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You make it all possible. For more information on our projects and policy work, please visit our website at pecpa.org. To support PEC’s work, contribute online at pecpa.org/join or click here to donate to PEC through #GiveBigPittsburgh

The 2020 Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape (LHCL) Mini-Grant Program funded by DCNR and administered by PEC will provide mini-grants of $1,000 to $7,000 for projects in four southwestern PA counties.

Applications must be submitted by December 13. Learn more and apply online.

The onetime railroad hub of Corry, Pennsylvania celebrates the latest stage of its transformation into an Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition trail town.

Listen as you walk through the towns on the Monongahela River. You’ll hear some traffic, an airplane or two, kayak paddles pulling through the water, an occasional motorboat. But what you’ll hear above all those pedestrian sounds is one you might not expect: buzz.

As we enter 2020—and PEC’s 50th year—we extend our deep gratitude for the support of our many benefactors, partners, volunteers, and friends across the Commonwealth and beyond. With your support, we will continue and expand our work of conservation through cooperation on behalf of all Pennsylvanians.

If you haven't recently made a gift to PEC, please consider making a year-end contribution. If you have -- thank you! Your support helps us protect, restore, and enhance Pennsylvania's environment throughout the year.

Pennsylvanians voted in record numbers for the 2020 Pennsylvania River of the Year designation. With all 21,369 online votes tallied, the winner is the Lackawanna River, nominated by the Lackawanna River Conservation Association.

The River of the Year program is sponsored by DCNR and administered by PEC's affiliate organization, the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers.

Dates have been finalized for this year's lineup of regional watershed workshops presented by PEC and the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR):

Watch the website for updates as registration links are added to the list.

Are you an early-career professional with a background in marketing, PR, journalism, media, or design? Come join the PEC communications team!

We're hiring an entry-level Communications Coordinator to assist in the production and dissemination of web, social media, multimedia, and other content in support of PEC's statewide program and policy work. Apply by email to coordinator@pecpa.org no later than February 29, 2020.

You’re invited to join WaterNow Alliance at the 5th Annual Tap Into Resilience Summit, a pioneering two-day summit for local water decision makers and water industry professionals.

PEC is proud to partner with the WaterNow Alliance to bring this important summit to Philadelphia on April 15-16.

The five finalists for 2020 River of the Year represent everything that’s right – and wrong – with Pennsylvania’s 86,000 miles of rivers and streams. 

Author, planner, and landscape architect Chuck Flink talks about his new book making the case for greenways as the key to vibrant and sustainable communities.

In 2019, Murrysville officials retrofitted a half-dozen storm water detention ponds, with plans to do the same for about a dozen more.

That’s precisely the type of project that should be nominated for a Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards, given annually by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. The nomination period opened on Jan. 2...

The Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards recognize extraordinary achievements in conservation, outdoor recreation, and environmental work by individuals and organizations in 29 western PA counties.

2020 winners will be honored at the annual WPEA dinner, May 21st in Pittsburgh. Nominations must be submitted online by February 7.

Five nominees -- Brandywine Creek, Buffalo Creek, Connoquenessing Creek, the Lackawanna River and the Ohio River -- are competing for the title of 2020 Pennsylvania River of the Year.

Be sure to cast your vote before the deadline: 5:00 p.m. Friday, January 17.

Volunteers from Jeannette’s Elliott Group lent a hand this week as the Westmoreland Land Trust installed an updated sign at the entrance of its nature preserve along Ardara Road in North Huntingdon.

The sign joins other recent improvements at the 59-acre Otto and Magdalene Ackermann Nature Preserve that were the result of volunteer labor and a $4,230 Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape initiative mini-grant, administered by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council...

Like most public events, PEC''s schedule of regional awards dinners has been disrupted by COVID-19. We''re glad to report that all of our gatherings traditionally held in spring and early summer have been rescheduled for the fall. The revised lineup is as follows:

All other events previously scheduled in April, including watershed education workshops and tree plantings, have been cancelled or postponed. Visit the Events page for more information as plans continue to evolve.

In celebration of PEC''s 50th anniversary, we are sharing stories of Pennsylvania''s environmental history and the issues that have defined PEC''s work over the years. Find the complete series here.

The turn of a new century brought with it growing concern within the scientific community over the manmade impacts of carbon emissions on climate. In 2000, Pennsylvania produced one percent of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions, ranking it fourth in the U.S. and among the top 25 carbon-emitting nations in the world. What’s more, Pennsylvania’s carbon emissions were projected to grow by roughly ten percent per decade. So it was no surprise that the Keystone State was readily seen as a place where carbon reductions could make a meaningful impact.

PEC’s 2007 report, “Pennsylvania Climate Change Roadmap,” was one of the very first policy documents addressing this issue specifically as it relates to Pennsylvania...

Philadelphia''s Circuit Trails initiative is well on its way to completing 500 trail miles by 2025. What comes next?

