Allegheny Front

10/31/2024

Trump said he would stop offshore wind on “day one” should he win the election. While he can't just eliminate an entire industry with a stroke of his pen, he could delay new projects and reverse course on one of President Joe Biden’s signature climate initiatives.

Biden, along with Vice President Kamala Harris, set a goal of installing 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030, enough to power 10 million homes.

Trump said he would stop offshore wind on “day one” should he win. The wind industry worries about permit delays and proponents worry about jobs.

10/30/2024

Beech trees, native to Pennsylvania, are being attacked by two diseases — beech bark disease, which moves very slowly, and beech leaf disease, which is rapidly deteriorating the trees’ population. It's a “double whammy” that could push the species' survival "over the edge," said Pat McElhenny, Pennsylvania stewardship manager at The Nature Conservancy in Pennsylvania.

The nuts the trees produce are an important source of food for turkeys, bears and deer.

Beech trees are being attacked by two diseases that could devastate the native species, which provides nuts for wildlife.

10/29/2024

Pennsylvania is receiving nearly $245 million for the third year to clean up abandoned mine lands and treat coal-polluted waterways. The state expects $3.8 billion to clean up this legacy pollution over 15 years from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Pennsylvania is receiving nearly $245 million for the third year to clean up abandoned mine lands and treat coal-polluted waterways.

10/28/2024

The countdown to the general election day is on, and the stakes are high. That’s why at The Allegheny Front, we work hard to provide in-depth, unbiased environmental coverage that keeps voters informed.

If you value journalism like ours that strengthens democracy and holds our leaders accountable, will you chip in to help support our election reporting for 2024?

What do you say? Support us here:

The Allegheny Front is supported by people like you. Support The Allegheny Front today.

10/26/2024

Raking leaves this weekend? The Western Pennsylvania chapter of Wild Ones wants you to try leaving the leaves in your yard to help pollinators, insects and other wildlife.

The Western Pa. chapter of the nonprofit Wild Ones says to leave the leaves in your yard this fall to help wildlife.

10/25/2024

Our latest podcast episode is out:
We take a look at what's at stake in the upcoming presidential race when it comes to two big climate initiatives of the Biden-Harris administration: hydrogen and off-shore wind.

Independent research after the East Palestine train derailment found a number of chemicals in places where officials were not necessarily testing. We talk with one of the researchers on what this means for the next chemical diaster.

The Three Mile Island nuclear plant owner says it should be technically easy to restart after five years because all essential equipment is in good condition.

Former coal communities ask the Biden and Trump campaigns for continued investment.

A native gardening groups asks you to leave your leaves for pollinators, insects and other wildlife.

What's at stake in the upcoming presidential race? Republicans say they want to repeal Biden’s big climate law, but the law also includes subsidies for a product oil and gas companies are interested in—hydrogen. Independent research after the East Palestine train derailment found many of the sam...

10/21/2024

More than $43 million federal dollars have been allocated to cities and counties across Pennsylvania to help remove lead paint from homes with children.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction program helps find and remove lead paint hazards in residences that were built before 1978, the year lead paint was banned.

More than 70% of homes in Pennsylvania are estimated to have been built before the 1978 lead paint ban, leaving many kids vulnerable to lead poisoning.

10/21/2024

A pilot project is set to begin leasing solar installations to low- and moderate-income homeowners in Pennsylvania. But the program could face the budget axe should Donald Trump regain the White House and follow through on an election promise.

New program piloted in Pennsylvania seeks to put solar on low- and moderate-income homes, but could face problems scaling up if Trump wins.

10/19/2024

Headed to a state park to see the fall leaves? Nine parks across Pennsylvania - including Cook Forest - now have color-corrected viewfinders to help colorblind visitors see the spectrum of fall foliage. Lenses in the new viewfinders filter light to increase contrast to address symptoms of red-green color blindness.

Lenses in the new color-correcting viewfinders filter light to increase contrast to address symptoms of red-green color blindness.

10/19/2024

After the Homer City coal-fired power plant closed last year, residents of the Indiana County community are trying to make a go of tourism by cleaning up its legacy pollution.

“We need to attract younger families, and the younger families are into the hiking, biking, camping, fishing, boating,” said Rob Nymick, borough manager, adding that no one wants to be near a creek that gives off a sulfur smell from acid mine drainage.

After the Homer City coal-fired power plant closed last year, residents are trying to make a go of tourism by cleaning up its legacy pollution.

10/18/2024

Don't miss our latest episode!

A new environmental history book about Pennsylvania aims to include multiple perspectives.

After a coal-fired power plant closed last year, residents of the southwestern Pennsylvania community are trying to make a go of tourism by cleaning up its legacy pollution.

New color-correcting viewfinders in some state parks will allow people who are colorblind to enjoy the autumn leaf show.

Also, new federal funds will help remove lead paint in buildings across Pennsylvania.

A nonprofit is launching a pilot project in Pennsylvania to lease rooftop solar installations to low- and moderate-income residents.

