Our blogs are written by the staff of the Center for Coalfield Justice, with an occasional guest post. The most recent post appears on top, and others show up below in order of publishing date. You can receive the blogs in your inbox by signing up for our mailing list. Once per month we publish a newsletter, which contains most of the blog posts.
Coal Refuse Disposal Areas in Southwestern PA: what are they and what could they be?
Pennsylvania has a rich history of coal mining, which made our state prosperous and put many residents to work. Coal has been used for many purposes, including steel-making and power generation, but the extractive practice of mining coal creates a lot of hazardous waste. For those who live here, it is common to see large…
The Full Picture of Carbon Capture in Pennsylvania
The concept of separating carbon dioxide from fuels and emissions has existed since 1970. Technology has changed since then, but the viability of the process has remained the same. As Sean O’Leary at Ohio River Valley Institute said, “Carbon capture technology is expensive to build and operate. According to recent estimates, it more than doubles…
Press Release: Cecil residents score a huge win: Increased setbacks for new well pads!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 4, 2024Media Contact: Lisa DePaoli, lisa@centerforcoalfieldjustice.org, 412-229-7116 Cecil residents score a huge win: Increased setbacks for new well pads! Board of Supervisors applauded for prioritizing community’s health and well-being CECIL TOWNSHIP, PA – Tonight, after several hearings and years of community members’ working together and publicly raising their concerns, Cecil Township residents…
Demand a 2,500’ Setback for Oil and Gas Facilities
On Monday, October 22, CCJ Organizers Jodi Borello and Tonya Yoders attended a Press Conference in Harrisburg to announce the Setback Campaign introduced by the Clean Air Council and Environmental Integrity Project. They filed a rulemaking petition with the Environmental Quality Board asking to increase the setback distance from fracking wells. We are asking for…
October 2024 Newsletter
NEWS AND UPDATES November 5th is Election Day: Make Sure You’re Ready to Vote! It’s finally time: next Tuesday, November 5th is Election Day. Your vote is your power — use it. We’ll come together to vote for the next President of the United States, along with the U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, U.S. Representative from…
A 30th Anniversary Fundraiser to Remember!
On October 5th, we had the great privilege of hosting our 30th Anniversary Fall Fundraiser and it was definitely one for the books! The Stone Pavilion in Washington Park was the backdrop for our biggest fundraiser of the year. The sun was shining, spirits were high, and our community really turned out with over 100…
Stop the Dirty Deal – Again!
Author Nina Victoria Nina Victoria is excited to join the CCJ team as our Community Advocate. She was previously our Policy Fellow. Before beginning work at CCJ, Nina graduated from Duquesne University School of Law, where she served as Editor-In-Chief of JOULE: Duquesne Energy & Environmental Law Journal and an intern for PA State Senator…
The Bigger Issues with OWPG and MERP
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulates oil and gas development in Pennsylvania. DEP shoulders the burden of regulating energy development and protecting the Commonwealth’s intrinsic rights to clean air, water, and the environment. With that contextualized, we will break down some of the recent funding and programs DEP has created and why they are…