Full Episode

A study shows thousands of lives saved from switching from coal to natural gas for power. An update on air quality in Pittsburgh and a settlement with U.S. Steel. A proposed rule by EPA would limit the kinds of scientific studies used to create environmental and public health regulations. Our Good River series about the Ohio River continues.

We revisit some of our biggest stories of 2019: 40th anniversary of the partial meltdown at Three Mile Island and links to thyroid cancer; environmental investigations involving the fracking boom; and a court order not publish the details of a sealed agreement between a gas driller and residents of Washington County. Plus, PFAS contamination of drinking water including private wells.

In Scotland, efforts to keep plastic produced from Pa. shale gas out of the ocean. Climate change means more rain in our region. Will aging infrastructure protect towns from flooding? The strip mining and flooding connection in a warming world. Hemp growers have high hopes of turning a profit...someday. 

Shell’s ethane cracker in Beaver County will produce tiny plastic pellets that can spill or escape from the plant. Will the Ohio River be protected? RiverWise is embracing sustainability in Beaver County. Plus, there's a new plan to keep sewage overflows out of Pittsburgh's rivers. A CMU study finds economic value from natural gas in the region, but also premature deaths.

American natural gas is exported to 35 countries, including Japan. But some Pennsylvanians have been forced to give up their land in the process. We talk with Obama's chief climate negotiator on the future of climate action. A longtime environmentalist gives advice to the new generation. Charge filed in a security scheme along the troubled Mariner East pipeline project.

From talking to kids about the uncertainty of a warming planet to educating ourselves about climate science, we hear from people grappling with the enormity of the climate crisis. We go inside one of Pennsylvania's most energy efficient buildings. Pa. announces studies on health impacts from fracking.

One community along the Ohio River is using outdoor recreation to boost its economy. Plus, fallout from Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto's opposition to more petrochemical plants, while a researcher says fracking should be banned. A Philly charter school didn't notify parents when high levels of lead where found in the school's water fountains. 

While fracking is banned in Scotland, fracked gas from Pennsylvania is imported there to make plastic. The FBI is investigating the Wolf administration for its role in permitting of the Mariner East pipeline. The Pa. AG says climate change is costing the state hundreds of millions of dollars. A report from the borderlands: how the wall will impact wildlife.

The world's first certified EcoDistrict is a former steel town along the Allegheny River. Plus, as USEPA looks to loosen regulations for coal ash waste, what it's like to live near the largest of these toxic sites in the nation. Calls for stricter rules for coke ovens in Allegheny County, while everyday people learn to monitor smokestacks for air pollution.