Pennsylvania’s climate action plan: Public comment meetings to collect feedback from residents

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — State environmental officials last week announced a series of public meetings to gather input from residents about how the commonwealth should use federal funding aimed at addressing climate change.

“Pennsylvanians deserve to have a say in decisions that impact their health and their environment — that’s why [the state Department of Environmental Protection] is providing residents this opportunity to weigh in on this critical funding to tackle climate change,” said Jessica Shirley, the DEP’s interim acting secretary, in a Friday news release. “Industrial activity is one of the highest contributors to greenhouse gas pollution of any sector in Pennsylvania, and it is extremely difficult to reduce.

“These resources will help our communities reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants, and DEP will gather feedback from all corners of the commonwealth in order to help put this funding to work in the most effective way possible.”

The DEP’s Energy Programs Office will host five public engagement sessions in December, four in-person and one virtual, as officials work to create a priority climate action plan to address the negative effects of climate change. The state has received $3 million in federal grants to create both a priority climate action plan and a comprehensive climate action plan. Officials said both plans will provide resources to help industries reduce air pollutants and emissions.

“As a part of our engagement process, DEP plans to host meetings in communities around the state to convene with residents, learn about their needs and climate concerns, and incorporate their priorities into its PCAP so that communities can access climate action funding in later phases of CPRG,” according to a post on the agency’s Facebook page. “Join us for our upcoming meetings.”

Officials said the program aims to achieve three objectives: tackle damaging climate pollution while supporting the creation of good jobs and lowering energy costs for families; accelerate work to address environmental injustice and empower community-driven solutions in overburdened neighborhoods; and deliver cleaner air by reducing harmful air pollution in places where people live, work, play and go to school.

Scheduled meetings include:

• Monday, Dec. 4, in Clairton, Allegheny County,
• Wednesday, Dec. 6, in Williamsport, Lycoming County
• Thursday, Dec. 7, in Hazleton, Luzerne County
• Tuesday, Dec. 12, in Wysox, Bradford County
• Thursday, Dec. 14, virtual session

There are no in-person meetings slated for the Valley, even though the region is the third largest metropolitan area in the state.
Registration is available on the DEP’s website for both in-person and the virtual session. Those who cannot attend a session can submit feedback through the state’s climate strategy opinion survey platform.

The funding comes from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program.

“The EPA provides grants to states, local governments, tribes and territories to develop climate action plans, as well as implement projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants,” officials said.

The DEP on Thursday hosted a public comment meeting in Allentown on the state’s interim final environmental justice policy. Although the series of feedback meetings was announced in September, there were originally none scheduled for the Valley. The meeting in Allentown was added in late October.