Did you hear? The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced it has secured a $1.96 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop Pennsylvania-specific outreach and education materials to help communities build out clean, renewable energy projects.   The Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning program (R-STEP) will help communities plan renewable energy projects that can lower utility costs and fight climate change. The R-STEP program aims to increase renewable energy development with more community buy-in and science-based siting for proposed projects. As the grant recipient, DEP along with a project team from the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS), Penn State Extension Energy Team, and Penn State Center for Energy Law and Policy will develop materials that help guide local governments — covering topics like state and federal permitting, community engagement, and local zoning. Since 2021, DEP has collaborated with the Pennsylvania R-STEP team, investing $270,000 from the State Energy Program (SEP) to provide training and technical assistance to local government officials on planning, siting, and permitting large-scale renewable energy projects.  DEP has conducted 26 listening sessions, reaching over 650 officials across all regions of the Commonwealth. These county-level sessions have offered local government practitioners to the opportunity to ask questions about the development of large-scale solar projects and understand the necessary steps to ensure responsible and sustainable implementation. Topics covered in these sessions include: land use and zoning ordinances site engineering and development and decommissioning requirements This initiative also led to the development of the Municipal Officials’ Guide to Grid-Scale Solar Development in Pennsylvania . With the R-STEP award, DEP will be able to expand this effort to reach more Pennsylvania communities and residents.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $117 million for three separate funding opportunities to advance recycling infrastructure and boost food waste prevention education across the country. Two of the notices are for Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grants – one funding opportunity for Tribes and intertribal consortia and another for communities (such as cities, counties, and parishes) across the country. The third notice is for EPA's Recycling Education and Outreach grant program and is focused on food waste prevention and composting. Some communities that lack waste management infrastructure do not have curbside waste collection services, recycling, or composting programs, which increases the strain on local waste management systems and increases greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, mismanaged waste contributes to health and economic issues in historically underserved and overburdened communities. Increasing recycling reduces climate, environmental, and social impacts of materials use and keeps valuable resources in use instead of in landfills. Preventing wasted food from ending up in landfills plays an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The grant opportunities announced today will improve waste management systems and consumer education and outreach on waste prevention and recycling, meeting Congress' goal to create a stronger, more resilient, and cost-effective U.S. recycling system. These funding opportunities also put the concrete steps identified in the " National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics " into action. The projects that EPA will fund under the Recycling Education and Outreach grant selection—including a national education and outreach campaign—will lead to more recycling through composting, less wasted food from households, better markets for selling compost, and less contamination in the compost stream. Projects funded through the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grants will improve post-consumer materials management and infrastructure. In addition, the grants support EPA's "National Recycling Strategy " goal of building an economy devoted to keeping materials, products, and services in circulation for as long as possible – what's known as a circular economy. EPA anticipates releasing its final " National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution " in the coming months. All are part of EPA's series on creating a circular economy for all. Both the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling and Recycling Education and Outreach grant programs advance President Biden's historic Justice40 Initiative , which aims to deliver at least 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy, affordable and sustainable housing, clean water, and other investments to communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. "We know that food waste is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions like methane," GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. "We hope both the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County will consider applying for this funding as another way to help improve our air quality." Wanna learn more? Here are some helpful links: Read more about eligible applicants and activities for this funding opportunity for recycling education and outreach . For information about the current recycling grant program recipients, visit the recycling grant recipient webpage. For more information on preventing wasted food, visit the Sustainable Management of Food webpage . Learn more about EPA's circular economy work .

