An ethane cracker in western Pa. will soon start up. We answered your questions about it

Reid FrazierOctober 6, 2022

You asked us questions about Shell's ethane cracker in Beaver County. We got answers about jobs, taxes, royalties, and of course, air pollution.

EconomyEnergyHealthPollutionThe Coming Chemical BoomYour Environment Update

Public gets briefed on fracking health studies, despite no-show from Pitt, DOH

Reid FrazierOctober 5, 2022

Residents came to a forum in Washington County on state-funded studies on fracking’s impact on public health, even though researchers had pulled out. 

EnergyHealth

Pa. needs to finish emissions regulations for oil and gas sites by December or face sanctions, EPA says

Rachel McDevittOctober 4, 2022

Pennsylvania could lose $500-$750 million in federal highway funds if it doesn't submit plans to EPA by Dec. 16 to reduce VOCs at oil/gas sites.

EnergyPollution

Pitt and Pa. health department back out of public forum on fracking studies, organizers say

Reid FrazierOctober 4, 2022

Pitt and DOH say there's no new info on state-funded studies on fracking and public health. Groups say families of those who died from a rare cancer deserve updates.

EnergyHealth

Could district steam systems provide a climate solution? Philadelphia Gas Works says no

Susan PhillipsSeptember 29, 2022

Two century-old heating systems in Philadelphia are competing for business: A gas utility and a steam system to be powered by renewables.

Climate ChangeEnergy

In Pittsburgh, John Kerry says climate change solutions will be driven by private sector

Reid FrazierSeptember 23, 2022

"No government has enough money to be able to solve this problem,” Kerry said at the Global Clean Energy Action Forum.  

Climate ChangeEnergy

Climate change in Pa.: More storm-driven power outages possible, analysis says

Rachel McDevittSeptember 20, 2022

As climate change increases the chance of severe storms, outages could become more frequent if utilities don’t act to harden the electric grid.

Climate Change

Former Pa. environment secretary to lead green lobbying group

Rachel McDevittSeptember 14, 2022

Patrick McDonnell stepped down as DEP secretary in July. He will now lead PennFuture.

Politics

Flight 93 Crashed Among Coal Mines. Treating the Water There Was No Ordinary Project

Madison GoldbergSeptember 9, 2022

Treatment ponds were the answer to a problem that briefly threatened the creation of the memorial itself. How they came to be still carries weight for the people involved in the work.

ConservationCultureWater

In Pa. cities, street trees can help cool ever-hotter temps. But they present their own problems to solve

Andriana DelagarzaSeptember 8, 2022

Street trees have many benefits, but they are expensive and can damage sidewalks. Now, some cities are trying new things to address these issues.

Climate ChangeConservationCulture