StateImpact Archives

Pa. schools can soon apply for grants to offset cost of solar projects

Rachel McDevitt·August 8, 2024

A new Pennsylvania law will set up a grant program using federal climate money for schools to install solar panels. Lawmakers also approved $25 million in state funds.

Energy

Green groups, oil and gas industries praise new policies in Pa.’s state budget

Rachel McDevitt·August 5, 2024

Environmental advocates say the new $47.6 billion state budget takes some positive steps, while speeding up permitting and support for hydrogen pleased fossil fuel groups.

Politics

Close-up of smoke billowing out of a smokestack.

Pa. looks to regulate carbon storage wells with new law

Rachel McDevitt·July 26, 2024

A new state law starts a process of transferring federal authority over underground carbon dioxide storage to Pennsylvania, and allows the Department of Environmental Protection to create regulations for CO2 wells.

Climate Change Energy

Pa. heat advisories are outpacing the average rate this summer. Climate change plays a role

Rachel McDevitt·July 22, 2024

Since June, 18 heat advisories have been issued in Pennsylvania - that’s 13 more than the average for this time period over the last two decades.

Climate Change Health

A swimming pool in an urban setting with buildings in the back ground

Neighborhoods in Pa. cities can get up to 13 degrees hotter due to urban environment

StateImpact Pennsylvania·July 17, 2024

The heat is absorbed and released by buildings, roads and pavement. It's worse in neighborhoods with low incomes and higher populations of people of color.

Climate Change Environmental Justice

‘We’re loading the dice’: Scientists say record heat is due to climate change

Reid Frazier·June 19, 2024

Pennsylvania is expected to have more than a month of 90-degree temperatures in a year by mid-century, up from an average of five days.

Climate Change

People in a small river on paddle boards

Pa. environmental education programs receive $1 million from state

Rachel McDevitt·May 30, 2024

This year’s projects range from running summer camps to helping people protect their homes from stormwater.

Conservation Environmental Justice

Heaviest Pa. storms drop 60% more rain than they used to, report says

Rachel McDevitt·May 21, 2024

Climate change is causing a warmer atmosphere that holds more moisture, which can fuel heavy rain events and flash floods.

Climate Change

$1 million fine levied for major gas leak in western Pa.

Rachel McDevitt·April 12, 2024

The Rager Mountain storage field owned by Equitrans spewed methane gas for nearly two weeks in November 2022. Bloomberg News called it the country’s worst climate disaster that year.

Climate Change Energy

A industrial facility with two smokestacks.

Centralia, Wash.’s coal plant has to close next year. What can Pa. communities learn from Centralia’s transition?

Rachel McDevitt·April 12, 2024

Centralia – about the size of Johnstown, Pa. – has been cited as a model for how to successfully transition away from coal.

Economy Energy

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