PennEnvironment

Pastor Dave Carver from @chup_craftonheightspc wanted to put solar on the church’s roof to help the church save money and live their values, but he thought the cost of the panels put that dream out of reach. Then, he discovered that the church could save 40% on the cost of going solar thanks to federal clean energy incentives for nonprofits like houses of worship. The congregation saw an opportunity to create a more sustainable future for the church, saving money while caring for the environment. Their solar array went online on the day of the solar eclipse in April 2024 and they’ve been experiencing benefits ever since. Today, the church saves over $500 per month on its electric bills thanks to their rooftop solar panels. They’re using those savings to reinvest in its preschool program and youth center to support families in Crafton Heights that rely on the church for childcare.

Meet PennEnvironment volunteers Dave Blair and Susan Quinn and Pastor Dave Carver. All three Pittsburgh-area residents used federal tax credits to purchase rooftop solar panels. Today, they’re all saving money on their electric bills, paying nearly nothing to power their homes and congregation. By going #solar, they’re investing not only in cleaner energy for themselves, but they’re also investing in a cleaner world for their grandchildren’s generation. #cleanenergy #pennsylvania

Happy Endangered Species Day! Just some of the species in Pennsylvania already benefitting - or proposed for - the Endangered Species Act. Link in bio for more on what PennEnvironment is doing to defend the Endangered Species Act and to take action! #EndangeredSpecies #EndangeredSpeciesDay #EndangeredSpeciesAct #ESA #BearsBelong #PipingPlover #Hellbender #Monarch #Butterflies #herps #birding #shorebirds

“The Endangered Species Act has always been strongest when decisions are guided by science, recovery, and the public interest – not politics or short-term pressure. Congress should be working to preserve that foundation, not weaken it.” Happy Endangered Species Day! Thanks to @repbrianfitz for standing up against attacks to the Endangered Species Act - check out the OpEd our Conservation Advocate Stephanie Wein coauthored with him in the@buckscountyherald #EndangeredSpeciesDay #HR1879 #ESA #Nature #Wildlife

We've had 10 years of better air in the Pittsburgh region thanks to @alleghenycountycleanairnow (ACCAN)'s advocacy to close Shenango Coke Works. ACCAN is celebrating at an event next week. Read a story about ACCAN's work by nwf.org @ link in bio #cleanairnow #10years #grassroots

Earlier today, we released the latest addition of our State of Renewable Energy Report. Unfortunately, we found that Pennsylvania ranks 47th in the Nation for growth of clean, renewable energy over the past decade. And we only get 5% of our electricity from renewable sources. "Pennsylvanians want and need a cleaner, healthier future, powered by abundant renewable resources,” said Belle Sherwood, Climate and Clean Energy advocate with PennEnvironment. “Clearly Pennsylvania isn’t doing enough to tap into the benefits of clean energy at the rate of most other states.” Thank you so much to @repdmadsen , @rep_fiedler , Will Hoover from McClure Company, @davescholnick from @solarstates and PennEnvironment member Ted Fallon for joining us to speak at today's events and for all you do for our planet! Check out the report at the link in our bio!

Today we released our new State of Renewable Energy Report that found that Pennsylvania ranks an abysmal 47th in the naton for growth of renewable energy in the last decade.

These volunteers are on the hunt... for pre-production plastic pellets. Trillions of these tiny pellets are spilled or dumped into our environment every year, where it's all too easy for fish, birds, and other wildlife to mistake them for food. Even volunteers as great as these couldn't possibly clean up every single pellet. That's why we need to hold polluters accountable -- and most importantly, stop producing so much plastic in the first place.

Today, our Executive Director David Masur testified at the PA State Senate Institutional Sustainability & Innovation Committee Hearing on SB 759: @senatordevlinrobinson 's bill to get lead out of school drinking water. "With our kids’ health at stake, Pennsylvania can - and should - be a leader on getting lead out of school drinking water, by enacting Senate Bill 759." Thank you Chairs @senatorfarry and @sentimkearney for hosting this hearing and inviting us to testify and thank you Sentor Robinson, @senatorjohnkane and @senatorarthaywood for your leadership on this important issue

PennEnvironment staff, volunteers, and partners joined citizen scientists from around the world for the International Plastic Pellet Count Day. From Erie and Pittsburgh to the banks of the Delaware, we found hundreds of these pesky pollutants. Plastic pellets are the building blocks of larger plastic items but all too often, they pollute our waterways and get lost in our environment in intolerable quantities, threatening wildlife and our health. Stay tuned for the full results of our pellet hunt and join us to tackle this waste across the state!

Kudos to @pasolarcenter on a lovely evening - Solar Soiree 2026! We celebrated impressive, creative new projects harnessing the sun! ☀️ @chathamu @chathamsustainability @eicpittsburgh

This week the Pennsylvania House Consumer Committee passed @repgregscott & @repmihalek ’s bill to ban toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” in baby products, menstrual products, cosmetics & dental floss UNANIMOUSLY! Thanks to Chair @repburgos & Chair Walker Metzgar and all the members of the committee for supporting this important measure. As our Advocate Stephanie Wein said, “when changing a diaper or flossing their teeth, Pennsylvanians shouldn’t have to worry if the products they’ve brought home to care for themselves and their families are putting their health at risk. House Bill 2145 would be a powerful first step in protecting Pennsylvanians from toxic PFAS. PennEnvironment is glad to see the bipartisan support for phasing out these ‘forever chemicals’ out of these products and urge our leaders in Harrisburg to pass this legislation as quickly as possible.” Thanks for your support @repsteele , @repborowski , @reppgallagher , @repstevemalagari , repbenham , @morgan_cephas , Rep. Jim Haddock, @rephohenstein , @repmaryisaacson , @repkylemullins , @repbrianmunroe , @repnapoleonnelson , @reppielli , @reptomlinson , @repjoehogan , @repryncavage , @repcraigwilliams , @repjoshkail , Rep. Rob Kauffman, @repkozak , @repkutz , Rep. Abby Major, repmehaffie , @pahousedems , & @pahousegop #ForeverChemicals #Wellness #baby #momlife #parenting