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.
Executive Order vs. Executive Action – What is the Difference?
The terms “executive order” and “executive action” have been getting a lot of use in the last two weeks. But what exactly do these terms mean for us? Each stems from Article II of the Constitution, which states, “The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.” With few…
What is PJM? Understanding the Electricity Landscape in Pennsylvania
There is a lot of media coverage regarding both energy development in Pennsylvania, and the amount of money consumers pay for that energy. The discourse is deep and a little political, so let’s break it down into the essential parts in order to understand the whole picture. This starts with PJM and the energy grid,…
Official Ballot Canvass: Experiencing Democracy in Action
In the United States it is common to hear elected officials and organizations speak on the importance of democracy; however, it is a unique privilege to actually witness the process and contribute to it. One critical pillar of CCJ’s work is “Democracy”, which has been made increasingly relevant as voter protection and election integrity are…
Running Unopposed is Undemocratic
Elections are the bedrock of our democracy, and voting is a right that many do not exercise. However, even if every eligible person in the United States voted, voters would still find that their choices, at times, could be better as many elected seats run unopposed. In Southwest Pennsylvania, it happens rather often – especially…
Introducing our New Video of Resident Voices!
Resident experiences with fracking and its infrastructure: Listening to our neighbors This year, the staff and members of CCJ have worked with Washington resident and CCJ member Michael Brownlee to produce a video of people’s experiences of living near fracking and its infrastructure. Today, we are releasing that video into the world! We are so…
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…
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…
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…