HARRISBURG – Rep. Joshua D. Kail (R-Beaver/Washington) issued the following statement regarding the findings of the economic impact study on the Shell petrochemical facility in Potter Township, Beaver County.

“The facility, known as the cracker plant, is a tremendous asset to Beaver County, the region and Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth is a more competitive, fruitful place for business when opportunities like this present themselves. This 800-acre facility will undoubtedly have significant bearing on the state economy now and in the future. It is now our job to leverage this asset to boost manufacturing opportunities.

“As a state representative, I take great pride in economic prosperity and job creation. There have been employment opportunities missed in the Commonwealth, but I am proud that we were able to capitalize on this chance to bring economic stability and jobs to the region. During the construction phase, nearly 8,000 workers were employed at the pinnacle of this project. Once the facility is operational, hundreds of workers will be employed to carry out day-to-day tasks. It is time to put Pennsylvanians back to work.

“I thank professors Steve Clinton, Marcel Minuolo and Brian O’Roark, as well as Robert Morris University (RMU), for conducting this important study. I also extend my gratitude to Shell for commissioning RMU to carry out this project. I look forward to the facility’s first workday in 2022.”

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) Well if you’re Irish you get a second day to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day Parade will now be held on Saturday September 18, 2021. The original parade that is traditionally held on St. Patrick’s Day Weekend was canceled due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. The reason that September 18 was picked is because it is the half way point to St. Patrick’s Day

Today is the final day for parents to decide if they would like for their child to repeat their previous grade in school .Back in June, Governor Wolf signed off on a law that allows students who were enrolled during the 2020-2021 school year to repeat their grade in an effort to make up for any lost educational opportunities because of COVID-19.

Even if the student met academic requirements, they are still permitted to repeat the grade.

If you’ve decided that you want your child to repeat a grade, you must submit a form that you can find on the department of education’s website. It must be submitted by Thursday.

Pennsylvania state university system merges 6 schools into 2
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Six of Pennsylvania’s 14 state-owned universities are being consolidated into two new institutions. The State System of Higher Education’s governing board voted unanimously on Wednesday for the plan that will begin to be implemented in about a year. It calls for Bloomsburg, Mansfield and Lock Haven universities in northern Pennsylvania to form one institution. The other will be formed from California, Clarion and Edinboro universities in western Pennsylvania. They’ll have new names that haven’t been selected. The plan is to keep all six campuses open with their own identities and brands, including existing sports teams.

Money in the bank: Child tax credit dollars head to parents
By JOSH BOAK Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government is starting to deposit child tax credit money into the accounts of more than 35 million families. President Joe Biden has expanded the credit for one year as part of coronavirus relief. The result is that most families will now qualify for monthly payments of as much as $300 per child beginning Thursday. Biden is seeking to extend the payments and make them permanent. He says that would cut child poverty in half and help economic growth. Some Republican lawmakers say the payments will make parents less likely to work.

 

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh International Airport on Wednesday became the first airport in the world  to be completely powered by natural gas and solar energy as part of its newly  live microgrid.  

The first-of-its kind microgrid increases resilience and maximizes public safety and  makes PIT one of the most site-hardened airports in the world.  

Airports across the country have been exploring ways to increase power resilience  and reliability after several high-profile power outages resulted in thousands of  cancelled flights and passenger disruptions. As PIT is set to break ground on  building the smartest airport in the world through its new terminal project, creating  smart power infrastructure is a key step that can serve as a blueprint for others.

“Our region has innovation in its DNA, and the construction of this microgrid  reflects the work that has been done at the airport to maximize public safety and  sustainability,” said Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “I’m extremely  proud that the airport is utilizing nearly 10,000 solar panels as a source of  sustainable energy. It, along with the other mix of energy generated at the airport,  continues to position this facility as an industry leader. Congratulations to  Christina, and the entire team, for their work on this important project.” 

The power generated at PIT is the primary supply for the entire airport, including  the terminals, airfield, Hyatt hotel and Sunoco. The airport will remain connected  to the traditional electrical grid as an option for emergency or backup power if needed. The microgrid will generate power, in part, through onsite natural gas  wells and 9,360 solar panels across eight acres. 

“Pittsburgh International Airport is now one of the most site-hardened public  facilities in the world while at the same time becoming more sustainable. That’s a  tribute to the innovative culture of our team, and we hope this project can be a  model across the industry,” said Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina  Cassotis. 

