Climate watch: Climate & energy updates from PA and the nation
Here are some items on energy and climate issues from around Pennsylvania and the United States.
Good news for solar on schools
WHYY reports that 74 Pennsylvania schools are expected to remain eligible for federal clean energy financial credits authorized during the Biden years but being phased out under the Trump administration. The schools in May received grants from Pennsylvania’s “Solar for Schools” program to start solar projects. The commonwealth awarded $22.6 million to help pay for solar panels, including the purchase and installation of equipment, permit fees, energy storage, and utility interconnection. Locally, Mount Nittany Elementary received $99,288 and Park Forest Middle School received $300,000.
Report shows job losses in fracking counties
“The race to expand Appalachian natural gas production in anticipation of new power demand for AI data centers and increased export capacity of liquified natural gas is unlikely to generate long-term job growth or local prosperity.” So says a July 31 report by the Ohio River Valley Institute. In 30 fracking-heavy counties in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, the number of jobs fell by 1% between 2008 and 2023 while job growth nationally was 14%. In 11 Pennsylvania counties where fracking was prominent nine showed net job losses, the report says.
Breathing easier in Pittsburgh
After the Shenango Coal Coking Works on the Ohio River near Pittsburgh shut down in 2016, ER visits for asthma in the area declined by 40%. That’s according to research by professors from New York University and the University of Pittsburgh. “Our study provides strong confirmation that reductions in fossil-fuel-related air pollution produce both short and longer-term respiratory health benefits,” the authors say.
PA Turnpike adds EV charging stations
Two electric vehicle charging stations have been added — one eastbound and one westbound — at the Somerset Service Plaza of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. This brings to 60 the number of EV stations at eight service plazas on the Turnpike. Plans are to install 80 additional stations along the Turnpike by 2027.
Carbon pollution: what is and what might have been
What was achieved by the Biden Administration’s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act? “The bottom line estimate I came up with is that we cut U.S. carbon pollution by about a billion tons over the next decade compared to a world in which the IRA never passed/was wholly repealed,” says Dana Nuccitelli, research manager for Citizens’ Climate Lobby. “It’s a far cry from the roughly seven billion tons of avoided climate pollution had the IRA and EPA climate regulations remained fully intact, but it’s still a significant achievement, equivalent to permanently shutting down about 26 coal power plants. Every ton of avoided climate pollution matters, and we avoided a billion of them.”
A year of clean energy progress
The United States is expected to set a record for new power generation in 2025 — more than 60 gigawatts. And 93% of that will be clean energy. The likely mix is 52% solar, 29% batteries (usually coupled with solar farms), 12% wind and 7% gas. That’s from a report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That picture will quite likely change in 2026, however, as most incentives for clean energy end.
Comment to EPA by September 22
The Trump administration is trying to rescind the Endangerment Finding: the scientific and legal basis for the Environmental Protection Agency to curb climate-warming pollution. Another impact would be to eviscerate vehicle emissions requirements. EPA is accepting public comments about this until Sept. 22.
Richard W. Jones is a volunteer with the State College chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby. Reach the chapter at PaStateCollege@citizensclimatelobby.org.