PEC’s 50th anniversary year continues to unfold in ways that not many imagined in January. While we anticipated doing a bit of self-congratulation at our various 2020 dinners, those events will now all be virtual this fall (but we will still talk a bit about our first fifty years). We at PE...

Over the years PEC has worked with countless leaders, experts, and citizens to advance environmental goals across the state. In celebration of PEC’s fiftieth anniversary, we asked a few of them to share their reflections on our shared work, how far Pennsylvania has come, and where we go from here....

Fixing leaks in the natural gas supply chain is critical to reducing Pennsylvania's greenhouse gas emissions, and proposed new requirements for gas facilities would hold operators accountable for detecting and repairing them. With estimated emissions from gas operations exceeding a million tons a ye...

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council today praised the introduction of bipartisan legislation – Senate Bill 15, sponsored by Senator Jay Costa (Allegheny County) – that would both direct the state to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide in the electric generation sector and establish an Energy T...

The goal of the 2020 Pennsylvania Environmental Council Virtual Public Lands Ride is to showcase state parks and forests across the greater central region of the state. Throughout the month of September, cyclists are encouraged to ride as many of the suggested routes as possible and share their expe...

As official sustainability partner for the GAP Relay in 2019 and 2020, PEC purchased carbon offsets and water restoration credits equivalent to the total environmental impact of the event. That experience led us to examine PEC's own carbon footprint. We discovered that the operations of even the...

For the second year, PEC is proud to serve as sustainability partner for the GAP Relay, a 150-mile relay race along the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP). Learn more about the partnership here. 2020 has been an interesting year for racing, to say the least. I have been doing triathlons for...

The GAP Relay -- a 150-mile race along the Great Allegheny Passage -- is back for its third year, despite a global crisis that forced organizers to completely rethink the event. One thing hasn't changed: the sustainability partnership between PEC and event host P3R that made the GAP Relay the greene...

The goal of the 2020 Pennsylvania Environmental Council Virtual Public Lands Ride is to showcase state parks and forests across the greater central region of the state. Throughout the month of September, cyclists are encouraged to ride as many of the suggested routes as possible and share their expe...

The past three and a half months have been strange for us all, and during that time, we’ve seen a record number of people turning to the outdoors as a reprieve from the stress, worry and boredom caused by the global pandemic. As group sporting events, bars and restaurants, vacations, and so ma...

This week the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is poised to vote on House Bill 2025 (P.N. 2926), which mandates that any proposed rulemaking by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to address carbon dioxide emissions be affirmatively approved by the General Assembly. The Pennsylvani...

The 2020 Pennsylvania Environmental Council Public Lands Ride seeks to showcase state parks and forests across the greater central region of the state. Throughout the month of September, cyclists are encouraged to ride as many of the suggested routes as possible and share their experiences on social...

"Every day is like a weekend day now," read one response to PEC's recent survey of Pennsylvania trail managers about outdoor recreation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dozens of respondents reported -- and counter data confirmed -- that statewide trail use had surged amid school cancellations, busines...

Through our partnership with the Philadelphia Water Department, PEC performs watershed education and outreach throughout Greater Philadelphia. The following post originally appeared in the Southwest CDC Globe Times on June 5, 2020. Have you ever wondered how litter impacts the quality of ...

The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has named Philadelphia's Tacony Creek Trail as its Trail of the Month for June 2020. Through our partnership with the Philadelphia Water Department, PEC played an instrumental role in creating both the trail and the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership. This...

As the Department of Environmental Protection gathers public comment on a proposed rulemaking to cut emissions of climate-changing methane from Pennsylvania's natural gas industry, new data from the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) paints a stark picture of what's at stake: current emissions up to f...

State College — Pennsylvanians took to trails and greenways in unprecedented numbers during March and April, according to an analysis of 67 non-motorized trail systems throughout Pennsylvania. Research commissioned by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) found that trail traffic spiked ...

In 2017, PEC convened a gathering of technical and policy experts from around the Commonwealth and across the U.S. to explore a complex problem: how can Pennsylvania, as the nation's largest net exporter of electricity, substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power generation in time to f...

