Community action stops a proposed polluter in its tracks.

Activists Sandy Field and Andrew Stuhl join On Air to discuss their victory in shutting down the proposed Encina chemical recycling facility in Point Township, PA. The now-dead plastic chemical recycling plant faced immediate community opposition when it was announced in 2022. The proposed facility—which would have been the largest of its kind in the United States—intended to use extreme heat and refining processes to convert plastic into toxic benzene, toluene, and xylene to be shipped by rail throughout the state, raising major air quality and safety concerns. The process would have used 2.9 million gallons of water a day from the Susquehanna River, threatening to pollute a vital source of drinking water with microplastics and PFAS. Their organizing efforts are a playbook for other communities facing similar proposed polluters. 

Learn more about the victory at saveoursusquehanna.org. 

Learn more about Clean Air Council at Cleanair.org.

Tune in wherever you listen to podcasts or listen to all past episodes at cleanair.org/on-air

Earlier this month, Clean Air Council lost an important member of our family. Our longtime volunteer Norm Feldman passed away on September 3, 2024 at the age of 101. 

Norm volunteered at the Council from 1984 to early 2020. In those 36 years he became our resident indoor air quality expert. Norm truly was a frontline representative of the Council, spending hours talking to distressed members of the public asking about mold, radon, fumes, and other localized pollution they were dealing with in their homes. 

Being a volunteer for so long, Norm truly became a member of the Council staff. He would attend staff meetings, sign birthday or going away cards, and make lasting impressions on his young colleagues, many times being right out of college. Lasting impressions were made on him as well, with senior staff members recalling how he would often ask how so-and-so past colleague was doing. 

In 2017, we honored Norm with our first ever “Volunteer of the Year” award at our 50th Anniversary celebration. His years of service continue to be an inspiration for our staff and a great example of what you can achieve even after you retire.

Norm’s dedication to the Council and passion for the environment will be remembered.  We’re all saddened by his passing, but are grateful for all his wisdom and work to ensure everyone could breathe clean air in their homes. 

Please keep his family in your thoughts.

Norm Feldman’s obituary can be found here

What you might not know about plastics, their waste, and our environment.

The theme of Earth Day 2024 is “Planet vs. Plastic.” For this theme, we sat down with award-winning producer of the Story of Plastics, Stiv Wilson. Stiv shares his eye-opening experience of creating the documentary and the global impact of both the oil and gas industry and the petrochemical industry and how they are banking on us to keep using single use plastics. Learn about what we must do to stop our dependency on plastics and protect our environment. Stiv also shares a sneak peek into his new documentary, “Goliath is Shaking.” Tune in to learn more. 

Learn more about Stiv Wilson’s work at https://peakplasticfoundation.org.

Learn more about Clean Air Council at Cleanair.org.

Tune in wherever you listen to podcasts or listen to all past episodes at cleanair.org/on-air

Recently, we sat down with Alex Bomstein, the Council’s new Executive Director, to learn what makes him tick as well as his ideas for Clean Air Council’s future. Alex candidly answers questions about his work at the Council, being a life-long environmentalist and devout vegan, and a dog/cat dad. Tune in and get to know Alex. 
Learn more about Clean Air Council at Cleanair.org.

Tune in wherever you listen to podcasts or listen to all past episodes at cleanair.org/on-air

This installment of “On Air with Clean Air Council” is the conclusion of our two-part episode looking into the aftermath of Norfolk Southern’s train derailment in East Palestine, OH. This two-part episode features Clean Air Council’s Andrew Woomer, as well as residents and activists Hilary Flint and Jess Conard. 

In this second episode we discuss the support received by residents living in and around the East Palestine crash site and hear some of the lasting effects almost a year later.

If you missed the first episode of this series, you can listen to it here.

Learn more about Clean Air Council here, Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community here, Unity Council for the East Palestine Train Derailment here, and Beyond Plastics here

Tune in wherever you listen to podcasts or listen to all past episodes at cleanair.org/on-air

The ninth installment of “On Air with Clean Air Council” breaks down the events surrounding Norfolk Southern’s train derailment in East Palestine. This two-part episode features Clean Air Council’s Andrew Woomer, as well as residents and activists Hilary Flint and Jess Conard. 

In this first episode we discuss what happened the night of the derailment and the immediate response from Norfolk Southern and the EPA. We hear HIlary and Jess’s accounts from the communities in and around the crash site, as well as Andrew’s experience on the ground providing direct relief to those affected. 

Stay tuned for the second episode in this series about the train derailment in East Palestine coming in 2 weeks on December 14th. 

Guests:

Learn more about Clean Air Council here, Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community here, Unity Council for the East Palestine Train Derailment here, and Beyond Plastics here

Tune in wherever you listen to podcasts or listen to all past episodes at cleanair.org/on-air

A new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change calls for drastic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to avoid catastrophic climate change for current and future generations. Sea level rise, more dangerous storms, major flooding, and extreme heat all threaten the lives of millions of people, especially in cities like Philadelphia. All levels of government need to work to lower emissions now, especially methane, a highly potent greenhouse gas and the main component of “natural” (fossil) gas. Methane leaks at every step of the gas supply chain – from extraction to processing to transportation and storage. Once it’s in the atmosphere, methane traps heat up to 86 times more efficiently than carbon dioxide over the first 20 years. Once you burn methane, carbon dioxide and other hazardous pollutants are released into the air.

Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) is owned by the City of Philadelphia, and the city can’t reach its climate goals without ending PGW’s use of fossil gas. Every time a new building is fitted with gas hook-ups or new gas heaters, Philadelphia’s climate goals become less attainable, and the city is locked into decades more fossil gas dependence. The future is in renewable energy, and PGW must evolve into a sustainable energy utility that no longer uses fossil gas.

The Council needs your help today to ramp up a new campaign to convince Philadelphia and PGW to prepare for the future and get off fossil fuels to avoid the worst effects of the climate crisis.

PGW must develop into an entity that offers a variety of renewable energy and energy-saving technologies related to home heating, water heating, and electricity generation, and it needs to start now. We need your help today to make sure Philadelphia and PGW invest in the future with a real plan to get off fossil fuels now.

Donate Now!

What Is the Council Asking Philadelphia and PGW To Do to Meet the City’s Climate Goals?

No More New Industrial Gas Infrastructure
PGW must immediately end any plans to expand industrial gas-related facilities in Philadelphia, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants designed to chill and store gas ultimately for export to the highest bidder on overseas markets.

Ban Gas Hook-Ups In New Commercial Buildings
Constructing new buildings that rely on electricity instead of fossil gas needs to be the standard to avoid locking the city into reliance on fossil gas for decades. Electrification of previously fossil fuel appliances is the simplest, cleanest, and cheapest way to cut pollution from our buildings.

Halt Plans to Switch to New Gas Equipment (heaters) in Existing Buildings
Philadelphia will never meet its climate goals if existing commercial customers switch to heaters that run on fossil gas. Amtrak and Independence National Park should halt plans to install new gas boilers and instead choose a non-fossil fuel heating source. 

Make a Plan to Transition PGW To All Renewable Energy 
Right now, PGW and the City need to develop a real plan with pathways and a timeline for getting off fossil gas, including exploring how PGW could become a utility that offers a variety of renewable energy, such as geothermal, or energy-saving technologies related to heating, water heating, and even electricity generation.

Get PGW Completely Off Fossil Fuels By 2035
PGW must get off fossil fuels completely by 2035 to mitigate its long-term effect on the climate crisis.

Ending PGW’s reliance on the oil and gas industry is critical and Philadelphia residents can’t afford to wait for PGW to do it on its own. Your support means the Council can ramp up a new campaign to apply pressure and make sure the City and PGW make smart choices about Philadelphia’s future.

The Council can’t wait for funders to prioritize this issue and needs your help to fund this new campaign, so our staff can start working today.

Donate Now!

In the eighth installment of “On Air with Clean Air Council,” we follow the story of an apartment building creating a healthier environment for its residents. Thomas Wynne Apartments President Cathy Lockyer Moulton and Leasing Manager Kathryn Willcox give us insights into their journey transitioning to a smoke free apartment building. Find out what challenges and benefits they faced in this process and learn some tips if you want your apartment building to be smoke free.

Learn more about Clean Air Council at Cleanair.org and about the Smokefree program here.

Tune in wherever you listen to podcasts or listen to all past episodes at cleanair.org/on-air

In the seventh installment of “On Air with Clean Air Council,” we learn how infrastructure can make a street more or less safe for pedestrians and other road users. Titania Markland, Clean Air Council Transportation Outreach Coordinator and Feet First Philly representative, talks about Feet first Philly, pedestrian advocacy, and an amazing mini-grant program that puts money in the hands of community members to create public space enhancements and safety improvements where they are needed the most.

Learn more about Clean Air Council at Cleanair.org and about Feet First Philly at feetfirstphilly.org.

The blog post about the Mini-Grant program can be found at feetfirstphilly.org/apply-for-our-public-space-enhancement-mini-grant/

Download the full request for proposals and application at feetfirstphilly438515253.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/rfp-feet-first-philly-public-space-enhancement-mini-grant-2022-2023.docx

Submit your application using Feet First Philly’s Google form at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf9ZkWpz79ixMySzdsf12NsQlOToRF3Rn6M0wh_PrdQ37ZkgA/viewform 

Donate to the mini-grant program at cleanaircouncil.salsalabs.org/support-public-space-enhancement-feet-first-philly/index.html

Tune in wherever you listen to podcasts or listen to all past episodes at cleanair.org/on-air

In the sixth installment of “On Air with Clean Air Council,” we travel to Renovo, PA,  to talk with residents opposing a proposed power plant right in town. Renovo, PA is a designated environmental justice community and small idyllic town in North Central PA, where Virginia-based multinational engineering corporation, Bechtel Corporation, is proposing to develop the Renovo Energy Center gas-fired power plant. This power plant is being planned to be less than 30 feet from homes and businesses, just north of Erie Avenue in Renovo, PA. The plant would be the fourth largest industrial polluter of greenhouse gases in Pennsylvania and would emit more greenhouse gases than the City of Pittsburgh. Learn from residents Sue Cannon, Maureen Rhul, and Michelle Whitney why this gas fired power plant is unwanted, unnecessary, and will provide no benefits to residents – only burdens. 

Learn more about Clean Air Council at Cleanair.org and about Renovo Residents for a Healthy Environment at healthyrenovo.org. 

Tune in wherever you listen to podcasts or listen to all past episodes at cleanair.org/on-air

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