A decision last week by the Delaware River Basin Commission would ban fracking through the Delaware River watershed, including Berks County.
There had been a temporary moratorium instituted in 2010, but that was recently challenged in court. The ban is also likely to face legal challenges.
Also last week, the commission voted unanimously to develop regulations for the management of drilling wastewater coming into the watershed and for water being taken out of the watershed for use in drilling operations. The proposed wastewater regulations are to be available by Sept. 30.
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Hydraulic fracturing, called fracking, is an oil and gas well development process that typically involves injecting water, sand and chemicals under high pressure deep into a bedrock formation to free natural gas trapped in rock formations like shale.
This week, the group Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future, also known as “PennFuture,” released a report entitled ‘Buried Out of Sight: Uncovering Pennsylvania’s Hidden Fossil Fuel Subsidies’.
This Harrisburg-based organization is dedicated to lobbying against Pennsylvania energy and responsible use of natural resources. Interestingly, PennFuture – a registered not-for-profit organization – also has a nearly 40 percent ownership interest in a for-profit company that invests in energy efficiency and renewables. This ownership interest can pay PennFuture up to nearly $200,000 annually and begs questions about their impartiality.
With respect to their report, it is worth highlighting some of the examples that PennFuture regards as a ‘subsidy’ for Pennsylvania’s fossil fuel industry. Most of these ‘subsidies’ are in fact calls for higher taxes directly on Pennsylvania citizens – not businesses. For example, PennFuture considers these to be subsidies of Big O
Extreme demand for electricity coupled with energy supply disruptions caused by record-low temperatures has triggered an energy crisis in Texas. State regulators and government officials are desperately attempting to ensure
Indiana, PA / WDAD AM1450 & 100.3FM
Feb 23, 2021 11:34 AM
In a publicly-released letter to Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell today, the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association criticizes the DEP for failing to answer questions regarding the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and failing to properly advertise the virtual hearings on the controversial plan by Governor Tom Wolf for joining the multi-state compact.
PNA acknowledges that it did incorrectly comment that it appeared that DEP had not published any notices when twelve notices were released, but blames that on DEPâs lack of response to its inquiries, and claims the ads should have been published in all 67 counties, since all of the state is affected by RGGI. The group lists 41 counties where there were no notices published, including Armstrong, Cambria, and Westmoreland. It says the stateâs Air Pollution Control Act requires public notice to be provided âin newspapers of g