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.
IPCs Held for Three Coal Mine Expansions
Three virtual Informal Public Conferences (IPCs) were held by the PA Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) in the past month for Consol Mining’s latest three expansions. The Bailey, Enlow, and Harvey Mines all applied for development mining permits to set up for future longwall panels. In total, roughly 7,000 acres of land within Greene…
Brief update on the status of RGGI in Pennsylvania
As of July 1, 2022, Pennsylvania became the 12th state to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a cap-and-trade program that requires coal-fired power plants to buy an allowance for every ton of carbon dioxide they emit. The allowances are sold at quarterly auctions, and the revenue generated is distributed to the states in…
CCJ Rallied with Hundreds of Activists Against the Backroom Permitting Reform Deal. Add your Voice to the Opposition!
Click Here to Tell Congress “NO” to the Dirty Deal (this action has passed) On Thursday, September 8th, the Center for Coalfield Justice (“CCJ”) joined over 600 environmental and climate activists from across the nation in Washington, D.C. to protest what has become known as the “Dirty Deal” between Senator Joe Manchin and Democratic Leadership….
Voter Registration Access is Expanded, Thanks to Governor Wolf’s Executive Order
On September 7th, Governor Wolf signed Executive Order 2022-03. This order designates September as Voter Registration Month, and is also an expansion of voter registration opportunities. The order designates seven existing government entities as Voter Registration Distribution Agencies (VRDA). These agencies will be required to provide voter registration literature and services to eligible Pennsylvanians. Following…
So Long, But Not Goodbye
For those of you who were lucky enough to attend our wonderful “Party in the Park” fundraiser, you will already know this news. I am stepping down from my position at CCJ to attend graduate school this fall. At the end of a summer jam-packed full of fun CCJ community events, I am reflecting on…
False Climate Solution: Sensationalist Slogans
Climate change is a complex problem that requires complex and thoughtful solutions. Finding these solutions is contingent upon accurately framing the problem.
Legislative Consideration in PA: What Happens in Each Phase?
Pennsylvania’s Constitution requires that every bill be considered three different times in the House of Representatives and the Senate. PA. CONST. art. III, § 4. Every time that a bill is considered, it is given a different status. When introduced, the bill is under “first consideration,” next it is under “second consideration,” and finally it…
How to Better Your Community with Mutual Aid
The term mutual aid has popped up more within the last two years, yet it has been around for quite some time. Since the start of the pandemic, thousands of mutual aid projects have created a space where people in communities can access necessities including food, clothes, personal protective equipment, shelter, and other needs.
Thanks for Making Our Party in the Park Fundraiser a Success!
On Saturday, August 20th, CCJ hosted our annual Party in the Park Fundraiser in the Stone Pavilion at Washington Park. The event raises funds to support CCJ’s mission of educating, empowering, and organizing coalfield residents around environmental and economic issues. This was our first time holding the event in-person since 2019, but our community came…
Join Us in Washington, D.C., on September 8, 2022, to Stop the Dirty Deal!
To get Senator Manchin’s vote on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Democratic leadership had to make a deal. There is an alleged agreement that for Manchin’s vote on the IRA, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer would attach a bill that would amend the current laws and regulations on environmental permitting requirements by the end of…