The information you need to follow legislation in the House and Senate- starting with articles and NewsClips from last week--

Environment & Energy NewsClips--

-- In Memoriam: Edna Mae George, The Better Half Of The Late Rep. ‘Bud’ George, Long-Time Chair Of The House Conservation Committee

Gov. Shapiro

-- Tribune-Democrat: Shapiro Defends Spending From Surplus As PA Republicans Warn About Structural Deficit

-- TribLive: Shapiro, Visiting Allegheny County, Blasts Republican Critics Of Budget Proposal

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: If Josh Shapiro Wants To Compete With Ohio, He Needs To Imitate Ohio - By Commonwealth Foundation

-- Spotlight PA - Steven Caruso: Shapiro Accepted $1,650 In Event Tickets From PA Lobbyist Michael Brunelle

-- Politics PA: Shapiro Expands Paid Parental Leave For Commonwealth Employees

Budget

-- AG One Newsletter Special Issue Summarizing Governor's FY 2024-25 Farm Budget

Oil & Gas Impacts

-- TribLive: Beaver County Man Sues Shell Petrochemical Plant, Claims Plant Spews Pollution

-- The Energy Age Blog: Resident Files Lawsuit Against Shell Petrochemical Plant, Claims Plant Spews Pollution

-- TribLive Letter: Renewable Energy Investments Protect Jobs, Public Health - By Patrick Dooling

-- WTAE: Monitors Find High Levels Of Toxic Benzene Near Clairton Coke [Coal] Plant In Allegheny County

Train Derailments

-- DEP: Interim Report On A Full Year Of Sampling Finds No Evidence Of Contamination In Western PA Related To Norfolk Southern Train Derailment  [PaEN]

-- WPXI: No Evidence Of Contamination Found In PA From Norfolk Southern Train Derailment, DEP Says

-- PennLive: A Year After Norfolk Southern Train Derailment, Pair Monitor Waterways: ‘There’s Still Something Going On’

-- TribLive: Hostile Reaction Greets Biden During Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Visit

-- PittsburghUnionProgress.com: Biden Visits Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Site, But Doesn’t Declare Disaster

-- The Center Square: Biden: Norfolk Southern Train Derailment ‘An Act Of Greed’

-- AP: Biden Praises ‘Herculean Efforts’ To Rebuild At Site Of Norfolk Southern Train Derailment

-- Post-Gazette: Biden Commends Ohio Community’s Strength Since Norfolk Southern Train Derailment

-- Washington Examiner - Salena Zito: From Afghanistan To Norfolk Southern Train Derailment, Hawaii Wildfires, Biden’s Pattern Of Behavior Lacks The Empathy He Promised

-- Post-Gazette: Biden Should Use Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Visit To Push Bipartisan Rail Safety Reform

-- Post-Gazette: Norfolk Southern Boosted Lobbying, Political Giving After Ohio Train Derailment

-- The Allegheny Front: EPA Refuses To Test Inside Homes Near Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Site

PA Politics Of Russian Invasion

-- AAA Gasoline Prices:  PA- $3.55   National- $3.28   Ohio- $3.32

-- WTAE: Gasoline Prices In Pittsburgh Up Nearly A Quarter In Past Month

-- TribLive: Refinery Issues, Change To Summer Gasoline Likely To Push Prices Higher, Analyst Says

-- Utility Dive: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission OKs Cold Weather Reliability Standards [Driven In Large Part By Natural Gas Infrastructure Failures In 2021]

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs Same As Last Week - 23

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Pittsburgh-Based EQT Could Curtail Some Natural Gas Production As Gas Prices Fade

-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Drillers Cut Spending, Reduce Activity Amid Price Crash

-- Financial Times: Natural Gas Prices Plunge As US Set For Warmest Winter On Record

-- Natural Gas Intelligence: Global Natural Gas Prices Continue Freefall Amid Weak Demand, Warm Weather

-- Natural Gas Intelligence: US Pause On New LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Permits Could Help Balance Global Natural Gas Prices, Avoid Oversupply

