pittsburgh
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Pittsburgh's primary showcases progressive stance on fracking
In Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district, Rep. Summer Lee's campaign gains momentum with robust backing from environmental groups amid a primary battle that underscores the region's shifting priorities toward sustainable practices.
Keerti Gopal and Kiley Bense report for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- With the Democratic primary approaching, U.S. Rep. Summer Lee gains significant support from environmental groups, contrasting with her opponent Bhavini Patel.
- The endorsements focus on Lee's commitment to environmental justice, a shift from foreign policy issues to local environmental concerns.
- Edith Abeyta, a local environmental justice organizer, supports Lee for her consistent advocacy for communities affected by industrial pollution.
Key quote:
"For me, it’s this intersectionality that Lee upholds within her district. She represents a lot of people that live in environmental justice zones and frontline communities, and I think she gets it…she’s a voice for the people."
— Edith Abeyta, environmental justice organizer
Why this matters:
Progressive politicians and activists generally advocate for stricter regulations or outright bans on fracking, citing environmental degradation, health risks, and contributions to climate change. This emphasis on environmental justice and green jobs resonates with a district historically tied to heavy industry, suggesting a significant shift in voter priorities.
In late 2023, EHN reporter Kristina Marusic discussed new proposed fracking regulations in Pennsylvania on "Living on Earth.”
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Youngstown has a long industrial history and is still home to numerous sources of industrial pollution, including a steel plant and other metal fabricators, a concrete plant, and a hazardous waste processing facility. (Credit: Kristina Marusic for EHN)
Listen: Why communities in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia are fighting chemical recycling plants
EHN reporter Kristina Marusic discusses her new three-part series on the controversies surrounding chemical recycling.
PITTSBURGH — EHN reporter Kristina Marusic recently spoke with The Allegheny Front about three communities in the Ohio River Valley that are fighting proposed chemical recycling plants.
Chemical recycling is an umbrella term for processes that use heat, chemicals or both to break down plastic waste into component parts for reuse as plastic feedstocks or as fuel. The industry says chemical recycling could help solve the plastic waste crisis, but some environmental health advocates say chemical recycling facilities worsen climate change and emit toxic chemicals.
Marusic recently wrote about community fights to stop proposed advanced recycling facilities in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Listen to her interview with The Allegheny Frontbelow.
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Drillers produced 7.5 trillion cubic feet of gas in 2022, down from 7.6 trillion cubic feet in 2021.
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Credit: Kristina Marusic for Environmental Health News
EHN reporter discusses new proposed fracking regulations in Pennsylvania on "Living on Earth"
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro directed regulatory agencies in Pennsylvania to draft new regulations that would improve the disclosure of the chemicals used during fracking.
PITTSBURGH — Environmental Health News reporter Kristina Marusic joined NPR's "Living on Earth" to discuss whether newly proposed fracking regulations in Pennsylvania could improve transparency about the chemicals used by the industry.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro recently announced that he has directed regulatory agencies in Pennsylvania to draft new regulations that would improve the disclosure of the chemicals used during fracking, better control methane emissions, and create stronger protections related to waste products from fracking, among other new protections.
Marusic has previously reported on how the industry's methane emissions are higher than reported, and on how regulatory loopholes allow fracking companies to withhold information about what chemicals are used during the drilling process from both the public and regulators. Marusic's previous reporting has also revealed that families who live near fracking wells in Pennsylvania are being exposed to potentially harmful chemicals like benzene, toluene, and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a.k.a. "forever chemicals").
"If people living near fracking wells start experiencing health issues, it's really important that they and their doctors know what chemicals they may have been exposed to when trying to figure out what's going on," Marusic said during the Living On Earth interview. "And it's important for regulators to know too, so that if there's suspected contamination, they know what to look for if they're testing water and soil."
The interview is available at Living on Earth, on Spotify, and below.
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Photo by Gunnar Ridderström on Unsplash
PA Solar Center: Guidebook on large-scale solar energy facilities for landowners is now available
The Pennsylvania Solar Center and Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services announced the release of their free Guidebook For Leasing Land For Large-Scale Solar Development to help Pennsylvania landowners – particularly those with large parcels of land – navigate the process of leasing their land for large-scale solar development.
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