Some good news to share today: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the latest round of funding from the Clean School Bus Rebate Program with up to $965 million available to school districts. This fourth round of funding will build on the previous nearly $3 billion in investments being distributed nationwide to further improve air quality in and around schools, reduce greenhouse gas pollution fueling the climate crisis, and help accelerate America's leadership in developing the clean vehicles of the future.   Under the Clean School Bus Program's multiple grant and rebate funding opportunities to date, EPA has awarded almost $3 billion to fund approximately 8,700 school bus replacements, about 95% of which are zero-emission, battery-electric.   About the 2024 Clean School Bus Rebate Competition   Here are some need-to-know details for those who want to apply: Applications for this year's Clean School Bus Rebate Program are due on the EPA online portal by 4 p.m. Jan 9. Applicants can request up to $325,000 per bus for up to 50 buses per application, an increase in the total buses per project in response to stakeholder feedback for larger projects to help achieve faster fleet turnover. Funds can be used to cover bus and infrastructure costs for awardees requesting electric school buses, as well as eligible training costs for bus drivers, electricians, and others working with the new buses or infrastructure.   But that's not all: Selectees may also be eligible for Inflation Reduction Act tax credits applicable to their bus and infrastructure purchases. For example, the clean vehicle tax credits for qualifying school buses are worth up to $40,000. Narrowing the cost difference between clean school buses and diesel school buses remains an integral goal of the EPA Clean School Bus Program. The agency adjusted electric school bus funding levels in this rebate program to help stretch funding further and drive down long-term electric school bus costs.    EPA is committed to ensuring the Clean School Bus Program advances environmental justice and delivers on President Biden's Justice40 Initiative , which sets a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. EPA will prioritize applications that replace buses serving low-income, rural, and Tribal students. Large school districts with communities of concentrated poverty may also submit documentation to be prioritized if their application focuses on clean school buses serving those communities. GASP has stood with advocates and public officials to celebrate and push for these types of historic investments, and we laud the EPA for its commitment to cleaner, greener school buses   "Diesel pollution is linked to asthma and myriad other public health problems and reductions in those emissions can make a real difference to the kids who have to breathe them - less emergency inhaler use; less missed school days because of asthma and other respiratory issues," GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. "This is an amazing opportunity that we hope local districts will seize - especially schools in environmental justice communities like the Mon Valley, where significant air quality challenges already exist."   To learn more about the EPA Clean School Bus Program, visit the Clean School Bus Program webpage . Questions and feedback may be directed to CleanSchoolBus@epa.gov .

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and AmeriCorps this week announced the Environmental Justice Climate Corps , a new partnership launched to open doors for people to serve in careers that benefit disadvantaged and other low-income communities. This partnership will support more than 250 AmeriCorps VISTA members nationwide over three years , with each new participating member completing a one-year term of service. This historic initiative is the largest environmental partnership in AmeriCorps' history and EPA's first nationwide service effort. Environmental Justice Climate Corps members will be paid a living allowance and reimbursed for selected living expenses. In total, this allowance is equivalent to receiving more than $25 per hour throughout their year of service. Members will obtain the benefits of AmeriCorps VISTA service—including the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, which is valued at $7,395 in FY24, and streamlined pathways into certain federal jobs—as well as gain mentorship and professional development opportunities. This program aims to recruit participants from communities disproportionately impacted by environmental justice challenges and seeks to recruit individuals with an interest in environmental justice careers. The Environmental Justice Climate Corps is part of the American Climate Corps—a workforce training and service initiative that will ensure more young people have access to the skills-based training necessary for good-paying careers in the clean energy and climate resilience economy. The American Climate Corps will mobilize a new, diverse generation of more than 20,000 Americans in the initiative's first year, putting them to work conserving and restoring our lands and waters, bolstering community resilience, deploying clean energy, implementing energy efficient technologies, and advancing environmental justice—all while creating pathways to high-quality, good-paying clean energy and climate resilience jobs in the public and private sectors after they complete their paid training program. Applications for the Environmental Justice Climate Corps will open in early 2025, with a goal for its first cohort to start later that year. To sign up for updates on the program, visit EPA's website .

