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.
Three PA Senators to Co-Sponsor Legislation Encouraging Solar for PA Schools
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMedia Contact: Lisa DePaoli, lisa@centerforcoalfieldjustice.org, 412-229-7116 Three PA Senators to Co-Sponsor Legislation Encouraging Solar for PA Schools Washington, PA – Pennsylvania Senators Bartolotta, Comitta, and Hughes plan to introduce legislation to encourage the use of solar at Pennsylvania schools. The Solar for Schools Grant Program for public schools and universities will reduce energy…
On the Move: Senate Bills 832 and 1058
The Senate has several bills on the verge of passing and heading to the House. A few could affect the future of energy development and a just transition for fossil fuel workers in Pennsylvania. One of these bills, SB 832, would establish an Independent Energy Office in our state. This office would analyze laws, regulations,…
What is the Whole Home Repairs Program?
You may have heard a lot about the Whole-Home Repairs program lately – Governor Shapiro mentioned it twice in his budget proposal for the year, CCJ sent out action alert emails to show support for properly funding the program, and Senator Fetterman recently introduced a bill to pilot a federal version of the program. But…
Cecil Township to Amend Oil and Gas Ordinance on April 3rd
On Monday March 4th, CCJ Organizer Jodi Borello and Organizing Director Heaven Sensky attended a Cecil Township Supervisors Meeting alongside Janice Blanock, a CCJ member and co-organizer of the group MAD-FACTS (Moms and Dads – Family Awareness of Cancer Threat Spike). The supervisors were slated to discuss and vote on the prospect of holding a…
Sen. Fetterman Proposes Groundbreaking Whole Home Repairs Program at the National Level
Washington, PA – Most Americans want the same thing: a safe, secure place to call home. But for too long, elected officials failed to prioritize decent living standards – that is, until 2022, when thanks to the tireless organizing of grassroots organizations and coalitions across Pennsylvania, the state added Whole-Home Repairs to the budget. Whole-Home Repairs became the first program in the nation to establish a one-stop shop for home repairs and weatherization while creating family-sustaining jobs in impacted communities.
What are Legislative Committees and How Do They Affect You?
Legislative committees are an integral part of the democratic process in the United States. They are groups of legislators assigned to study, debate, and amend proposed bills before they are presented to the full House or Senate for a vote. The PA House and Senate write and enact legislation. Each legislative chamber has mirroring committees…
Governor Shapiro’s Ten Year Plan Fails to Envision a Just, Sustainable Economy
On January 30th, Governor Shapiro released his administration’s Ten Year Strategic Plan for Economic Development in Pennsylvania. Governor Shapiro could have used this moment to champion a vision for Pennsylvania that invests in sustainable industries that protect the health and financial stability of residents across the Commonwealth. Instead, his plan maintains the status quo by propping up extractive industries for another decade.
The Ram Mine Has Been Denied
Mingo Creek taken by Allison Evans The PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) accepted an application for a new underground mine – the Ram No. 1 Mine – on February 25, 2015. Ram Mining, LLC (RAM), a Kentucky-based company with a history of coal mining in West Virginia and southwestern Virginia, submitted the application. RAM’s…