— Article I, Section 27 Pennsylvania Constitution  [It’s Not A Suggestion]

Click Here To View Or Print The Entire February 9 PA Environment Digest

143 New Stories – REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA

Stories You May Have Missed Last Week: PA Environment & Energy Articles & NewsClips By Topic

Gov. Shapiro’s Proposed Budget Includes Performance Standards For Data Centers Seeking State Tax Credits; Renewed Call For Lightening Energy Plan; New PUC Benchmarks For Utility Profits

Reactions To Gov. Shapiro’s Proposed Budget From Citizen, Environmental, Energy, Industry, Utility Groups

House Committee OKs Bill To Give PUC More Authority To Regulate A.I. Data Centers, Other Large Loads To Protect Ratepayers, Electric Grid

Capitolwire.com: Senate Committee Amends, Does Not Report Out Bill Requiring Data Centers To Bring Their Own Power, Respecting Local Decisions; Sandbox Rollback Still There

House Passes Bills Authorizing Clean Manufacturing, Reduced Fees For Small Nuclear Reactors, Advances Solar Warehouse Bill

Independent Fiscal Office Reports PA Electricity Prices Increased 46.1% From 2018 to 2025, More Than Other PJM States, Largely Due To Pennsylvania’s Reliance On Natural Gas-Fired Electric Generation

Guest Essay: A.I. Data Centers Pose Big Challenge For PA’s Energy Future – Dramatically Increasing Costs For Energy Consumers, And It’s Not Getting Any Cheaper

Clean Energy Group, Partners Host Feb. 25 Webinar On The High Cost Of A.I. – How Data Centers Are Reshaping Pennsylvania’s Energy Landscape

PJM Interconnection Issues Cold Weather Alert For Feb. 7 to 9 Across Its Entire Footprint

In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles – NewClips From Last Week – February 9

DEP Citizens Advisory Council Meets Feb. 10 To Hear Update From Senate, House Environmental Committees, And On Philadelphia Combined Sewer Overflows

Washington County Residents On Water Wells Not Aware A MarkWest Pipeline Drilling Project Lost 1.2 Million Gallons Of Drilling Fluid In Mount Pleasant & Robinson Townships

Environmental Hearing Board Denies CNX Gas Company Motion To Throw Out Ullom Family Appeal Over Water Loss In Washington County; Scope Of Rebuttable Presumption Under Review

PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard – Jan. 31 to Feb. 6 – 10 More Conventional Abandoned Well Violations; Failure To Notify DEP Of Water Contamination; Casing/Cement Failure

Guest Comments: Jacoby & Cove Mountains In Loyalsock State Forest Will Be Degraded For Generations By PA General Energy’s ‘Saluda’ Shale Gas Access Road, Staging Area Project In Lycoming County

DEP Invites Comments On Permit For Homer City Generation 5.8 Mile, 30-Inch Natural Gas Pipeline To Serve Proposed Data Center 4.5 GW Power Plant In Indiana County

DEP Invites Comments On Columbia Gas Permit For Project To Protect 2 Major Natural Gas Pipelines From Impacts Of Longwall Coal Mining In West Finley Twp., Washington County

PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment – February 7

Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved 74 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In December, January; 471 In 2025

EPA Awards 25 Organizations Brownfields Job Training Grants, Including Nearly $500,000 To Auberle In Allegheny County

Environmental, Public Interest Groups Submit ‘Demand For Action’ On 8-Year-Old Petition Asking The Environmental Quality Board To Adopt A Regulation To Reduce Greenhouse Emissions From 14 Major Industries In PA

DEP Now Accepting Applications For Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants, Deadline April 1

Register Now! For Keep PA Beautiful’s Pick Up Pennsylvania Initiative Honoring America’s 250th Anniversary; In 2025, 53,500 Volunteers Collected 3.4 Million Pounds Of Trash

DEP Announces Winners Of 2026 PA Student Radon Poster Contest; Regan Schall Went On To Win 1st Place In National Contest

DEP Chesapeake Bay News Highlights County Water Quality Action Planning Process, Watershed Restoration Projects, Funding Opportunities

Guest Essay: Pennsylvania Has Leadership, Momentum, And Legislation For Cleaner Waters At Home And The Chesapeake Bay – By Julia Krall, PA Executive Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Susquehanna River Basin Commission Guardian Newsletter Highlights A.I. Data Center Water Use

National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Awards $6.9 Million to Support 33 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Conservation Projects; Next Round Of Grant Applications Due April 9

American Water Charitable Foundation Now Accepting Applications For Water & Environment Grants From PA American Water Service Territories

National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Awards $12.5 Million To Support 30 Delaware River Watershed Conservation Projects; Next Round Of Grant Applications Due In March

Western PA Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation: Assistance Available For Administering Federal Grants

PA Environmental Council In Case You Missed It In January Now Available

WeConservePA Now Accepting Applications For Regional Trail Workshop Grants

Western PA Conservancy Protects 164 Acres Of Forestland, Wetlands In French Creek Watershed, Adds To Conservation Area In Erie County

Delaware Highlands Conservancy Partners With Landowner To Protect 76 Acres Of Forests, Wetlands In Monroe, Pike Counties

PA Biological Survey Releases Digital Booklet On The Importance Of Fungi

Environment & Energy Educational Opportunities For Students & Adults

Penn State Extension Hosts Feb. 24 Beavers And Artificial Dam Building – Gnawing On Ecology

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners Host March 2 Webinar On Creating A Mini Meadow

News From PA House & Senate

The Feds – New Administration

Public Participation Opportunities/Calendar Of Events

Grants & Awards

PA Bulletin Public Notices – February 7

Stories Invited – About PA Environment Digest

Supporting Member PA Outdoor Writers Assn.; PA Trout Unlimited; PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers

Diversity – Equity – Inclusion (DEI)

— David Hess

Former Secretary, PA Department of Environmental Protection

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[Posted: February 9, 2026]  PA Environment Digest