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Happy Earth Day, Pennsylvania!
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| | By Patrick McDonnell, DEP Secretary
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Earth Day this year feels different. The signs of spring are all around us, and more and more Pennsylvanians are getting their vaccines against COVID-19 (but don’t toss out those masks yet! And definitely don’t toss them on the ground!). This year as we celebrate Earth Day we can also celebrate something uniquely Pennsylvanian – Article 1, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania constitution, also known as the Environmental Rights Amendment.
It reads: "The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people."
This landmark part of Pennsylvania’s constitution is the foundation that all of our environmental laws and regulations are built on. And it is the basis of DEP’s mission to protect Pennsylvania's air, land and water from pollution and to provide for the health and safety of its citizens through a cleaner environment.
This mission is what guides us to tackle climate change through a variety of programs, from our efforts to participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and put a cap on carbon pollution to our support of county and municipal governments finding the best ways for their organizations to fight climate change with our Local Climate Action Program. And we are continuing to take steps to make our air, land, and water cleaner – reducing emissions, cleaning up legacy pollution, and restoring streams and rivers.
It’s something that I have taken to heart, and I hope you will as well. A few weeks ago I joined colleagues from DEP and PennDOT to take part in a litter cleanup near Harrisburg. It was nice to get out and see friends and colleagues that have been little more than boxes on a Zoom call for over a year, and got to make Pennsylvania a little more beautiful. There are litter pickup events happening all across Pennsylvania – find an event near you, or find out how you can help host a litter pickup event.
Happy Earth Day!
- DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell
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2021 Earth Day Celebration – Protecting the Environment for All Pennsylvanians
Join us for this first-of-its-kind virtual celebration.
Thursday, April 22, 10:00 a.m. EST
Join us as we celebrate Earth Day with First Lady Frances Wolf and other Pennsylvania agencies for the annual Governor’s Residence Earth Day celebration! This year’s event will be held virtually and features learning activities and information geared towards middle and high-school students.
The theme is Protecting the Environment for All Pennsylvanians, and the event will include activities from DEP and the Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, Education, and Agriculture, as well as the Game Commission.
Earth Day 2021 will recognize the 50th Anniversary of the state Environmental Rights Amendment, which guarantees Pennsylvanians the right to clean air, pure water, and the preservation of the natural, scenic and historic value of the environment.
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Gov. Wolf Announces Largest Government Solar Energy Commitment in the U.S.
Governor Tom Wolf recently announced a major clean energy initiative that will produce nearly 50 percent of state government’s electricity through seven new solar energy arrays totaling 191-megawatts to be built around the state. Part of the governor’s GreenGov initiative, Pennsylvania PULSE (Project to Utilize Light and Solar Energy) will go into operation on January 1, 2023. The project is the largest solar commitment by any government in the U.S. announced to date.
"In issuing the GreenGov challenge, I charged state government with leading by example in demonstrating sustainable governance and lowering greenhouse gas emissions to reduce the risks of climate change in Pennsylvania," Governor Wolf said. "This included significantly reducing energy use and pursuing an ambitious goal of obtaining at least 40 percent of electricity from clean energy generated in state. I commend General Services for their GreenGov leadership in not only meeting this goal but exceeding it.
"Pennsylvania has been a national energy leader for more than one hundred years. As we continue to diversify our grid with clean renewable sources of energy, we want to maintain Pennsylvania’s leadership position and bring the associated economic, health and environmental benefits to all Pennsylvanians. As Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard – which has driven solar and renewable development for the past decade and a half – sunsets at the end of May, we need more of the innovative, resourceful thinking demonstrated in this project to keep the market for clean renewable energy strong in the commonwealth."
Solar arrays will be built in seven locations in six counties: Columbia, Juniata, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and York. When completed, the total 191-megawatt project is expected to deliver 361,000 megawatt-hours of electricity per year, supplying 100 percent of electricity for 434 accounts across 16 state agencies, or about half the electricity used by state government. The solar project will create 400-plus jobs and begin lowering carbon dioxide emissions statewide by 157,800 metric tons each year – the equivalent of the emissions from nearly 27,000 homes or taking 34,000 cars off the roads.
"Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to slowing climate change and protecting our health and safety, environment, and economy," said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. "With over 85 percent of Pennsylvania’s greenhouse gas emissions coming from energy production and use, pursuing clean energy and energy efficiency at the enterprise scale, as the state government solar procurement demonstrates, will make a big impact. At the same time, research shows the clean energy sector is a leading creator of quality jobs in Pennsylvania, bringing positive economic impacts as well."
Clean energy industries added nearly 7,800 jobs in Pennsylvania in 2017-2019, for an 8.7 percent average job growth rate, significantly exceeding the average overall job growth in the state, according to the 2020 Pennsylvania Clean Energy Employment report.
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Wolf Administration Announces Equity Principles to Guide Investments Through Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
DEP has announced a set of guiding equity principles to help inform the public on the implementation of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and investments of the program’s proceeds. DEP has also partnered with the Delta Institute to engage with impacted communities and workers to identify ways to ensure a just and equitable transition for all Pennsylvania residents.
"Throughout the process of developing the regulation to take part in RGGI we have heard from stakeholders that there must be guidelines in place to ensure that the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians are not put at further risk," said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. "Confronting the threat of climate change cannot come at the expense of vulnerable communities, and these principles will guide us in finalizing the RGGI regulation and associated community investments."
The RGGI Equity Principles include:
- Inclusively gathering and considering input from the public, especially environmental justice communities, related to decisions made under RGGI;
- Protecting public health and welfare, mitigating any adverse impacts on human health, especially in environmental justice communities, and seeking to ensure environmental and structural racism are not replicated in the engagement process; and
- Working equitably and with intentional consideration to distribute environmental and economic benefits of the proceeds of allowance auctions.
"These principles will help guide the development of the final RGGI regulation, and how the investments of the revenue from the allowance auctions will be made," said McDonnell.
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DEP Awards $2.4 Million in Driving PA Forward Funding to Transportation Projects to Improve Air Quality in Seven Counties
DEP announced $2,400,969 in Driving PA Forward grants to cleaner fuel transportation projects that will take 62 older diesel vehicles off the road to help improve air quality in many communities. The grant funding comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Pennsylvania’s share of the national settlement with Volkswagen Group of America for cheating on EPA emissions tests.
The nine funded projects will replace older diesel vehicles with new cleaner diesel or compressed natural gas-powered vehicles. Over their lifetimes, the projects are expected to prevent emission of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, fine particulate matter, and hydrocarbon, as well as helping to reduce carbon dioxide.
Five projects are in Environmental Justice areas, where at least 20 percent of residents have incomes below the federal poverty line and/or 30 percent identify as a non-white minority.
Vehicles generate 47 percent of nitrogen oxides in the air statewide, contributing to the formation of ground-level ozone. This affects the health of children, older people, people with lung diseases such as asthma and emphysema, and those who work or are active outdoors. The Pennsylvania Department of Health has found that asthma-related emergency room visits increase when air quality is very poor.
Driving PA Forward launched in 2018 with the goal of permanently reducing nitrogen oxide air pollution in Pennsylvania by 27,700 tons by supporting cleaner fuel transportation projects with funding from the commonwealth’s $118.5 million settlement with Volkswagen. Driving PA Forward includes eight programs that fund a range of new transportation projects to improve air quality and help slow climate change.
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Ten Tools To Take Climate Action in Pennsylvania
Climate change is a major challenge facing Pennsylvania, and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is leading many efforts to fight back and protect communities.
The DEP Energy Programs Office began developing state climate action plans about 10 years ago, as required by the Pennsylvania Climate Change Act of 2008. Under Governor Wolf, we’ve accelerated and expanded work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to equip Pennsylvania’s communities, businesses, and individual residents to address climate change impacts occurring now and projected for the near future. In 2019, the governor set a state goal for greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced 26 percent by 2025 and 80 percent by 2050.