Hey parents, grandparents, teachers and caregivers, did you hear? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing a new tool called the " Kids and Climate Health Zone ." This Zone is a collection of stories and information about how the hazards of climate stressors are impacting different childhood life stages and regions in the United States and what people can do to protect their children and families. The tool uses the best available scientific information from the U.S. Global Change Research Program's  Fifth National Climate Assessment and other published resources.  "Climate change is the challenge of our generation, and we owe it to the next generation – our nation's children – to take action now in the fight to protect our health and our planet," said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. "Raising awareness of the impacts of climate and environmental stressors on children and highlighting actions that we can all implement to mitigate the effects are critical for the protection of children's health." Children are uniquely vulnerable to climate change due to a variety of physical, cognitive, behavioral and social factors. Climate change-related impacts in childhood can have lifelong consequences due to its effects on learning, physical health, chronic disease and other conditions. Changing climate conditions, public health emergencies, and disasters can compound and affect children's environmental health and safety.   It's important for kids, their parents and caregivers and the adults around them to be aware of these consequential impacts and get ideas on how to mitigate them before children's environmental health gets negatively impacted.  Check out the Zone to find information on how climate change can affect different climate stressors and life stages, and read stories about:  A toddler who is struggling with stress after his home is flooded and the steps that can be taken to mitigate the risks associated with flooding.  A teenager who is dealing with extreme heat during practice and what the teenager can do to stay healthy.  A pregnant woman who is exposed to wildfire smoke in her area and what resources she can use to keep herself and her baby safe.  View all these stories and more at the Kids and Climate Zone .

GASP, residents, and fellow advocates spoke out at a public hearing last week to provide input on the formulation of an Allegheny County Climate Action Plan. If you missed it, we highly recommend this write up from our friends at Public Source.  Our Executive Director Patrick Campbell was among those who testified at the hearing. Here’s what he said: Good evening, I’m Patrick Campbell, the executive director of the Group Against Smog & Pollution located here in Pittsburgh since 1969. Allegheny County urgently needs to adopt a Climate Action Plan to safeguard public health, economic stability, and environmental resilience.  As the impacts of climate change intensify, our region is increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events like flooding, landslides, heatwaves, and poor air quality —issues that already strain our infrastructure and affect the health and well-being of our residents, particularly vulnerable populations like children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions.  A comprehensive Climate Action Plan would provide a roadmap to mitigate these risks while positioning the county for long-term sustainability. Adopting such a plan is not only about reducing emissions but also about fostering economic growth and resilience. Investments in clean energy, energy efficiency, and green infrastructure create jobs, attract businesses, and reduce long-term operational costs.  By engaging with the community and supporting local innovation in renewable energy and sustainable practices, Allegheny County can become a leader in the green economy, benefiting both urban and rural communities. Additionally, a Plan will ensure that public funds are used more efficiently by prioritizing sustainability in public works and transportation projects, reducing energy consumption, and promoting climate-smart building codes. Public health will also benefit significantly from the adoption of this plan. Climate change exacerbates air pollution, particularly in Allegheny County, which already  struggles with some of the worst air quality in the nation. An effective Climate Action Plan would target reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and co-pollutants,  improving air quality and reducing the incidence of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. A Climate Action Plan is an environmental necessity and a critical strategy for enhancing public health, economic growth, and social equity. Allegheny County must take proactive steps now to build a future that is sustainable, healthy, and prosperous for all residents.  Thank you.  While the hearing may be over, the public comment period is not. Those wishing to weigh in have until Wednesday to do so. Here’s what you need to know to do just that.

Good news! It’s not too late to apply for Allegheny County Clean Air Fund project money. But beware: The deadline to get your paperwork in is this Friday, Sept. 27. Don’t miss out - there’s $5 million available for initiatives like fleet electrification, tree canopy expansion, equipment electrification, and climate resiliency projects. “This is a great opportunity for municipalities, Councils of Governments, and community organizations to reduce pollution and build climate resilience. Don’t miss out on this chance to contribute to a cleaner, greener Allegheny County,” Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato posted to LinkedIn. GASP concurs. Here’s what you need to know to apply.

