Legislation – LWV DelCo Environmental Clearinghouse

Delaware Riverkeeper Network seeks to join suit DHS has filed against state DEP

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network and Green Amendments For the Generations have filed a petition to intervene in a lawsuit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has brought against the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The DHS brought the suit after DEP notified ICE that it could not operate two large warehouse facilities in Berks and Schuylkill Counties as immigrant detention centers without making needed modifications and securing multiple state and local approvals to address concerns about drinking water, wastewater, environmental, health, safety, and fire suppression.

PA House passes two bills to regulate data centers

The state House has passed two bills intended to help the state and local governments grapple with the impacts of data centers, as communities across the commonwealth continue to deal with the proliferation of the sprawling computer farms.

PennEnvironment gives PA an F on solar panel permitting

A new report card gives Pennsylvania an F grade for how it governs rooftop solar permitting. The scorecard looked at state policies covering areas such as whether building codes are uniform across the state, whether homeowners associations are allowed to restrict solar adoption, permit fees, and what criteria is used to judge systems.

CRCQL campaigns ahead of Philly City Council vote on Reworld contract

The “Stop Trashing Our Air Act” (Bill 250768) is scheduled to be voted on by Philadelphia City Council next Thursday, April 9 at 10 a.m. This bill would ban Philly from burning their trash in Chester City at Reworld/Covanta, the largest trash incinerator in the U.S. and one of the biggest polluters in our region. CRCQL plans a rally and a “die-in” in Philadelphia ahead of the vote. The current waste contract expires on June 30.

Lower Merion is first in PA to ban gas-powered leaf blowers

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.

Phila. City Council Committee OKs bill to stop sending city trash to Reworld incinerator

To watch the hearing before the Philadelphia City Council environmental committee on a proposed bill to stop sending its trash to the reworld incinerator in Chester, click on read more.

PA budget deal kills RGGI, raises electric prices and hurts clean energy

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.

Bill to protect PA native species of pollinators and other insects passes House

HB 441, a bill to protect more than 100 species of native insects, including many pollinators, passed the Pennsylvania House by a party-line vote of 102-101. It now goes to the Republican-controlled Senate. Write or email your state senators and ask them to support it.

Philadelphia bill would ban city from contracting with Reworld incinerator

A bill introduced in Philadelphia City Council Sept. 18 would prohibit the city from contracting with companies that incinerate its trash and recyclables. Currently about one-third of Philadelphia’s waste is sent to the Reworld (formerly Covanta) incinerator in Chester. Most of Delaware County’s municipal waste is also burned in the incinerator.

Lobby Day in Harrisburg Sept. 29 more important than ever

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.