-- TribLive Guest Essay: A Fossil Fuel Export Economy Is Wrong For America - By Tyson Slocum, Public Citizen

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Record Oil And Gas Production Means Energy And Economic Security - By Independent Petroleum Association Of America

-- Natural Gas Intelligence: 76% Increase In LNG Natural Gas Export Capacity Already Under Construction; US Group Fears Buildout Will Hurt American Businesses Urge ‘US Consumers First’ Policy  [PaEN]

-- Bloomberg TV: Canada’s Energy Minister: Period Of Using Natural Gas As Transition Fuel Should Be Short; Gas Should Not Replace Renewables; Canada Has Adopted Controls On LNG Exports The US Has Not  [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: A Political Battle Brews Over Natural Gas Exports Over Impacts To Gas Prices, Climate, Demand For Gas

-- Reuters: European Union Says Biden’s Pause On Approvals Of New LNG Natural Gas Export Facilities Will Have No Effect On US LNG Supplies To Europe Over Next 2 or 3 Years  [LNG Exports Are Expected To Double By 2030 On Already-Approved Projects]

-- Bloomberg: Shell Lowers LNG Natural Gas Growth View As Demand Set To Peak In 2040s

-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Liquefied Natural Gas Exports Should Be Encouraged; Pause On New LNG Export Facilities Is Another Attack On American Energy Independence  [?]

-- WSJ: US Natural Gas Futures Extend Losses [2.12.24]

-- Bloomberg: European Natural Gas Approaches Oversold Levels As Demand Set To Recover

-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Price To Average Higher In 2024, 2025 - EIA

-- Reuters: Brazil’s Hydro, Renewables Power Adds To Global Natural Gas Surplus

-- WSJ: Diamondback Energy, Endeavor Reach Deal To Create $50 Billion Oil And Gas Behemoth

-- Reuters: Investors Dump Oil After BP Refinery In Indiana Shut Down Due To Electrical Failures

Environment/Energy Issues

-- Sen. Comitta: Let's Work Together To Address Climate Change, But Stop Rehashing The Same Old Arguments Against RGGI That Are Not Protecting Our Planet And Our People  [PaEN]

-- DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee Meets Feb. 20 To Review 2024 Climate Impacts Assessment, PA Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Climate Action Plan  [PaEN]

-- Ohio River Valley Institute Feb. 22 Webinar To Announce A Roadmap For Industrial Decarbonization In Pennsylvania  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Feb. 10 to 16 - 31 More Conventional Abandoned Well NOVs - 103 For Year; Pipeline Land Slips; Water Supply, Stray Gas Complaints [PaEN]

-- PA Taxpayers To Give $130.9 Million In Tax Credits To Subsidize Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County; Total Expected To Be $1.17 Billion Thru 2042; No Regard For Environmental Compliance Record  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Beaver County Man Sues Shell Petrochemical Plant, Claims Plant Spews Pollution

-- The Energy Age Blog: Resident Files Lawsuit Against Shell Petrochemical Plant, Claims Plant Spews Pollution

-- Fortune: Oil & Gas Industry Giving Ex-President Millions For 2024 Election

-- Capital & Main - Audrey Carleton: Private Equity Kept Aging Homer City PA Coal Power Plant Open, Then Closed It With No Plan For Workers And Community

-- PennEnvironment Report Finds PA Lags Behind Many States In Rooftop Solar Facilities, Recommends Policies For Improving Growth  [PaEN]

-- Coalition For Community Solar Access Thanks House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee For Hearing, Calls For Vote On House Bill 1842  [PaEN]

-- The Center Square: Community Solar - A Path To Renter-Friendly Solar Power Sited, Again

-- Penn State: Stable Profits, Land Preservation Matter To Farmers Debating Solar Energy Facility Leases  [PaEN]

-- Tribune-Democrat: Cambria County Prison Board Considering Solar Energy Conversion

-- PA Solar Center, Partners Host Feb. 23 Webinar On Solar Energy For Municipalities And Water Authorities  [PaEN]

