(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks speaks during a news conference in Yardley, Pa., Monday, Dec. 4, 2023. Shapiro will deliver his second budget proposal to Pennsylvania lawmakers Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, with a firmer grasp on how he wants to pursue top priorities and his state in a strong fiscal position. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

(Reported by Danielle Smith of Keystone News Service)

(Harrisburg, PA) Environmental projects are restarting as advocates praise Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro for suing the Trump administration, leading to the release of two billion dollars in federal aid. The previously frozen funds had disrupted key projects such as abandoned mine reclamation, plugging orphaned wells and other projects, while grants for electric school buses remain frozen. Joanne Kilgour with the Ohio River Valley Institute calls it a win for Pennsylvania but says some local programs still await promised funds. Kilgour pointed out during a webinar that the governor’s lawsuit continues because the state needs to ensure that all promised funding reaches Pennsylvania communities and that future funding remains secure.