill
-- Sen. Yaw: Senate Appropriations Committee Moves SB 832 Establishing An Independent Energy Office To Full Senate For Action
-- Inquirer - Will Bunch: Democracy Dies When PA Pols Tell Their Own Voters To Drop Dead On Fracking [Proposed LNG Plant In Chester, Delaware County]
-- The Energy Age Blog: Natural Gas Drilling Rights Pooling In West Virginia
-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: State, Federal Energy Policies Exacerbating Reliability, Blackout Concerns
-- PA Capital-Star: PA, Other State Lawmakers Want To Peel Back The Curtain At PJM Electrical Grid Operator
-- PJM Reports Natural Gas Power Plants Were Over Half The Forced Outages During Winter Storm Gerri In January; Special Procedures Used For Gas Generators Raised Questions About Market Impacts [PaEN]
-- Sharon Herald: Statewide Democratic Candidates Wing Thru Sharon, Talk Fracking, Other Issues
-- The Guardian: Ex-President’s Extreme Anti-Environment Blueprint: ‘In A Word, Horrific’
-- The Guardian: Inside Ex-President’s Plan To Destroy The EPA
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]
Bills Moving
The following bills saw action in the House and Senate this week--
Senate
Abrogate RGGI Program: Senate Bill 1058 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) abrogating the final regulation reducing carbon pollution from power plants [RGGI] was reported out of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee on a party-line vote-- Republicans supporting-- and is now on the Senate Calendar for action. Read more here.
Independent Energy Office: Senate Bill 832 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) establishing an Independent Energy Office was reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee [Senate Fiscal Note & Summary] and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.
Crematories: House Bill 1246 (Malagari-D-Montgomery) set operational temperatures for crematories was reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee [Senate Fiscal Note & Summary] and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.
Garage Drains: Senate Bill 265 (Laughlin-R-Erie) amending the Sewage Facilities Act to allow garage floor drains to discharge into on-lot septic systems was Tabled.
Dumping Penalties: House Bill 95 (Bullock-D- Philadelphia) increasing penalties for scattering rubbish was Tabled.
Bill Calendars
Senate (March 18): Senate Bill 1058 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) abrogating the final regulation reducing carbon pollution from power plants [RGGI]; 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; Senate Bill 832 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) establishing an Independent Energy Office; House Bill 1246 (Malagari-D-Montgomery) set operational temperatures for crematories. <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.
House (March 18): 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.
Committee Meetings
House
February 14-- House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee hearing on House Bill 1842 (Schweyer-D-Lehigh) authorizing community solar energy programs. Room G-50 Iris Building. 10:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online.
February 22-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearing - Dept. Of Agriculture. Room 140 Main Capitol. 1:00 p.m. Click Here to watch online.
February 28-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearing - Departments Of Conservation & Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. Room 140 Main Capitol. 1:00 p.m. Click Here to watch online.
March 5-- House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee hearing on House Bill 491 (Young-D-Philadelphia) expanding the use of mechanical insulation in PUC Act 129 energy efficiency and conservation programs (sponsor summary). Room G-50 Irvis Building. Noon. Click Here to watch online.
March 19-- House Game & Fisheries Committee informational meeting on Fish & Boat Commission’s 2023 Annual Report. Room 523, Irvis Building. 9:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online.
March 20-- House Game & Fisheries Committee informational meeting on Game Commission’s 2023 Annual Report. Room 523, Irvis Building. 9:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online.
<> Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.
Senate
February 27-- Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearing - 9:30 a.m. - Fish & Boat Commission; 1:00 p.m. - Dept. of Agriculture. Hearing Room 1, North Office Building. Click Here to watch online.
February 29-- Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearing - 9:30 a.m. - Dept. Of Environmental Protection. Hearing Room 1, North Office Building. Click Here to watch online.
<> Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.
Bills Introduced
Oil & Gas Well Emergency Response Team: House Bill 2021 (Conklin-D-Mifflin) establishing oil and gas well emergency response teams (sponsor summary).
Public Notice Of Oil & Gas Well Permits: House Bill 2022 (Conklin-D-Mifflin) require public notice in local newspapers of oil and gas well permits (sponsor summary).
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
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
House Agency Budget Hearing Schedule
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: February 11, 2024]
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