Sarah Clark Stuart, Executive Director of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, looks at opportunities and challenges for the Circuit in a guest post for the PEC Blog.

The PEC Environment Ride returns October 2-4 for its 10th annual outing along the streets, roads, and trails of southeastern Pennsylvania.

Rider registration is now open -- sign up by June 30 to lock in the early-bird rate!

The Planning Committee for the 2020 Eastern PA Greenways and Trails Summit is seeking proposals for educational sessions to be presented at the 2020 Summit. The Summit will be held September 27th -29th at the Hotel Anthracite in historic Carbondale, Pennsylvania.

Speakers are invited to submit proposals for one-hour presentations on subjects including trails & technology, bike share programs, marketing & promotion, health & wellness, and active transportation.

Community supported agriculture gives subscribers access to fresh, locally grown produce without the trouble and expense of growing it themselves. Community solar does the same thing for renewable energy — creating economic opportunity for communities, savings for ratepayers, resiliency and efficiency for the grid, and cleaner air for the planet. But community solar could also be a lifeline for struggling Pennsylvania farmers.

As investors grow wary of fossil fuels and big companies prioritize sustainability, where will Pennsylvania fit in the post-carbon economy?

Analysis from Steven Clarke and Alli Gold-Roberts of Ceres, a nonprofit that advocates for clean energy in the business community.

Connecting Pittsburgh to Cleveland by trail could be very good for both metro areas and people who live in them as well as elsewhere around the region and beyond. And not just for their legs and lungs and moods, but also for the health of local economies and communities.

That’s the main point of a new study released this week by people working to complete that connection and others on both a regional and a national network of trails...

Friends of PEC,

The past few weeks have been eventful for everyone, and we at PEC are no exception. Read on for a recap of information and content shared on our website in the month of July.

July brought the long-awaited introduction of Senate Bill 15, known as the Energy Transition Act, by Senator Jay Costa (Allegheny County). PEC enthusiastically supports the bipartisan measure, which would initiate Pennsylvania’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) with a broader goal of achieving net zero emissions in the electric power sector by 2050.

The introduction of SB 15 follows a July 8 House vote to approve House Bill 2025, which mandates that any proposed rulemaking by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to address carbon dioxide emissions be affirmatively approved by the General Assembly. PEC opposes this legislation.

Meanwhile, PEC submitted comments in partnership with Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) in support of proposed rulemaking to control emissions of VOCs and Methane from existing natural gas operations and equipment. Learn more and read the full report here.

Finally, for Pennsylvania to continue its path toward a net zero future and economy, the growth of renewable generation will be essential. With this in mind, PEC worked with Green Light Consulting to prepare a report detailing how renewable generation has grown in western Pennsylvania, and compiling input from key stakeholders on barriers to that growth. Read the report here. 

Before adjourning for the summer, the legislature passed House Bill 1003 (Now Act 39), which increases public safety by strengthening the PA Fish and Boat Commission’s ability to enforce the marking of low head or run-of-the-river dams, and House Bill 808 (now Act 56), which provides the Fish and Boat Commission greater autonomy in adjusting user fees charged by the Commission – a critical component of the resources used to support habitat and recreational amenity work.

When the legislature returns in September, a number of other bills still await consideration, such as H.R. 670 (encouraging wildlife corridors), House Bill 792 and Senate Bill 565 (bike lanes), House Bill 1941 (liability protections for outdoor activities), and House Bill 2131 (recreational access). Given that the state must also address state budget issues, we fully expect attempts to raid special funds like the Environmental Stewardship Fund (aka Growing Greener) and the Keystone Fund that are used to support conservation and recreational work throughout the Commonwealth.

Keep tabs on legislation and policy proposals PEC is following via the Bill Tracker.

PEC''s Public Lands Ride seeks to showcase state parks and forests across the greater central region of the state. Following a successful inaugural ride last year, the ride returns in "virtual" form for 2020.

Throughout the month of September, cyclists are encouraged to ride as many of the suggested routes as possible and share their experiences on social media. Find more details about this virtual event here, and stay tuned for more route descriptions to be published throughout the summer.

Featured Route:

Reeds Gap State Park/Bald Eagle State Forest 

Fixing leaks in the natural gas supply chain is critical to reducing Pennsylvania’s greenhouse gas emissions, and proposed new requirements for gas facilities would hold operators accountable for detecting and repairing them. With estimated emissions from gas operations exceeding a million tons a year in Pennsylvania alone, that’s a big job — even though the draft rule, as currently written, exempts broad swaths of facilities that other states treat as potential emitters.

Fortunately, there’s a whole industry dedicated to efficiently detecting gas leaks using cutting-edge technology — and as these tools get more sophisticated, methane mitigation becomes more cost-effective by the day. But will the finished rule take full advantage of these resources and hold all producers to the same standard?

DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council gathered to tout the increases on July 8 at Organic Climbing — a Rush Township-based business that produces handmade bouldering crash pads, backpacks, clothes and tote bags for rock climbers.

A proposal to address carbon dioxide emissions from the electric power sector has taken center stage in Harrisburg. The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has drafted a proposed rulemaking to link Pennsylvania with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (aka “RGGI”) – a regional market-based platform that has, for over a decade, proven to both reduce emissions and further economic investment and growth. RGGI’s operation is similar to other successful emission reduction programs that Pennsylvania has participated in.

PEC has long supported Pennsylvania’s participation RGGI. Carbon pricing is one of the most effective and efficient ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. RGGI is central to our energy and climate platform, and we have testified (House and Senate) before Committees in the General Assembly on this issue.

In September the DEP proposed rulemaking was approved for public review by the state Environmental Quality Board. However, legislation was advanced in the General Assembly that would have allowed the legislature to block it or any rulemaking that addressed the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. While the legislature already has the ability to review and abrogate rulemakings, this legislation was particularly obstructive because it established a review process that would give the legislature to ability to stop the rulemaking proposal through mere inaction. Governor Wolf vetoed the legislation, but it may be taken up again by the Assembly before the end of this year.

PEC opposes this bill. Despite acknowledgment, often tacit, that climate change presents a very real and immediate threat to Pennsylvania, there has been no action taken by the General Assembly to address it. In 2008 the legislature passed a law (based in part on a report that PEC issued) requiring recurring climate impact assessments and policy recommendations be developed, and time and time again the calls generated through those efforts have gone unheeded.

The consequences are far ranging. Not only with what we can and should do to reduce emissions, but also how we can best position our communities and economy in the ongoing energy transformation – one that will potentially leave Pennsylvania behind. Like climate change, it’s already happening.

Without question, linking to RGGI is only one of many policy actions needed to point Pennsylvania toward a ‘net zero’ energy future. But what it does is start the commitment. It also provides the means to kickstart essential emission reduction technologies like carbon capture, attract further business investment, deploy renewable energy, expand energy efficiency and consumer programs, and help communities and workers. The legislature can help leverage those opportunities to create even stronger benefits.

All things we should be doing more than just talking about.

PEC was pleased to participate in a Senate Democratic Policy Committee hearing today on the growth of outdoor recreation during the Covid-19 pandemic. Frank Maguire, Director of Trails and Recreation, highlighted both PEC’s report on the surge in trail usage as well as the importance of the recreational economy to Pennsylvania – which itself has adapted during these unprecedented times.

The hearing will be archived on the Committee’s website.

This fall, the master planning process will begin for the restoration of the riverfront parcel, comprising about 21 acres and extending 1.3 miles along the Monongahela. With funding from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and site owner Almono LP, PEC is helping to gather community input that will ensure the master plan reflects the wishes, values, and needs of neighborhood residents.

In celebration of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council’s 50th anniversary, PEC has commissioned a photo essay by photojournalist Jeff Swensen portraying the special places and landscapes at the heart of our work. These images convey the beauty of our state''s natural and built environments, as well as the challenges facing them, and the role they play in the lives of Pennsylvanians.

Find more stories, sounds, and images collected as part of our year-long anniversary celebration here.

The 2020 legislative session ended with a short flurry of activity, centered on completion of the stop gap fiscal year budget passed earlier this year. With the COVID pandemic disrupting state revenues and lingering uncertainty about further federal assistance, the General Assembly opted to transfer more than $431 million from special funds to cover state expenditures. The good news is that two key conservation and recreation funds – the Keystone Park, Recreation, and Conservation Fund, as well as the Environmental Stewardship Fund – were spared. The bad news is that more than $200 million was transferred from other environmental and energy programs. The Pennsylvania Environmental Digest has a detailed breakdown of the approved budget. 

One additional piece of legislation also passed the General Assembly during that final week. Senate Bill 790, which attempted to roll back environmental performance standards applied to the conventional oil and gas industry, was approved by the legislature but ultimately vetoed by the Governor on November 25^th. PEC opposed this legislation, which would have made Pennsylvania an outlier among other gas producing states by weakening health and environmental protections. You can see our statement commending the Governor’s veto here.

We’re pleased to share the following recordings of our 30th Annual Evening for Northeast Pennsylvania’s Environment and the 50th Philadelphia Environmental Partnership Dinner, alongside the Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards virtual program.

Read more here.

For five decades, PEC’s staff has shared a common goal: to protect and restore Pennsylvania’s environment. This mission has always attracted a talented group from a wide range of professional backgrounds. Over the years, this staff has turned over as folks switched paths or retired. But each individual that has worked at PEC has contributed to its impact and helped shape its legacy. In honor of our 50th anniversary, we decided to catch up with some former PEC employees to see what they’re doing now.

Read more here.