Find more materials at dep.pa.gov/climate. Because climate action is a team effort across state government, check other state agencies, too.
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Gov. Wolf Encourages Residents to “Pick Up Pennsylvania”
Governor Tom Wolf recently encouraged residents to help reduce litter by joining the statewide “Pick Up Pennsylvania” campaign of community cleanups running through May 31. The governor also invited everyone to learn about litter’s negative impacts and state efforts to reduce this scourge in an online discussion, “Don’t Trash Pennsylvania.”
"The past year has shown beyond a doubt what we’ve known all along: the outdoors is essential to quality of life for Pennsylvanians," Gov. Wolf said. "Clean green spaces and waters support physical and mental health in addition to enabling the function of the ecosystem we depend on, fostering thriving communities, and supporting our recreation, tourism, and shopping economies. It is our collective responsibility to eliminate litter and I urge everyone to take steps to help keep Pennsylvania clean and green."
"As we see increased trash around the state, we ask Pennsylvanians to start or join a litter cleanup event in their local community through 'Pick Up Pennsylvania,'" said Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Patrick McDonnell. "Mask up, put on sturdy shoes and gloves, and head outside with a small group of family, buddies, or co-workers with supplies provided by the campaign. Even a small event makes an immediate impact."
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful coordinates the litter cleanup campaign. Volunteering is easy. People can organize their own local event and register it at Pick Up Pennsylvania, or can sign up to participate in an already registered event. Gloves, trash bags, and safety vests are provided by PennDOT, DEP, and the GLAD Products Company, a national sponsor.
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Watch the Facebook Lunchtime Live Event: "Don't Trash Pennsylvania"
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Tips for a Greener Earth Week and Beyond
Ask restaurants to skip the plastic silverware, compost, use a rain barrel to water your garden, make online shopping purchases wisely—we've got a list full of easy changes we all can make in our daily routines to help protect the environment for all Pennsylvanians.
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DEP Report Assesses Pennsylvania’s Energy Storage Capacity, Recommends Solar-Plus-Storage for a Cleaner, More Resilient Electric Grid
DEP released a report that assesses energy storage capacity statewide and recommends significantly increasing it by pairing solar energy with storage for a cleaner, more resilient electric grid. The report identifies policies, programs, and incentives that decision makers can pursue to add energy storage technologies to the state energy portfolio.
The electric grid uses energy instantly as it’s generated, with little capacity to store. At times of high demand, such as late afternoon, peaker power plants are often used to provide extra electricity. These plants often have very high carbon emissions rates, and many are located in or near Environmental Justice areas.
The report recommends pairing grid-scale solar arrays with battery storage to help reduce carbon emissions and increase grid resilience. One way to catalyze this would be to set a state energy storage capacity target, as seven other states have done.
"This look at our current and potential statewide energy storage capacity provides leaders in the utility, government, industry, academia, and other sectors with information to make proactive decisions to protect Pennsylvania from the worst impacts of a changing climate," said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell.
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DEP Makes It Easier to Get Low-Interest Loans for High-Impact Energy Efficiency Projects
DEP recently announced it's revamped the Green Energy Loan Fund (GELF) to make it easier for commercial property owners to get low-interest loans for large-scale, high-impact energy efficiency projects. Approximately $1.8 million is currently available in funding.
For commercial building owners who want to go big on energy efficiency, the Green Energy Loan Fund is an ideal resource," said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. "We support projects that take energy efficiency above and beyond building code standards, which other lenders may be less willing to support. This enables property owners to achieve significant long-term energy conservation, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and cost savings in their utility bills."
Reinvestment Fund manages the Green Energy Loan Fund for DEP and works with building owners to ensure projects meet minimum energy savings requirements. New equipment must reduce energy use at least 25 percent, and whole building projects must reduce energy use more than 10 percent over current building energy code.
Local governments, businesses, school districts, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for GELF loans and can find instructions and an application at Green Energy Loan Fund.
