Today, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted unanimously to advance the America the Beautiful Act (S. 1547), a bipartisan bill championed by Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Angus King (I-ME), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Mark Warner (D-VA). Developed through bipartisan, bicameral negotiations with the administration, the legislation reauthorizes the Legacy Restoration Fund, investing $6.65 billion over five years from 2027 through 2031 to repair crumbling roads, deteriorating buildings, and failing water infrastructure across America’s national parks and public lands. Continue reading

Yesterday, Governor Josh Shapiro announced his GRID Standards for Data Center Developers. The GRID standards cover four key areas of energy affordability; transparency and community engagement; workforce and economic development; and environmental protection. Specifically, data centers would be incentivized and steered toward cleaner power over time, shown through the clean firm energy requirements that ramp from 10% in 2027, to 14.5% in 2030, and 32% by 2035. Under the GRID standards proposal, developers are required to demonstrate their project meets standards in all four areas in order to qualify for GRID certification. With GRID certification, projects would qualify for multiple state benefits, including the Permit Fast Track Program, sales and use tax benefits for the purchase of computer data center equipment, and participation in preferential tax zone programs. Continue reading

Today at Gautier Steel in Johnstown, PA, Governor Josh Shapiro addressed Pennsylvania residents regarding the state Energy Programs Office’s Reducing Industrial Sector Emissions in Pennsylvania program, also known as RISE PA. This program will provide investments to support projects that aim to reduce energy costs and air pollution from industrial facilities while creating thousands of family-sustaining careers. While this is a welcome announcement, it comes on the heels of last week’s decision allowing the Keystone and Conemaugh coal plants to stay in operation beyond their scheduled lifespan, after receiving a two-year pollution pass for implementing crucial mercury and air toxics protections from the U.S. EPA and consent decrees from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Continue reading

Today, Governor Josh Shapiro and the State Legislature passed a state budget for the commonwealth but, as part of the negotiation process, removed Pennsylvania from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, also known as RGGI. RGGI is a cap-and-invest program that lowers harmful emissions of carbon pollution and creates family-sustaining careers by building out affordable clean energy in Pennsylvania. RGGI was estimated to bring hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue for Pennsylvania to reinvest in our communities. Over the last two years, over 80,000 pro-life evangelical Christians urged Governor Shapiro to support Pennsylvania reaffirming its commitment to RGGI. According to 2020 polling, 72% of Pennsylvanians support RGGI, particularly because it would create thousands of family-sustaining careers and ensure a safe and healthy future for generations to come. Continue reading

Today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee considers draft legislative text for its portion of a sweeping bill advancing through the congressional reconciliation process, which includes a provision that would delay and defund the Methane Emission Reduction Program (MERP). The MERP's waste emissions charge is estimated to raise $7.2 billion in federal revenues and save American families and taxpayers tens of billions in avoided health costs. Continue reading

As evangelicals committed to defending the life and health of every child, we at EEN Action–the 501(c)(4) advocacy partner of the Evangelical Environmental Network–celebrate the recent bipartisan passage of House Bill 504 Community Energy, which will expand community solar across Pennsylvania and provide clean, reliable, and renewable energy to our power grid. We are grateful to Representative Schweyer (District 134) for his leadership sponsoring the bill and are especially thankful to the thirteen House Republicans who voted in support for HB 504: Continue reading

Today, on March 11, 2025, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced the legislative framework for the proposed six-part Pennsylvanian energy Lightning Plan. This plan includes the reintroduction of clean energy solutions such as the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) and the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction (PACER) Initiative. Additionally, the Lightning Plan reforms the Act 129 energy efficiency and conservation program, supports the development of community energy, expands the 2022 Pennsylvania Economic Development for a Growing Economy (PA EDGE) Tax Credit Program, and creates a Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Siting and Electric Transition (RESET) Board. Continue reading

Today, on January 30, 2025, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced his new comprehensive Lightning Plan, which includes the reintroduction of energy solutions such as the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS)–an expansion of the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS)–and the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction (PACER) Initiative–a PA-specific cap-and-invest program.  Continue reading

As Christians, we believe God desires for us to live life to the fullest (John 10:10); therefore, we are passionate about defending the health and wellbeing of all of God’s children.  The oil and gas industry leaks methane, along with other toxic pollutants and cancer-causing agents like benzene, into our air and water at alarming rates. These pollutants have negative health impacts on those who live, work, go to school, and play nearby, and have a disproportionately strong effect on life in the womb. For those near oil and gas production sites,  emissions have been linked to birth defects, preterm births, and low-birth-weight babies, who are at greater risk of infant mortality, ADHD, asthma, and more, making cutting methane pollution truly a matter of life. Continue reading

Today, EEN Action–the 501(c)(4) partner of the Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN)–delivered over 36,000 comments from pro-life Christians in Pennsylvania to Governor Shapiro and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) calling on the DEP to swiftly design a strong State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the Methane Supplemental Rule. Continue reading