Laura Legere
Pittsburgh news now
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Past articles by Laura:
Mike Bloomberg commits $85 million to stop petrochemical plants in Ohio Valley, Gulf Coast
Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg is putting his wealth and clout into an effort to halt the expansion of petrochemical manufacturing in the Ohio... → Read More
Pa. board votes down rule to limit manganese in streams to protect public health
The rejection by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission does not necessarily doom the rule, which was designed to protect children from overexposure to the neurotoxin. → Read More
‘Landmark’ climate law turns up the power on Pa. solar, wind, hydropower energy projects
“This is a more realistic approach and that’s, frankly, rare,” said Paul Jacob, CEO of Rye Development. “That’s going to get a lot of things built, not just our thing.” → Read More
As Pa. faces ‘looming crisis’ of new abandoned wells, state law will freeze well bonding rates for a decade
Gov. Wolf will allow the bill to become law without his signature as part of a budget deal. → Read More
Judge halts Pa. power plant carbon dioxide rule
Gov. Wolf’s keystone effort at combatting climate change is on pause until the full court can consider the merits of the case. → Read More
With state climate action in the spotlight, Gov. Wolf's carbon rule takes effect
After U.S. Supreme Court limits scope of federal tools to cut power plant carbon emissions, state and local rules gain attention. → Read More
Shale well impact fees rise as natural gas prices surge
The effective tax rate on Pennsylvania shale gas dropped to a record low 1.3% in 2021 and is projected to drop to 0.6% in 2022. → Read More
Pa. DEP splits up long-stalled oil and gas air pollution rule
Objections from legislators and advocates for the state’s conventional oil and gas industry caused the proposed rule to be split in two → Read More
Coal mine expansion in Laurel Highlands draws subsidence, water concerns
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is considering a coal company’s applications to renew and expand a permit for an underground... → Read More
Pa.'s environmental justice policy gets revamped — and scrutinized
The state Department of Environmental Protection’s first update to its environmental justice policy in nearly 20 years is drawing rebukes from industry... → Read More
Pa. DEP 're-evaluating' oil and gas air pollution rule as deadline looms
Pennsylvania environmental regulators are “re-evaluating” their overdue rule for cutting air pollution from oil and gas well sites even as... → Read More
Conventional oil and gas industry sues to be excluded from Pa. methane rule
Pennsylvania has a mid-June deadline to finalize the rule or face federal sanctions. → Read More
Coal industry, workers sue to halt Pa.'s new climate rules
Owners of Pennsylvania coal-fired power plants, a coal industry trade group and labor unions that represent their workers filed a lawsuit Monday to stop... → Read More
Ask me about ... how environmental justice and economic opportunities are linked
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection last updated its environmental justice policy 18 years ago. Now, it is rewriting its guidelines... → Read More
Gov. Wolf's climate rule set to take effect Saturday
The program is projected to raise $410 million next fiscal year, if it is not blocked in court. → Read More
Study finds low-producing oil and gas wells major source of methane leaks
Low-producing wells pump out just 6% of U.S. oil and gas each year but account for roughly half of the climate-warming methane that escapes from all of... → Read More
EPA: Expect 'tough love' after Pennsylvania's Chesapeake Bay pollution plan falls short again
Pennsylvania’s latest plan for cutting pollution to the Chesapeake Bay is still inadequate, so the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is stepping... → Read More
Offices adapt as COVID highlights hazards of poor indoor air quality
Two years into the pandemic, more is known about how building systems can play a part in keeping occupants safe. → Read More
Pa. Supreme Court asked to clear path for new rule on power plant emission fees
The state Department of Environmental Protection has appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to clear the path for publication of its rule putting fees... → Read More
Wolf administration climate rule survives veto override attempt in Pa. Legislature
The rule’s fate is likely to be determined by the courts, where Senate Republicans have filed for an injunction to block it. → Read More