PennEnvironment

Did you know that when it rains in Pennsylvania, billions of gallons of raw sewage flood our rivers ? Read more from our former intern Julia in PennLive.com -

When it rains in Pennsylvania, billions of gallons of raw sewage flood our rivers | PennLive letters Outdated combined sewer systems dump untreated waste into the Susquehanna and other waterways, making them unsafe for half the year. Congress must increase clean water funding now.

Long read alert: Chicago Tribune did a great writeup on plastic pollution in the Great Lakes and what researchers and activists are doing to fight it! Check it out to learn more about the history of the problem and what's happening around Lake Erie-

As plastics clog the Great Lakes, industry presses to make more and downplays dangers, Tribune analysis finds More than 8 billion tons of plastic waste clog the planet. If stacked within Chicago’s Millennium Park, plastic dumped into the environment since the middle of the last century would rise beyond the edge of outer space.

Looking to lower energy bills this summer? Cutting back your energy use through more energy efficiency is a great place to start to protect both your wallet and the planet! Our Executive Director David Masur shared a few of those tips on Erie News Now

Energy Conservation Click here to view this video from erienewsnow.com.

Thank you to everyone who joined PennEnvironment's Lobby Day for a Clean Energy Future a few weeks ago!

Hundreds of Pennsylvanians joined us for 55 meetings with state legislators across the Commonwealth, calling on their elected officials to support legislation that will bring more clean, renewable energy to the state and expand and improve energy efficiency.

Now more than ever, we need to start powering PA with energy sources like wind and solar. Clean, renewable energy doesn't pollute, never runs out, and shows up for free every day, so we should use more of it! We're excited to keep working with everyone who joined us to bring Pennsylvania into the clean energy future!

Read more-
https://environmentamerica.org/pennsylvania/updates/hundreds-turn-out-for-pennenvironments-annual-virtual-citizen-lobby-day-2/

Thank you U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick for cosponsoring the Great American Outdoors Act 250. This bipartisan bill will fund projects in places like Allegheny National Forest and John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum.

Join our friends at Solar States tonight to learn more about going solar!

Jake Head, Micah Gold-Markel and Solar States are hosting a quick solar Q&A / overview online on June 17. BYOB. Bring your dog, cat, we don't mind. 6-7 p.m. We have a few slides to cover the basics of homeowner options in 2026 and will then open it to questions. RSVP on the EventBrite page so you don't forget!

P.S. anyone else get a ZERO dollar PECO bill in May? Maybe we'll talk about that on June 17....

RSVP Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/watts-up-with-solar-around-philly-tickets-1989655502167?aff=oddtdtcreator

Could stormwater management in PA be facing a new hurdle?

A recent ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court could disrupt how cities and towns tackle heavy rainfall and runoff pollution by changing how these municipalities handle stormwater maintenance costs. Check out this story in the Philadelphia Inquirer from Anthony Wood to learn more-

PennFuture The Water Center at Penn

A court ruling in a Chesco case may mean higher stormwater bills in scores of Pa. towns Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices held that a stormwater charge is a "tax," not a "fee." For homeowners, the difference is more than semantical.

Today PennEnvironment released a new report highlighting how investments in water infrastructure are protecting our Great Lakes!

“The Edinboro wastewater treatment improvement process is a prime example of what happens when federal dollars are injected into local communities for crucial infrastructure rehabilitation. Residents and visitors alike directly benefit from cleaner waterways,” said PennEnvironment Executive Director David Masur. “We ought to strive to have every Pennsylvania lakefront safe for swimming, playing and fishing with friends and family. Proper funding for clean water projects is essential to make that a reality.”

Check it out-
https://environmentamerica.org/pennsylvania/center/media-center/new-report-edinboro-clean-water-project-helps-make-pennsylvania-safe-for-swimming/

A new study from the Delaware River Basin Commission emphasizes the “The Delaware River Basin is a global hotspot for PFAS pollution”

These toxic ‘forever chemicals’ are building up in the river’s fish and sediment, with the highest levels found in the lower Delaware. More from Lehighvalleynews.com :

https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/environment-science/new-study-finds-widespread-pfas-contamination-in-delaware-river-basin-including-fish-ti