Pittsburgh is one of 10 U.S. cities being awarded federal funding to support urban agriculture.

After a coal-fired power plant closed last year, residents of the southwestern Pennsylvania community are trying to make a go of tourism by cleaning up its legacy pollution. A new environmental history book about Pennsylvania aims to include multiple perspectives. New color-correcting viewfinders in...

10/16/2024

The new rule will prevent up to 900,000 infants from having low birthweight and avoid up to 1,500 premature deaths a year from heart disease.

10/16/2024

🎉 Thrilled today to receive funding from Press Forward, the nationwide initiative strengthening communities through local news!

We’re in great company: 205 small, local newsrooms across the U.S. are sharing $20 million for reporting on communities and regions that have traditionally gone uncovered.

Since 1991, we have been on the frontlines of environmental reporting in our region.

A review panel of national foundation and journalism leaders read about how our stories make a difference right here at home and awarded us $100,000 in funding.
Learn more: pressforward.news/grantees
https://www.alleghenyfront.org/allegheny-front-press-forward-national-grant/

10/10/2024

The presidential candidates are each pushing a different narrative about how transitioning to cleaner running cars will affect jobs. We factcheck what's being said on the campaign trail.

The presidential candidates are each pushing a different narrative about how transitioning to cleaner running cars will affect jobs.

10/10/2024

A new study looked at attitudes toward solar installation among farmers and rural residents of southwestern Pennsylvania and western Maryland, and found many in favor of solar on farmland.

A new study looks at attitudes toward solar installation among farmers and rural residents of southwestern Pennsylvania and western Maryland.

10/09/2024

Pennsylvania voters continue to be split over fracking. A poll out this week, which surveyed 700 likely voters in September, shows 58% support a ban on fracking while 42% oppose it. In general, about half of those surveyed support fracking, while 30% oppose it, with 19% unsure.

But there is overwhelming support for regulation -- 90% supported expanding setbacks from schools and hospitals, while 92% wanted increased air monitoring at fracking sites and 94% wanted greater disclosure of fracking chemicals.

Although bipartisan support for fracking remains high among public officials, Pennsylvania voters continue to be divided and support increased regulation.

10/08/2024

The Environmental Voter Project is targeting people in Pennsylvania who are passionate about climate and the environment, but rarely or never vote.

10/08/2024

Under the bill, companies would have to prove they have enough money to cover 10% of cleanup costs before building, growing to 100% by the time the project is 25 years old. Solar advocates say that would make it too expensive to build clean energy projects that can help address climate change

Companies would have to prove they have enough money to cover 10% of cleanup costs before building, growing to 100% by the time the project is 25 years old.

10/03/2024

Survivors of the 1984 chemical disaster in Bhopal, India, addressed residents exposed to toxic chemicals from the East Palestine derailment and Shell's ethane cracker. They came to Beaver County with the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal tour of the U.S. with a message for residents:

"The agencies that have been entrusted to monitor your health and your pollution will not be on your side. It will be you who will try to get that data. Chemicals will be proven innocent until guilty, but it will be people who will be thought of as guilty, of lying and faking their injuries.”

Bhopal survivors address residents exposed to toxic chemicals from the East Palestine derailment and Shell's ethane cracker.

10/03/2024

MAX Environmental exceeded pollution limits 20 times for cadmium, zinc and other pollutants discharged into Sewickley Creek in Yukon, Pa. The landfill has a history of violations: “The community has long been dealing with what they say is involuntary exposure to hazardous waste and hazardous materials for over 40 years."

MAX Environmental exceeded pollution limits 20 times for cadmium, zinc and other pollutants discharged into Sewickley Creek.

10/02/2024

Fracking in Pennsylvania is a hot topic in the 2024 election. But what is the real impact of the industry here?

WHYY reporter Susan Phillips reports that since the first well was drilled 20 years ago, fracking jobs comprise less than 1% of Pennsylvania's workforce, residents fear health impacts and environmental damage continues.

Twenty years after fracking began in Pa, jobs comprise less than 1% of the workforce, residents fear health impacts and environmental damage continues.

10/02/2024

Seven questions about energy and climate that moderators should ask U.S. Senator Bob Casey and his Republican challenger Dave McCormick at Thursday's debate include positions on fracking, hydrogen, climate change adaptation and a clean energy economy for Pennsylvania.

Here are seven questions moderators should ask U.S. Senator Bob Casey and his Republican challenger Dave McCormick at Thursday's debate.

09/28/2024

If food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world. What you can do in your own home to reduce food waste.

09/27/2024

A federal judge approved the settlement between residents and Norfolk Southern for the damage caused by its train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. But not everyone is happy: “They duped people into signing up. They bullied people, told people, ‘unless you have $1 million to fight it on your own, this is all the money you’re ever going to get."

Residents closest to the site, within a two-mile radius, could get the most, $70,000 per household for property damage and economic losses and up to $25,000 per person for personal injuries. Those living farther away would get considerably less, down to a few hundred dollars.

A federal judge approved the settlement between residents and Norfolk Southern for the damage caused by its train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.