Look closely at environmental votes
May 12, 2008   An April 28 editorial about campaign litter stated, ''Republicans and  Democrats, liberals and conservatives alike, are all environmentalists  these days.'' Would that it were so, but it isn't. Since 1994, there has  been a clear and deepening political divide on environmental issues. The...  - MORNING CALL

Ready? Electric bills going up, just a question of how much
May 12, 2008   HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Household finances tight? Then sit down...  - AP

State says local dams at risk
May 12, 2008   High-risk dams  Among the dams in Beaver and Butler counties that have been declared  high-hazard:  GROUP CAMP DAM  l Location: Hanover Township.  l History: The earthen dam, also known as the Traverse Creek Dam, was built  in 1938 on Traverse Creek.  l Effect: If the dam were to fail, parts of Hanover Township, including...  - BC TIMES

Pennsylvania can do more for clean air
May 12, 2008   Earning a "C" for ozone pollution isn't good enough for Erie County  residents. Even though this is the first time the American Lung Association  gave the county a grade higher than "F" for smog, the health ramifications  from poor air quality demand more attention from Pennsylvania and Gov. Ed...  - ERIE TIMES

Senate run in Matthews’ on-deck circle?
May 12, 2008   HARRISBURG — A year ago, a state official laid out a vision of farming  “biomass plantations” on abandoned coal lands as a way to wean  Pennsylvania off oil dependence.  The state should encourage the planting of switch grass, a native grass  that produces high yields, and poplar and willow trees on its thousands of...  - SCRANTON TIMES

Remodelers to Face 'White-Glove' Test on Lead
May 12, 2008   Remodeling contractors will have to pass a "white-glove" test under a new  U.S. rule to prove their work doesn't stir up dangerous dust and debris  from lead paint.  The Environmental Protection Agency mandate, which takes effect in 2010,  covers some 38 million homes and child-care facilities built before 1978,...  - WASH POST

State getting Wal-Mart's help in cutting its energy costs
May 11, 2008   HARRISBURG -- Pennsylvania is one of 19 states that will work with energy  engineers from Wal-Mart to find ways to trim the heating, cooling and  electricity costs at two state office buildings in Harrisburg and another  in Reading.  The deal was arranged by the National Governors Association, which wants to...  - POST-GAZ.

Student project targets Loyalhanna tributary
May 11, 2008   A virtually dead zone in an otherwise fishable creek will benefit from a  restoration project that was conceived, designed, permitted, coordinated  and funded by students at Greater Latrobe Junior-Senior High School.  Nine Mile Run, which flows into Loyalhanna Creek near St. Vincent College...  - POST-GAZ.

Butler-Freeport Community Trail gets 5.4-acre donation
May 11, 2008   John and Carolyn Shuster have fond memories of their young sons exploring  the ravine carved by Buffalo Creek near their home in Butler County.  That land along the stream was part of a farm that had belonged to Mrs.  Shuster's family since 1914. The couple recently donated more than five...  - POST-GAZ.

Veto fat-laden farm bill and start over
May 11, 2008   Short-sighted legislation  This little piggy went to market.  This little piggy stayed home.  This little piggy shelled out a troughful of tax dollars for ethanol, race  horses and welfare for corporate farmers.  This little piggy had nothing left.  All the little piggies squealed "veto, veto, veto the farm bill, before we...  - EASTON EXPRESS

State of oil independence
May 11, 2008   HARRISBURG — A year ago, a state official laid out a vision of farming  “biomass plantations” on abandoned coal lands as a way to wean  Pennsylvania off oil dependence.  The state should encourage the planting of switch grass, a native grass  that produces high yields, and poplar and willow trees on its thousands of...  - WB CIT. VOICE

Environmentally friendly road sealant used in Perry
May 11, 2008   PERRY TWP. - The blacktop sealant in Perry Township is going green.  Township supervisors A.J. Boni and Janet Galla decided to participate in an  experimental project that uses soybean oil, instead of a petroleum-based  material, to seal the roads.  Their decision left Star Junction smelling like oranges and saved the...  - UNIONTOWN HERALD

Rethinking Ethanol
May 11, 2008   The time has come for Congress to rethink ethanol, an alternative fuel  that has lately fallen from favor. Specifically, it is time to end an  outdated tax break for corn ethanol and to call a timeout in the fivefold  increase in ethanol production mandated in the 2007 energy bill....  - NY TIMES

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