Good news for those working to be as sustainable as possible! The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a proposed update to the agency's Recommendations of Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing (Recommendations), which help federal government purchasers and others utilize private sector standards and ecolabels to buy products that are more sustainable and climate-friendly and contain safer chemical ingredients. This is the first time in nearly 10 years that EPA has comprehensively evaluated standards and ecolabels to determine whether to add them to the Recommendations. The Recommendations help to identify thousands of products and services across 35 categories that conserve energy or water, include more recycled content, or reduce the use of PFAS and single-use plastics. By helping federal purchasers identify and procure environmentally preferable products and services, the Recommendations can save taxpayers money, reduce climate impacts, and prevent pollution. The update proposes adding 14 standards and ecolabels to the Recommendations across three new product categories, covering healthcare, laboratories, and clothing and uniforms, and expanding the existing food service ware sub-category. If finalized, the updates to the Recommendations would give federal purchasers and other buyers new guidance and options for purchasing sustainable products and services in four categories, which EPA proposes to divide into nine sub-categories, including by expanding the existing sub-category for food service ware. The Recommendations currently include only one recommended ecolabel in the food service ware sub-category, which covers compostable products. If finalized, the updated Recommendations would include three additional standards and ecolabels for food service ware, covering products that are reusable, certified compostable, and certified recyclable. EPA is also providing a new resource that outlines current best practices for the procurement of food service ware sub-categories, which is available on EPA's website. EPA assessed the environmental sustainability of the third-party standards and ecolabels under the Framework for the Assessment of Environmental Performance Standards and Ecolabels , and also assessed for a third-party certification program to verify product conformance. In April 2022 , EPA announced stronger eligibility criteria for including standards and ecolabels in the Recommendations, which require each standard and ecolabel to have a competent third-party verification program and a current directory of qualifying products and services. EPA is proposing to remove seven standards or ecolabels because they do not meet these new requirements, are discontinued, or are no longer required by regulation. EPA will accept public comments on the proposed updates to the Recommendations for 30 days after publication via docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2022-0835 at Regulations.gov . EPA will use feedback it receives from public comments to inform the final updates to the Recommendations.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week announced the launch of a new website, the Climate Resilience and Adaptation Funding Toolbox . Known as CRAFT for short, it is a user-friendly resource for technical assistance providers working with federal funding applicants and recipients to develop, apply for and implement climate-resilient investments. The website provides simple, easy-to-understand resources that can help users consider climate adaptation and resilience before, during and after applying for EPA funding opportunities. EPA is taking important steps to help its programs and funding applicants invest in projects that can withstand the impacts of climate change. CRAFT is a resource for technical assistance providers helping to guide investments of federal funding – including the historic funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act – to local solutions, while also supporting investments that deliver results in the face of climate change. The information in CRAFT can help federal funding applicants and recipients consider climate-related challenges to their projects at the outset, so taxpayer dollars can be invested wisely. CRAFT also supports the development of projects that advance multiple policy goals, such as achieving local flood resilience, adopting nature-based infrastructure solutions, and protecting the people and places most vulnerable to climate change. With CRAFT, interested parties can more easily navigate EPA's funding opportunities, consider climate resilience and adaptation as part of their investments, and meaningfully engage community members and other partners over the life of their projects.

Editor's Note: An Allegheny County Health Department hearing officer on Sept. 4 issued an order to dismiss U.S. Steel's appeal. You can read that document here. U.S. Steel has appealed the Nov. 21 Title V Operating Permit issued by the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD), alleging it imposes numerous unlawful enforceable conditions and that regulators exceeded their authority when creating myriad emissions limits at the plant. The appeal was filed Dec. 21 but just uploaded to the ACHD legal docket Thursday afternoon. GASP staff is reviewing the appeal, which you can read for yourself here . “Why ACHD waited more than a month to make the appeal public is beyond us,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “It’s another example of how transparency is an afterthought for the department.“ This is the second legal challenge mounted by the company in recent weeks related to air quality regulation at the Clairton Coke Works. U.S. Steel on Jan. 17 filed a petition regarding ACHD's air quality enforcement procedures that led to a portion of the stipulated penalties it was assessed last year. GASP is currently reviewing the order and has submitted a public records request to ACHD seeking voluminous documents, videos, and photographs referenced in the order that were not published with the appeal document itself.