The Senate returns to Harrisburg this afternoon (8.12.25) for its first scheduled voting day since July 17.

Without any formal rulemaking or independent oversight, PA DEP intends to implement new emissions equipment and monitoring standards only on the oil and gas industry that will turn Pennsylvania from an energy leader to an energy nightmare.

The solar industry in the U.S. and in Pennsylvania was shining bright, with rapid growth and new domestic manufacturing to meet the industry’s needs. That abruptly changed in early July, when the Republican-controlled Congress passed President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, ending tax credits for residential and commercial solar projects years before schedule, and putting billions of dollars in manufacturing investments in doubt.

The old Bruce Mansfield coal-fired power plant in Shippingport, Beaver County, will be transformed into a natural gas power plant that will employ more than 300 people, thanks to a $3.2 billion investment announced at the Inaugural Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit at Carnegie Mellon University.

Big news for PA’s economy and energy future — a massive $7.5 billion investment is set to boost energy infrastructure, create thousands of jobs, and support cleaner, more reliable power across the state.

Pennsylvania helped power America’s past and now, we’re leading the charge into its energy future. For decades, we’ve fueled everything from steel production to high-tech manufacturing. And with the revival of nuclear energy in the Commonwealth, we’re not just keeping the lights on, we’re turning on the afterburners.

On May 31, 2025, PA DEP released its 193-page draft plan to implement the EPA’s OOOOc methane regulations. With a fast-track timeline toward finalization by March 9, 2026, this proposal will significantly impact oil and gas operations across Pennsylvania.

On May 31, 2025, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released its long-awaited draft plan for implementing the federal EPA’s Quad OOOOc methane regulations. The 193-page proposal sets a rapid timeline toward finalization—potentially by March 9, 2026—and will significantly impact oil and gas operations across the Commonwealth.

In early June, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced a broad initiative to review and potentially revise its policies, procedures, and pipeline safety regulations (PSRs). In advance of the potential new rulemaking, PHMSA is seeking public comment on whether current rules, regulations, procedures, or guidance documents impose unnecessary burdens on domestic energy.

Rep. Greg Vitali’s May 23 attack in the Post-Gazette on Pennsylvania’s oil and gas industry misleads readers with outdated stereotypes and ignores the industry’s vital role in our state’s economy. His call for heavy-handed regulations threatens jobs, energy reliability, and Pennsylvania’s chance to lead in the booming artificial intelligence (AI) sector. Let’s set the record straight.