The Sustainable Communities Hub is here! Use it to guide your town’s EAC or start one
The Delaware County Office of Sustainability has just launched its Sustainable Communities Hub, a website to provide resources for the environmental advisory councils, shade tree commissions and other environmental committees of each Delco community or to inspire those communities that do not have such a committee to start one.
Monroe Energy tank farm in Aston leaks 278,000 gallons of gasoline
Monroe Energy’s tank farm in Aston, Bethel and Upper Chichester townships has leaked as much as 278,000 gallons of gasoline into the groundwater at the site since last summer, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection disclosed Dec. 23.
‘Bonkers’: DOI letter halts all five in-progress offshore wind farms
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.
Clean energy versus non-renewables: the fight goes on in Congress and the courts
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 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.
Learn about DEP environmental grants: Maybe your project qualifies
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.
DEP to hold hearings on pollution permitting for three Delco facilities Dec. 1 and 2
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.
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.