-- TribLive Letter: Renewable Energy Investments Protect Jobs, Public Health - By Patrick Dooling

-- AP: Former FirstEnergy CEO, Senior VP Indicted In $60 Million Ohio Bailout Bribery Scheme Fail To Surrender As Promised To Face Charges​​

-- Post-Gazette/AP: 2 FirstEnergy Execs, Fmr Ohio Regulator Plead Not Guilty In $60 Million Bribery Scheme

-- House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler Expresses Opposition To Proposed Susquehanna River Hydropower Project

-- WITF/LancasterOnline: Con. Smucker Joins State, Local Officials To Oppose $2.5 Billion Susquehanna River Hydroelectric Project

-- TribLive: VP Harris To Visit Pittsburgh To Discuss Clean Water Issues

-- The Daily Item: Consultant Takes Legal Action Against Encina Chemical Recycling Company For $550,000+ In Unpaid Invoices For Proposed Northumberland County Project

-- PennLive Guest Essay: We Need To Rethink How We Recycle Plastics - By PA Chemical Industry Council

-- TribLive: Sunday Hunting In PA Appears To Have A Chance

Top 10 Stories On Harrisburg/PA Politics Last Week--

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- Top 10 Stories: Harrisburg/PA Politics Reported By Local News Media Last Week  [PaEN]

Bill Calendars

Senate (March 18): Senate Bill 1058 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) abrogating the final regulation reducing carbon pollution from power plants [RGGI];  Senate Bill 831 (Yaw-R- Lycoming) would direct the state to apply for primary authority to regulate Class VI carbon dioxide underground injection wells from the US Environmental Protection Agency and establish a legal and regulatory framework for potential carbon dioxide capture, utilization and sequestration in Pennsylvania; Senate Bill 832 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) establishing an Independent Energy Office;  House Bill 1246 (Malagari-D-Montgomery) set operational temperatures for crematories. <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

House (March 18):  House Resolution 196 (Matzie-D-Beaver) designating the week of September 18-24 Rail Safety Week; House Resolution 228 (Otten-D-Chester) designating the week of October 1 through 7, 2023, as "Climate Week" in Pennsylvania. <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Committee Meetings

House

February 22-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearing - Dept. Of Agriculture.  Room 140 Main Capitol. 1:00 p.m. Click Here to watch online.

February 28-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearing - Departments Of Conservation & Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.  Room 140 Main Capitol. 1:00 p.m. Click Here to watch online.

March 5-- House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee hearing on House Bill 491 (Young-D-Philadelphia) expanding the use of mechanical insulation in PUC Act 129 energy efficiency and conservation programs (sponsor summary). Room G-50 Irvis Building.  Noon.  Click Here to watch online.

March 19-- House Game & Fisheries Committee informational meeting on Fish & Boat Commission’s 2023 Annual Report.  Room 523, Irvis Building. 9:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online.

March 20-- House Game & Fisheries Committee informational meeting on Game Commission’s 2023 Annual Report.  Room 523, Irvis Building. 9:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online.

<>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate

February 27-- Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearing - 9:30 a.m. - Fish & Boat Commission; 1:00 p.m. - Dept. of Agriculture. Hearing Room 1, North Office Building. Click Here to watch online.

February 29-- Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearing - 9:30 a.m. - Dept. Of Environmental Protection. Hearing Room 1, North Office Building. Click Here to watch online.

<>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Bills Pending In Key Committees

Check the PA Environmental Council Bill Tracker for the status and updates on pending state legislation and regulations that affect environmental and conservation efforts in Pennsylvania.

Session Schedule

Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House--

Senate

Budget Hearings: February 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29; and March 5, 6, 7 

Click Here for Senate Agency Budget Hearing Schedule.

March 18, 19, 20

April 8, 9, 10, 29, 30

May 1, 6, 7, 8

June 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

House

House Agency Budget Hearing Schedule

March 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27

April 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 29, 30

May 1, 6, 7, 8, 20, 21, 22

June 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

[Posted: February 18, 2024]

2/19/2024