LWV DelCo Environmental Clearinghouse
Delaware County Environmental Clearinghouse
The Interior Department announced Monday it is pausing leases for all five large-scale offshore wind projects under construction in America, citing unspecified issues of national security.
The Trump administration’s anti-renewables policies have left gigawatts’ worth of new solar and wind projects strangled in red tape. So as Congress revisits energy-permitting reform, which it’s tried and failed to pass several times over the past few years, solar companies are taking a stand.
A Dec. 4 letter from 143 of those companies to congressional leaders takes aim at one Trump directive in particular: A July order from the Department of the Interior that requires its head, Doug Burgum, to personally approve every decision the agency makes on renewable energy. In the five months since that change, Burgum hasn’t signed off on any new solar projects on federal lands.
Lower Marion Township in Montgomery County will be the first municipality in Pennsylvania to totally ban gas-powered leaf blowers, starting in 2029. Here in Delaware County, Transition Town Greater Media is building awareness and community support before seeking similar restrictions.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection administers 50 grant programs for environmental projects. 2025 grants are winding down, but you can get a jump on 2026-2027 grant requirements and qualifications. If you want to do something big or small to help the environment and you can get some financial help for your project, why not apply.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is holding three hearings, one on Dec. 1 and two on Dec. 2, regarding permits for Monroe Energy, DELCORA and PQ LLC. All three hearings concern the issuance of continuing Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT III) permits for the control of air pollution released from the facilities.
The state budget Governor Shapiro announced today represents a devastating, self-inflicted setback in addressing affordability, clean energy and pollution by walking away from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative without establishing an alternative approach, Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania said reacting to the new state budget deal.
$90 billion in investments could reshape the energy landscape in Pennsylvania, but community voices and renewable alternatives are missing from the plan. Data center projects are being aligned with fossil fuel energy sources, dramatically increasing greenhouse gas emissions, accelerating climate change and driving up energy costs for consumers.
The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission will amend the Fiscal year 2025 Transportation Improvement Program for the region to include a $2 million plan to add electric vehicle charging stations to 18 Delaware County parks, libraries and county offices. The public can comment on the plan until noon on the day before the DVRPC’s next meeting, Oct. 23.
As environmentalists prepare for Sun Day, Sept. 21 (see article below), famed environmental guru and Sun Day founder Bill McKibben has an idea for doomsday preppers: instead of storing oil and gas, which goes bad or runs out after a couple of years, think about solar. Solar panels last for far longer and the energy can be delivered right to your roof, no drilling or refining necessary.
Join PennFuture and Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania in an environment lobby day Sept. 29 at the capitol in Harrisburg. With the federal government clawing back,funding and cancelling clean energy programs, we have to depend on state government more than ever. Anyone can join. Fill out the registration form at bottom.
