This week was one long roller coaster ride, with some loop-de-loops thrown in for good measure.  One sure thing, the often-collapsed “agreed-to” budget framework is no more.

Here’s a timeline of significant actions taken on the budget and related bills since the Governor’s budget address on March 3 that chronicles how--

Electric Power Research Institute modeling has concluded the least cost option for Pennsylvania to meet the EPA Clean Power Climate Rule by 2030 is to use more low-cost ($6 or less) natural gas for electric power generation and the mass balance approach to regulating greenhouse gas reductions.

PA Environment Digest now has a Google+ Circle called Green Works In PA.  Let us join your Circle.

Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

The following bills were given final approval by the Senate and House and are now on the Governor's desk for action--

The following bills of interest saw action this week in the House and Senate--

The Schuylkill Action Network wants to hear from the people who live near this incredible natural resource and depend on the waterway for drinking water.

The December 21 Watershed Winds newsletter is now available from Penn State Extension featuring stories on--

Join Lorna Rosenberg, Green and Healthy Schools Coordinator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, along with her partners and colleagues as they present a webinar on schools and outdoor air quality on January 19 from 3 to 4 p.m.

The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday said it has issued an air quality plan approval to Lackawanna Energy Center, LLC of Chicago, to construct and operate a 1500-megawatt natural gas fired power plant in Lackawanna County.

The massive leak that has gone on now for more than two months from a natural gas storage facility near Los Angeles has put natural gas storage facilities in the news. 

The Department of Environmental Protection and Penn State are hosting a workshop January 20 in Pittsburgh for local government and school district officials on the use of the U.S. Department of Energy’s new Energy Asset Score Tool.

The Public Utility Commission Tuesday released the results of its annual Cold Weather Survey, which showed that more than 24,175 Pennsylvania households are entering the winter season without heat-related utility service or using unsafe heating sources.

Gov. Tom Wolf Tuesday urged all Pennsylvanians to use the unseasonably warm start of winter as time to prepare for future severe cold and winter conditions.

Farmers considering the transition to organic production can apply for funding to help ensure a smooth process through the Organic Transition Assistance Program, the newest offering in the Department of Agriculture’s expanding suite of economic development assistance for farms and agribusinesses.

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy is pleased to announce it is applying for renewal of its accreditation under the Land Trust Accreditation Program and a public comment period is now open. 

The Wildlands Conservancy in Emmaus, Lehigh County, offers a variety of programs for people of all ages, including songbird banding, chemistry in nature, first day hike at South Mountain, animals and tracking and much more.  Click Here for the Conservancy’s Calendar of Events.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Conservancy.

The Northcentral PA Conservancy announced Wednesday it has finalized a conservation easement on a 46 acre property known as the Mexico Road Property with frontage on Chillisquaque Creek in Montour County in order to protect a portion of the stream.

The 4th Quarter newsletter of the PA Forest Heritage Association (formerly the PA Forest Fire Museum Association) is now available featuring articles on--

By: Bill Kunze, Executive Director, PA Chapter of the Nature Conservancy

Delaware Highlands Conservancy Tuesday praised a bipartisan vote in Congress that makes permanent a federal tax incentive supporting land conservation.

Pennsylvania’s young artists, in grades 6 through 12, are being encouraged by the Game Commission to participate in the 2016 Youth Wildlife Art Contest.  Entries are due January 29.

Game Commission officials are urging wildlife enthusiasts to join the tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the United States in the Audubon Society’s 116th Annual Christmas Bird Count, taking place through January 5.

This section lists House and Senate Committee meetings, DEP and other public hearings and meetings and other interesting environmental events.

This section gives you a heads up on upcoming deadlines for awards and grants and other recognition programs.  NEW means new from last week.

Here are NewsClips from around the state on all environmental topics, including General Environment, Budget, Marcellus Shale, Watershed Protection and much more--

No new regulations published this week.  Pennsylvania Bulletin - December 26, 2015

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Send your stories, photos and links to videos about your project, environmental issues or programs for publication in the PA Environment Digest to:  DHess@CrisciAssociates.com.

PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, Pennsylvania Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.  Sponsor: 2016 Keystone Coldwater Conference, State College, Feb. 26-27.