Episode for March 7, 2025: Solar, hazardous waste and flying squirrels
The Allegheny Front
Sign up for ! Provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law made it easier for churches and schools to install solar panels. How will the Trump administration impact the growth of solar in Pennsylvania? A hazardous waste landfill in Westmoreland County has been a thorn in the side of nearby residents for decades. To fight plastic pollution in the Great Lakes, scientists are calling for a more unified effort in the region. Residents living within a mile of a U.S. Steel plant in Braddock, near Pittsburgh, have until March 17 to opt out of a class action settlement over alleged air pollution....
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Episode for February 28, 2025: Funding freeze, federal workers, and farmers
The Allegheny Front
How word of a federal funding freeze disrupted efforts to clean up a century’s worth of abandoned mine pollution in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced the state again has access to more than $2 billion of federal money that had been frozen by the Trump administration. While some federal funding to Pennsylvania has been restored, other monies, like aid for farmers, are still in limbo. The Trump administration's recent firings of staff at the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service have conservation organizations concerned. Faith leaders, environmental...
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Episode for February 21, 2025: Solar program in jeopardy
The Allegheny Front
Many people want to install solar panels on their homes to reduce costs and carbon pollution. Now a government program that makes solar more affordable is at risk. Environmental advocates applaud Governor Shapiro’s lawsuit against the Trump administration for freezing funds for infrastructure and climate programs. While it was very cold in much of the U.S., January was the hottest on Earth. An environmental education center in Northwestern Pennsylvania includes a distillery that makes alcohol from an unusual local product: sunflowers. Also, new research from Drexel University finds kids in...
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Episode for February 14, 2025: Trump executive orders, funding freeze and bird flu
The Allegheny Front
Pennsylvania has been expecting $171 million over 5 years to build electric vehicle charging stations across the state. However, the Trump administration has abruptly cut off the funds. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro filed a federal lawsuit to challenge the Trump Administration’s effort to freeze federal grants. The administration is also reassigning Department of Justice employees from environmental programs. Plus, bird flu is spreading to mammals. A new report finds since the construction of Shell's ethane cracker Beaver County’s economy and population continue to decline. Pittsburgh...
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Episode for February 7, 2025: Future of green energy projects
The Allegheny Front
Several clean energy projects are already underway across the county, including a hydrogen hub that's moving forward in western Pennsylvania. But will it survive President Trump’s campaign to undo Joe Biden’s climate legacy? At the second anniversary of the East Palestine train derailment, some residents were unimpressed with the parade of politicians who made an official visit. A new campaign hopes to bring more voices to the fight against air pollution. Also, in his budget address, Governor Josh Shapiro said he plans to lower energy costs for families. Owners of the Mountain Valley...
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Episode for January 31, 2024: Two years after the East Palestine disaster
The Allegheny Front
This week on The Allegheny Front, a special report. It's been two years since the the Norfolk Southern train derailed near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border. Researchers have been looking at how the toxic chemicals released in the disaster could impact people's health, and many who lived nearby still have health questions. A Western Pennsylvania Congressman is calling on leaders in Washington to pass rail safety legislation. Also, Gov. Josh Shapiro touts an agreement to prevent spike in electricity bills. Fifteen environmental justice communities in Allegheny County are now eligible to receive...
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Episode for January 24, 2025: Green manufacturing, jobs and President Trump
The Allegheny Front
Manufacturing is cleaner and more automated than when it peaked in the Pittsburgh area in the 1950s. Federal dollars and clean energy have revolutionized manufacturing, but what happens now that President Trump is back in office? Jobs in clean energy are expanding faster in Pennsylvania than the state’s overall economy, according to a new report. A climate journalist looks at the potential consequences of President Trump's first executive orders dealing with energy development. In its last days, the Biden Administration awarded Pennsylvania money to launch rebate programs for electric...
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Episode for January 17, 2025: Challenges of community solar
The Allegheny Front
As cities try to reduce emissions, getting more people to adopt solar energy is key. Community-owned solar projects could be a solution. Some operators want to extend the lives of coal plants because of increased energy demand. President-elect Trump has endorsed relaxing regulations that could help do this. Farmers are doing everything they can to prevent a bird flu outbreak in Pennsylvania. Plus, could climate polluters face criminal charges in Pennsylvania for causing or risking a catastrophe? Suicide prevention in rural areas is a focus at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, and how ice jams cause...
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Episode for January 10, 2025: How could the ownership of US Steel impact air quality?
The Allegheny Front
A well pad explosion in Ohio has caused some local communities to worry about the safety of oil and gas. What does the Farm Bill have to do with climate change? A bid to sell U.S. Steel to a Japanese company gets shot down by President Biden. What does it mean for air quality in the region? A new state program that aims to save schools money through solar energy is open for applications. States have begun rolling out new federally funded rebates to help households pay for energy efficiency upgrades and electric appliances. However, the programs are in limbo in Pennsylvania and surrounding...
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Episode for January 3, 2025: Favorite stories of 2024
The Allegheny Front
Happy New Year from everyone here at The Allegheny Front! Thank you to all who donated during our end-of-the-year campaign. While we didn’t quite meet our goal of $15,000, it’s never too late to donate. And when you do, you become a member of The Allegheny Front - you’ll get invites to chats with our reporters and members-only updates from our team. Best of all, you’ll be supporting independent journalism that's reporting on environmental issues impacting our communities across the region. We appreciate the support! Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square,...
info_outlineHappy New Year from everyone here at The Allegheny Front!
Thank you to all who donated during our end-of-the-year campaign. While we didn’t quite meet our goal of $15,000, it’s never too late to donate. And when you do, you become a member of The Allegheny Front - you’ll get invites to chats with our reporters and members-only updates from our team.
Best of all, you’ll be supporting independent journalism that's reporting on environmental issues impacting our communities across the region. We appreciate the support!
Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203.
This week's episode:
Our favorite stories from 2024. Potato chips are getting more expensive--is climate change part of the reason? A new book out this year looks at radioactivity in the oil and gas industry, and its impacts on workers. The largest coal-fired power plant in Pennsylvania closed. For some, it's been hard to accept. We'll revisit Homer City. And the effort to build a nearly 50-mile loop of trails in Rothrock State Forest in Centre and Huntingdon Counties got a boost from the state.