The energy industry and its potential impacts to freshwater resources in the Lake Erie watershed will be the focus of the next Pennsylvania Lake Erie Environmental Forum, hosted virtually on February 18 at 1:00 p.m..

The forums are hosted by the Department of Environmental Protection and Pennsylvania Sea Grant. Participation is free, however, registration is required.

Staff from the energy programs office of DEP will discuss Climate Pollution Reduction grants (available through DEP) [All federal funding is at risk due to the President’s new executive orders on climate, energy], and electricity generation and distribution in the Erie area. Representatives from Accenture, a global professional services company that provides IT services and management consulting will discuss data centers and water quality impacts.

Data centers store and share applications and data and are expected to impact freshwater resources through increased water consumption in the face of climate change.

Penn State Extension educators will provide details about solar farms and associated impacts to water resources.

Register today for this unique opportunity to come together and discuss the pressing issue of freshwater resource conservation in the growing demand for data centers and electricity usage.

The Forum agenda and links to previously recorded sessions are available online.

For additional details or questions, contact Amber Stilwell, Pennsylvania Sea Grant's Lake Erie Coastal Outreach Specialist at ars26@psu.edu.

The Pennsylvania Lake Erie Environmental Forum is made possible with funding through the Department of Environmental Protection, U.S Environmental Protection Agency, and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Pennsylvania Sea Grant is supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Penn State University, and through federal, state, and local funding.

Resource Link:

-- Gov. Shapiro’s Budget Includes Energy Plan; Funding To Make-up Deficit In Oil & Gas Program; New State Park, Trail Initiative; Over $6.2 Billion In Federal Funding At Risk For DEP, DCNR, PennVEST  [PaEN]

Related Articles:

-- DEP, Attorney General Announce $14,866,280 In Grants To Fund 79 Local Water Quality Improvement Projects Funded By Growing Greener, Natural Gas Pipeline Penalties  [PaEN]

-- PA American Water Charitable Foundation Accepting Applications For 2025 Water & Environment Grants  [PaEN]

-- Schuylkill River Restoration Fund Grant Letters Of Intent Due Feb. 18

-- Washington County Judge Rules Sunoco Pipeline Did Not Have Eminent Domain Authority To Take Property For Mariner East Pipelines In Landowner Lawsuit Alleging Fraud  [PaEN]

-- What The Shale Gas Industry Leaves Behind: DEP: Southwestern Energy Prod Co. Failed To Comply With Act 2 Cleanup Standards At The Greenzweig Shale Gas Wastewater Impoundment In Bradford County After 5 Years  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- WHYY: Upper Makefield Twp. Residents Call For Answers After Energy Transfer Jet Fuel Pipeline Leak Contaminated Wells In Bucks County

-- Inquirer: Legislators Say Energy Transfer Jet Fuel Pipeline That Leaked Into Bucks County Wells Should Be Shut Down; Operator Failed To Detect Leak

-- The Energy Age Blog: Judge Rules Sunoco Didn’t Have Eminent Domain Power For Mariner East Pipelines Work In 2013; Lawsuit Claims Company Coerced Property Owners Into Allowing Easements

-- Observer-Reporter: Washington County Judge Rules Sunoco Did Not Have Eminent Domain Powers For Mariner East Pipeline In 2013 In Landowner Lawsuit Alleging Fraud   [PDF of Article]

-- WGAL: High Levels Of PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Found In Drinking Water In Some Southcentral PA Communities

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: ALCOSAN Can Make Money On Sewage And Help The Environment Too - By Gianna Kolencik, graduate student, and John Stolz, Professor of Engineering at Duquesne University

[Posted: February 11, 2025]

2/17/2025