fracking pennsylvania water toxics pollution
big stock photo

A Pennsylvania community wins a reprieve on toxic fracking wastewater

Inside Climate Newsreporter Jon Hurdle writes that the decision by PGE to plug a well in a township of fewer than 700 residents rather than inject it with wastewater suggests that fighting the oil and gas industry may not be as futile as some would argue.


In a nutshell:

Pennsylvania General Energy has announced plans to plug an old natural gas well in Grant Township, Pennsylvania instead of converting it to hold wastewater from fracking operations, due to a geological problem that could result in natural gas leaking into underground water sources. The move comes after a decade-long legal battle between PGE, the state, and the town, where the town's assertion of local authority to control oil and gas development through a home-rule charter was deemed unconstitutional. The decision to plug the well is seen as a victory for the community and highlights the potential success of local resistance against the oil and gas industry.

Key quote:

“Did Grant Township know? No, they don’t have experts, scientists, geologists but they knew that this was a bad idea, and that this would potentially contaminate their water supply,” community organizer Chad Nicholson said. “Now we have the proof that this was a leaking well with stuff that could get into the water table.”

Big picture:

PGE's move comes after concerns were raised about the possibility of toxic fracking chemicals contaminating the town's drinking water. This victory for the community may serve as an example to other towns fighting against the oil and gas industry, demonstrating that local opposition can yield positive outcomes and protect the environment.

Read more about this community's fracking victory at Inside Climate News.

To learn more about the dangers of fracking, check out EHN's Fractured: the Body Burden of Living Near Fracking series.

environmental justice

LISTEN: Robbie Parks on why hurricanes are getting deadlier

"In places where there are high minority populations they bear, by far, the most burden of deaths from tropical cyclones."

Dr. Robbie Parks joins the Agents of Change in Environmental Justice podcast for a bonus episode to discuss how hurricanes have become deadlier in recent years and how we can better protect vulnerable communities.

Keep reading...Show less
Senator Whitehouse & climate change

Senator Whitehouse puts climate change on budget committee’s agenda

For more than a decade, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse gave daily warnings about the mounting threat of climate change. Now he has a powerful new perch.

Mosquitoes are a growing public health threat, reversing years of progress

Don't miss this compelling global health series by The New York Times: The fight against mosquitos has never been more urgent as climate change and the rapid evolution of the insect have thwarted efforts to combat devastating diseases like malaria and dengue. Scientists are innovating, reports Stephanie Nolen, pursuing new strategies to protect public health.
Keep reading...Show less
person using phone and laptop
Photo by Maxim Ilyahov on Unsplash

Spanish-language misinformation on renewable energy spreads online, report shows

False narratives about renewable energy are malleable and adapted to different languages after extreme weather events in different countries, the researchers found.

Laila Benkrima: Ultra-processed foods are not only bad for our bodies, their production damages our environments

Ultra-processed foods are bad for our health and our planet and must be central to any efforts to reduce our carbon emissions, and waistlines.

A revelation about trees is messing with climate calculations

Trees make clouds by releasing small quantities of vapors called “sesquiterpenes.” Scientists are learning more—and it’s making climate models hazy.

For Sanibel, the recovery from Hurricane Ian will be years in the making

Thousands of residents of this barrier island remain displaced a year after the costliest hurricane in state history.

From our Newsroom
Heat, air pollution and climate change … oh my! Was summer 2023 the new normal?

Heat, air pollution and climate change … oh my! Was summer 2023 the new normal?

Intense heat waves induced by climate change create favorable conditions for air pollution to worsen. Scientists say this isn’t likely to change unless action is taken.

children nature

Opinion: When kids feel the magic of nature, they will want to protect it

Improving our quality of life starts with the simple of act of getting kids outdoors.

birds climate change

In the Gulf of Maine, scientists race to save seabirds threatened by climate change

“I could see that, if successful, the methods developed could likely help these species."

fracking economics

Appalachia’s fracking counties are shedding jobs and residents: Study

The 22 counties that produce 90% of Appalachian natural gas lost a combined 10,339 jobs between 2008 and 2021.

Marathon Petroleum y una ciudad de Texas muestran una  potencial crisis de comunicaciones sobre sustancias químicas

Marathon Petroleum y una ciudad de Texas muestran una potencial crisis de comunicaciones sobre sustancias químicas

En los últimos tres años, Marathon ha violado repetidamente la ley de Aire Limpio y tuvo tres emergencias en el semestre de febrero a julio de 2023.

WATCH: How Marathon Petroleum and one Texas city show the potential for a chemical communication crisis

WATCH: How Marathon Petroleum and one Texas city show the potential for a chemical communication crisis

Marathon in Texas City has repeatedly violated the Clean Air Act and had three emergencies in the span of a six month period.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.