The Green Energy Loan Fund has financed 16 projects for a total of $23 million in improvements to 2.1 million square feet of building space since DEP and Reinvestment Fund launched the program in 2009 with U.S. Department of Energy funds. The financing has enabled a carbon dioxide emissions reduction of 110,000 tons over the life of these projects.
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| NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
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Eels in a transport tank. Photo: Mike Martinek / Normandeau Associates, Inc.
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By Helping Eels Reach Their Destination, DEP Is Improving Water Quality in the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay
For many years, hydroelectric dams have prevented American Eels from migrating up the Susquehanna River. Recognizing the importance of eels to the ecosystem, DEP and its partners have come to their aid by transporting them past the dams and upstream, where their symbiotic relationship with mussels helps to improve water quality in the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay.
In 2020, over 250,000 eels were captured and released into the Susquehanna River. The success of past and current efforts in trapping and transplanting eels has become evident. DEP staff performing field work in the West Branch Susquehanna River and its tributaries have seen a dramatic increase in eel populations in recent years. Other agencies such as the Susquehanna River Basin Commission and the PA Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) are seeing similar results. Some eels have been recaptured as far as 140 river miles from the nearest release location. Eels have now been observed in the headwaters of the Susquehanna River near Cooperstown, New York. Additionally, researchers monitoring tributaries that were stocked with eels have noted the presence of young Eastern Elliptio mussels where they were previously absent.
In addition to the water quality benefits of mussel populations, recent studies suggest that the eels are helping to ecologically balance aquatic benthic communities, such as preying on the invasive Rusty Crayfish.
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DEP Advances Actions to Support Electric Vehicle Use Statewide
DEP recently announced its latest actions to help expand electric vehicle use statewide: more than $936,000 in grant funding for projects to install 16 more fast chargers in high-traffic areas, the start of a draft rulemaking to make electric vehicles more readily available to consumers, and the release of a booklet on the benefits and basics of these zero emission vehicles.
"Our transportation decisions affect Pennsylvania today and tomorrow. We can turn in the direction of healthier air quality and slow down climate change by switching to electric vehicles, whether we're government officials, business owners, school administrators, community leaders, or individual consumers," said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. "DEP is committed to supporting this choice by increasing public knowledge of electric vehicles, making it easier for consumers to find electric models, and helping to expand charging infrastructure."
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State and Local Partners Made Record Progress in Second Year of Chesapeake Bay Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan
DEP, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) recently announced that state and local partners made record progress in 2020 on the Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan (Phase 3 WIP) to improve the health of Pennsylvania’s share of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
The Phase 3 WIP is the state-coordinated initiative to reduce these pollutants and improve water quality to benefit Pennsylvania’s local communities, economy, and quality of life, while meeting U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements for the bay. All six states in the watershed and the District of Columbia began working in 2010 to meet these federal targets. The Phase 3 WIP follows two earlier plans. Year-end reports for 2020 demonstrate that Pennsylvania attained a number of milestones.
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Wolf Administration Reminds Pennsylvanians to Avoid Ticks
With the new spring season here, the Wolf Administration reminds Pennsylvania residents and visitors to avoid ticks by taking precautions when spending time outdoors as the weather warms.
"Spending time outdoors and participating in physical activity is a key part of living a healthy life," said Pennsylvania Department of Health Acting Secretary Alison Beam. "While we encourage safe recreation, we must be aware of ticks and the serious diseases they carry. As Lyme disease and related tick-borne diseases become more prevalent in Pennsylvania, it is important to protect yourself when spending time outdoors."
Blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, are the most common carrier of Lyme disease and Anaplasmosis. Ticks typically thrive in tall grass, brush, and wooded areas, but deer ticks have been found in every county in the commonwealth and can live in any habitat.
Common signs of a tick disease include fever, headache, chills, and muscle aches. Lyme disease is often characterized by a bullseye-like rash, although Lyme disease may not always present itself with this obvious sign. If you believe you have been bitten by a tick, it is important to speak to a doctor immediately.