If you are like me, you try to get outside as much as possible to enjoy trails near and far. If you are also like me, during the spreading pandemic and the ensuing closures and stay-at-home orders, you escaped to the outdoors for sanity and a sense of normalcy. I’m sure you also noticed (like ...

New Jersey Audubon’s World Series of Birding (WSB) is the country’s largest and most prestigious 24-hour birding competition—providing participants and financial contributors with a fun and interactive way to raise money for conservation projects. The 37th annual WSB took flight at 12:0...

We are sad to say that we have lost an important and respected member of the PEC family with the recent passing of Gary R. Brown, who served on PEC’s Board of Directors for over 20 years and chaired the Finance Committee. While Gary contributed greatly to our work and success during that time, his...

These days, environmental issues are politically charged in a way that can make sound, commonsense policy seem unattainable. But it wasn't always like that -- and it doesn't have to be. Tom Ridge, the Republican former governor of Pennsylvania, says he's an environmentalist because of -- not in s...

This post by PEC's Zhenya Nalywayko appeared in the TTF Watershed Partnership blog on May 18. Walking, hiking, and biking. Enhanced safety for children, and scenic routes to schools, libraries, and train stations. Vandalism, lack of privacy, money shortfalls, and traffic conflicts. These ...

PEC's motto, "conservation through cooperation," aptly describes any number of our programs and activities. But it's especially relevant to the collaborative work of legacy mine land restoration, which we've been proud to share with our government and nonprofit partners in the Appalachian Regional R...

Any way you slice it, coal-fired power generation is on its way out. That leaves two likely scenarios for Pennsylvania's electricity sector in the next decade: a modest reduction in greenhouse gas emissions with little economic impact, or a dramatic reduction coupled with massive investment in energ...

Pennsylvania’s scenic rivers are perfect places for paddling, fishing, exploring, hiking, biking, painting, birdwatching and... wait, what? Painting? Well, yes -- that too! In fact, landscape painting has more in common with watershed conservation than you might think. En plein air is a Fre...

At 96, Thomas Dolan is part of a very exclusive club: surviving founders of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. As we mark the 50th Earth Day this week, we continue our celebration of PEC's own semi-centennial with reflections from someone who was there when it all began. Links: PEC at 5...

Over the years PEC has worked with countless leaders, experts, and citizens to advance environmental goals across the state. In celebration of PEC's fiftieth anniversary, we asked a few of them to share their reflections on our shared work, how far Pennsylvania has come, and where we go from here. ...

With only a brief pause for a reshuffle of operating rules due to COVID-19, the General Assembly has been active. Unfortunately, not all for the good. While a number of Committee meetings and legislative votes have taken place as the legislature begins to piece together a state budget for the ...

Pennsylvania's trout season opened as scheduled earlier this week, but anglers must abide by the same social distancing rules that apply in any public place. PA Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Tim Schaefer discusses the agency's response to COVID-19. Links: Pennsylvania Trout...

In this time of social distancing, one of the best and safest ways to stay connected with nature is by getting to know the creatures in your own backyard -- especially the myriad bird species migrating to or through Pennsylvania this time of year. PEC's resident birder, Cindy Ferguson, explains why ...

Ride For PEC! 10th Anniversary 2020 Environment Ride Why Participate in the Ride? As a statewide non-profit, PEC is a leader in trail planning and development across the Commonwealth. The Environment Ride supports PEC’s trail work. Overview: On the Ride On Friday, October 2, riders will g...

The outdoors is providing a much needed respite from the very necessary homebound nature of our current world. But in addition to social distancing, we all need to be cognizant of the potential risks we can put ourselves and others into if we blindly pursue far flung recreational pursuits. So...

Working from home doesn't mean we stop learning! With multiple free webinars and virtual presentations planned in the next week, watershed professionals and volunteers can stay current and connected with colleagues. Here are a few upcoming events we're following: The DCNR Riparian Forest...

As investors grow wary of fossil fuels and big companies prioritize sustainability, where will Pennsylvania fit in the post-carbon economy? Analysis from Steven Clarke and Alli Gold-Roberts of Ceres, a nonprofit that advocates for clean energy in the business community. Links: Ceres W...

This post is the third in a series recounting the history of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council on the occasion of PEC's 50th anniversary. Read other stories here. The turn of a new century brought with it growing concern within the scientific community over the manmade impacts of carbon ...