Read the Fresh Air Newsletter in Browser

PennEast Pipeline DEFEATED

Pennsylvania and New Jersey landowners woke up this month to news of the victory they have been working to accomplish over the last seven years: the PennEast pipeline, in a word, is dead. The company announced it would end development of its planned 118 mile, 36” diameter fracked gas pipeline from Luzerne County, PA to Mercer County, NJ.

Residents and the Council have fought tirelessly for seven years to protect the 88 waterways, 44 wetlands, 30 parks, 33 conservation easements, and numerous exceptional value streams that PennEast would have crossed. The Council fought to protect some of the region’s most beloved conservation and recreation areas including Hickory Run State Park, Beltzville Lake, and Weiser State Forest. Read more about the PennEast victory.

By Eve Miari, Advocacy Coordinator

Recent Victories Are Reason to Celebrate

Proposed Gas-Plant Defeated in Western PA

Clean Air Council, community advocates, and Environmental Integrity Project successfully defeated the Robinson Power Company LLC’s proposed Beech Hollow power plant, a proposed 1,000-megawatt gas-fired power plant whose air pollution permit was officially terminated this month.

Criminal Charges Brought Against Marine East 2 Co.

Libby Madarasz displays a placard as Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro speaks during a news conference at Marsh Creek State Park in Downingtown, Pa., Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. Shapiro filed criminal charges Tuesday against the developer of a problem-plagued pipeline that takes natural gas liquids from the Marcellus Shale gas field to an export terminal near Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced that an investigating grand jury brought 48 criminal charges, including two misdemeanors and a felony, for environmental crimes committed by Energy Transfer in the construction of its disastrous Mariner East 2 pipeline project.

PA Supreme Court Agrees to Take Council's Case

Sunoco’s Mariner East 1 pipeline right-of-way, deforested, in the Tuscarora State Forest. Photo courtesy of Harvey Nickey.

Last week, the Council's challenge to a standard that makes it hard for the public to recoup their legal fees in cases brought under the Clean Streams Law moves ahead as the PA Supreme Court decides to take up the case.

Orphan well. Pennsylvania is estimated to have anywhere from 200,000 to 560,000 orphan and abandoned oil and gas wells.

Pennsylvania - Ground Zero for Orphan Well Crisis

By Robert Routh, Public Policy and Regulatory Attorney

Pennsylvania is estimated to have anywhere from 200,000 to 560,000 orphan and abandoned oil and gas wells.

Valley Clean Air Now (VCAN) works to mitigate the harmful health impacts of toxic air pollution with their air filter program

By Jay Ting Walker, Community Organizer

This year, the Council worked with VCAN on an initiative to purchase indoor air filters to place in the homes of the most vulnerable community residents. After a pilot project in 2020, residents who received the indoor air filters reported that these filters had a major impact on their health and quality of life

Mini-grant recipient from 2020, Chew and Chelten CDC

Feet First Philly Mini-grants Open for 2nd Year

By Nick Zuwiala-Rogers, Transportation Program Director

Mini-grants between $500 and $2000 will be awarded to address the financial and technical barriers that organizations face when creating or improving safe public spaces.

Gerrymandering Sinks Democracy, But You Can Keep It Afloat

By Alex Bomstein, Senior Litigation Attorney

Almost nine out of ten Pennsylvania voters say that open space is important to them. Yet the Pennsylvania General Assembly has not passed any major pro-environment legislation in many years.

Interview with Senior Litigation Attorney,

Alex Bomstein

"In the last few years, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has started to take the Environmental Rights Amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution seriously; that is, it has started to issue rulings interpreting the guarantees to clean air and pure water and to the preservation of our natural resources."

Hazards in Our Backyard

Clean Air Council Advocate Russell Zerbo talks with community organizing partner Nathaniel Philip about their work in West Philadelphia around a proposed residential development with serious environmental concerns. Nathaniel, a graduate of Drexel University with a master’s degree in Public Health, volunteers with the community group Neighbors for Healthy Community Development (NHCD). Listen and learn.

When you contribute to Clean Air Council, you’re investing in a healthy future for all Pennsylvanians. Give through your work!

Clean Air Council is a benefiting member of EarthShare Pennsylvania! Giving through your workplace is a convenient way to take action for issues that matter to you and your family - from protecting air quality and clean water, to implementing solutions to climate change and preserving the land and wildlife in your own backyard.

Donating through payroll contribution is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to support causes you care about. Pledging the same amount as your daily espresso or tv subscription on a monthly basis will help us continue to achieve victories on behalf of our communities, our natural resources and our future. Your support delivers a sustainable, reliable source of support to help organizations that are improving our world.

If you’re an employee with PASECA, the City of Philadelphia or Penn’s Way, you can choose to support CAC in your upcoming campaign! If your workplace doesn’t currently offer environmental giving options, learn more here and contact EarthShare to get started.