Ticks are most likely to infect humans during the late spring and summer but can also infect humans year-round.
"As climate change continues to warm our winters, we’re seeing higher tick populations surviving months that used to be too cold to survive," said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. "As the number of ticks continues to rise, so do the odds of tick-borne disease transmission. We must remain diligent – both in protecting ourselves from bites, but also in seeking long-term solutions to address climate change."
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Update from the Harrisburg Falcons Ledge
The past three months have been a period of remarkable change at the peregrine falcon nesting site on the 15th floor ledge of the Rachel Carson State Office Building (RCSOB) in Harrisburg.
While the longtime resident female, banded 48/AE, once again claimed the nest, the 18-year-old longtime resident male, banded W/V, was displaced by a 4-year-old challenger, banded 85/AK. In the course of multiple territorial chases, W/V collided with a building and perished. The same day the first egg appeared in the nest.
W/V lived to quite a ripe old age for a wild peregrine and had fans around the world. He bred for 16 years, siring 54 falcons. In honor of his amazing legacy, the DEP Environmental Education and Information Center will develop an educational exhibit that will feature W/V’s mount and photos.
There are now four eggs in the nest at RCSOB, and the first egg could hatch any day now! Learn more and follow the Harrisburg falcons at dep.pa.gov/falcons.
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Support Tree Planting Along Streams and in Communities
There’s now a way to donate to planting trees along streams and in communities!
The newly established Keystone Tree Fund can accept direct donations of any size, as well as receiving $3 donations when you renew your driver’s license or vehicle registration.
Funds in the Keystone Tree Fund will be used by DCNR to help plant urban trees, and trees along streams to assist with water quality.
Trees remove from the atmosphere and store carbon dioxide -- critical to helping address climate change.
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DCNR and DEP Begin Plugging Legacy Wells In Cornplanter State Forest, Forest County
DCNR and DEP recently announced work is beginning to plug 12 abandoned oil and gas wells in the Cornplanter State Forest, Forest County.
"Proper plugging of these legacy wells will provide immediate benefits to the air, land, and water in the Cornplanter State Forest as well as eliminating potential safety issues for state forest visitors," DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said.
"Pennsylvania has been home to oil and gas wells for more than 150 years, and now many of these orphaned wells from yesterday are polluting our environment today," said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. "This project begins to address the enormous backlog of orphaned wells in Pennsylvania."
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Department Of Agriculture Adds 8 Counties To Pennsylvania’s Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine, Highlights New Weapon To Sniff Out Pest
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today announced that eight counties have been added to Pennsylvania's Spotted Lanternfly quarantine zone ahead of the 2021 spring hatch. With this addition, the quarantine for this invasive pest is now at 34 counties.
"The Spotted Lanternfly is more than a pest in the literal sense," said Redding. "It's wreaking havoc for home and business owners, kids who just want to play outside, Pennsylvania agriculture and the economy of the state we all call home. Whether you think it's your job or not, we need every Pennsylvanian to keep their eyes peeled for signs of this bad bug – to scrape every egg mass, squash every bug, and report every sighting. We need to unite in our hatred for this pest for our common love: Pennsylvania."
The new eight counties are not completely infested, but rather have a few municipalities with a known infestation. Cambria, Cameron, Franklin, Lackawanna, Montour, Pike, Wayne, and Westmoreland are new to the quarantine for 2021.
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Get a Statewide Look at Efforts to Address Invasive Species
The spotted lanternfly is joined by an increasing number of non-native invasive plant, insect, fish, and animal species in Pennsylvania. Check out the Governor's Invasive Species Council storymap to learn about more challenges Pennsylvania faces from invasive species, and how council members are working to address them. State agencies and many partner organizations are conducting a range of research, management, outreach, and other projects across the state related to invasives that currently threaten, or may potentially threaten, Pennsylvania's natural and agricultural resources and the industries they support.
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Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 400 Market Street Harrisburg, PA 17101
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