The Allegheny County Airport Authority Board of Directors in 2019 awarded  Peoples Natural Gas a 20-year contract to build, maintain and operate the microgrid at no cost to the airport. In addition to boosting power resiliency and  redundancy, the microgrid will achieve savings on electricity costs for the airport  and tenants. 

Crews started construction in July 2020 and completed the project on schedule  even as the pandemic stalled the aviation industry last year.  

“Essential Utilities and Peoples Gas are proud to be an integral part of the airport  microgrid project,” said Christopher Franklin, chairman and chief executive officer,  Essential Utilities. “We’re demonstrating how new, alternative energies like solar  can be integrated with traditional power sources like natural gas. This energy  solution provides the airport with a more resilient power supply, as well as  reducing its emissions.” 

 

What is a microgrid?  

A microgrid is an independent electricity source that can operate autonomously while maintaining a connection to the traditional grid. It will be powered by natural  gas drilled on-site by CNX Resources, in addition to gas from the interstate  pipeline system and solar generation. The project will offer a more efficient,  sustainable and resilient source of energy. 

The microgrid will consist of five natural gas-fueled generators and nearly 10,000 solar panels, capable of producing more than 20 megawatts of electricity, the  equivalent of powering more than 13,000 residential homes. The airport’s current  peak demand is approximately 14 megawatts.  

In addition to Peoples, other firms involved in the development of the microgrid  included CNX Resources, IMG Energy Solutions, EIS Solar, PJ Dick, LLI Engineering and Duquesne Light Company.  

Keystone State News Connection

July 15, 2021

Lily Bohlke

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Advocates for clean air are calling on the Wolf administration to strengthen a proposed regulation on methane emissions.

They say the Department of Environmental Protection has the opportunity to close the loophole for low-producing wells, which Patrice Tomcik – national field manager with Moms Clean Air Force and a resident of Gibsonia – noted are responsible for more than half a million tons of methane emitted by the oil and gas industry in Pennsylvania.

She also said she supports eliminating a provision in the proposed rule that would allow oil and gas operators to reduce the frequency of inspections if previous inspections hadn’t found any leaks – she noted large uncontrolled leaks can happen at any time.

“When there’s a methane rule that is very protective, very comprehensive,” said Tomcik, “it will cut the methane pollution and it will also help to rein in those very toxic other pollutants that can impact health.”

Tomcik sends her children to school in Mars, Pennsylvania, which is near multiple gas wells and pipelines. She pointed to studies that show the people who are located closest to oil and gas operations are at highest risk of health impacts, from respiratory issues to certain cancers.

Robert Routh, public policy and regulatory counsel with the Clean Air Council and based in Philadelphia, pointed out that methane is an extremely potent climate pollutant.

He added that in the first 20 years after it’s released into the atmosphere, it’s more than 80 times as strong as carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.

“Methane worldwide is responsible for about a quarter of the manmade global warming that we’re experiencing today,” said Routh. “So, cutting methane emissions is the quickest and the most cost-effective way that we can reduce climate pollution now.”

Tomcik added that the Biden administration also has been working on reining in methane emissions at the federal level. The president reinstated federal methane rules that had been rolled back by the Trump administration.

“This has really created an unparalleled moment when Pennsylvania has the opportunity to be a leader in methane-pollution protections for the rest of the nation,” said Tomcik.

(Story and photo by Beaver County Radio News Correspondant Curtis Walsh)

(New Brighton, PA) Multiple fire departments have responded to a house fire on 8th Avenue in New Brighton. It is currently unknown if anybody was inside the home. Light smoke could be seen coming from the structure. Fire fighters have the scene under control.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The attorney for a woman charged with homicide and kidnapping in the 2019 death of a toddler in western Pennsylvania is asking a judge to bar prosecutors from using video showing her talking to a police officer who was searching for the missing child. The Tribune-Review reports that Allegheny County prosecutors on Monday released police bodycam video showing 27-year-old Sharena Nancy denying any knowledge of the whereabouts of Nalani Johnson. Defense attorney Anthony DeLuca argues that his client’s constitutional rights were violated, but prosecutors say they fall under a public safety exception to the Miranda warning requirement because police were searching for the missing youngster at the time.