Podcast
Pennsylvania Legacies
Hosted by Pennsylvania Environmental Council · EN
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) protects and restores the natural and built environments through innovation, collaboration, education, and advocacy. PEC believes in the value of partnerships with the private sector, government, communities, and individuals to improve the quality of life for all Pennsylvanians.
13episodes
Episodes
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Advanced Transmission Advances
2w ago00:31:32Tap to summarizeLast month the PA state House unanimously approved legislation requiring utilities to consider Advanced Transmission Technologies (ATTs) -- hardware and software innovations that make the electric grid smarter and more efficient -- in their infrastructure planning. As the Senate takes up HB 2223, we're republishing our 2025 interview with Jenny Netherton of the Pew Charitable Trusts and Chris D'Agostino of Advanced Energy United. Plus, PEC's John Walliser has an overview of pending energy legislation heading into the General Assembly's busiest season.
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Harm Reduction
4w ago00:28:52Tap to summarizeHarmful Algal Blooms (HABs) occur when nutrient-rich runoff enters lakes and ponds, creating favorable conditions for bacteria that produce potent cyanotoxins. In addition to the usual negative environmental impacts associated with too much algae in freshwater, HABs can seriously sicken people and animals. A new Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management District project funded through PEC's Pocono Forests and Waters Conservation Landscape Mini-Grants program aims to educate northeastern Pennsylvanians on the dangers of HABs and how to prevent them from occurring.
Transcribe →Current Events
Mar 400:45:32Tap to summarizePhoenix Contact USA's facility near Harrisburg is more than a green workplace -- it's a proving ground for the technologies driving Pennsylvania's transition to clean energy and electrification. Learn about the sustainability innovations that have won the company five Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence.
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Watercolor
Jan 3000:46:24Tap to summarizeConversation with Meg Lemieur, Sierra Weir, and Spencer Verney -- the talented inaugural cohort of PEC's new artist residency program -- about their experiences learning about and depicting special places in the Susquehanna River Basin.
Transcribe →Wildest Dreams
Dec 100:37:30Tap to summarize"Proudly Made: A Story of Reinvention in the Big Woods and Small Towns of the Pennsylvania Wilds" is a manual for postindustrial communities looking to leverage nature-based tourism for economic development. But it's much more than that -- it's also the story of author Ta Enos's journey from rural northwestern Pennsylvania to the world beyond, and the vision that brought her back home to help reinvent the region. We talk with the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship founder and director about her memoir, recently recognized with the Governor's Keystone Award.
Transcribe →Advance Notice
Oct 2400:24:54Tap to summarizeClean energy sources are available to meet fast-rising demand for electricity at a manageable cost -- but the grid isn't ready. Can advanced transmission technologies (ATTs) help Pennsylvania keep up?
Transcribe →Saline Solution
Aug 2900:29:02Tap to summarizeIn places like Pennsylvania, where ice and snow can create dangerous driving conditions, road salting is a necessity. But in the absence of statewide regulations, municipalities and property managers wary of legal liability often use far more salt than is necessary -- which doesn't make anyone safer. In fact, excess salt accumulating underground degrades water quality, harms ecosystems, and affects human health. We hear from two leaders of a new statewide working group that's advocating for better road salting practices, and supporting recently introduced legislation to that end.
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Higher Ground
Jul 2500:34:23Tap to summarizeThe Higher Ground gravel ride will return to Johnstown on November 2. The Pennsylvania Environmental Council is partnering with race coordinators Dave Pryor and Michael Cook, with support from the Community Foundation of the Alleghenies. This year's event will take riders through some of the most scenic and historic parts of the Laurel Highlands, such as the Path of the Flood Trail (this year's Pennsylvania Trail of the Year), the Conemaugh Valley, and much more. Higher Ground is part of a growing gravel cycling scene in Pennsylvania, which is showcasing the value of public lands and activating rural economies. PEC believes that the more opportunities people have to connect with the outdoors, the more likely they are to protect and steward those places for generations to come.
Transcribe →Bucket List
Jun 2700:33:23Tap to summarizePEC Program Manager Rachael Stark is on a mission: visit all 63 of America’s National Parks before her 30th birthday this July. With just a few weeks left, she’s off to Alaska to cross the last few parks off her list. Before heading out, Rachael spoke with PEC’s Derek Maiolo about the journey so far.
Transcribe →Maintenance Men
May 30, 202500:32:55Tap to summarizeIt's easy to generate excitement around building new miles of trail. More difficult, but arguably more important, is maintaining existing trails. To help under-resourced trail managers get a handle on the complex challenge of maintenance, PEC's Trails team developed an extensive guidebook and companion app for collecting and analyzing data, allocating resources, and planning for long-term sustainability. Brett Hollern and Zhenya Nalywayko, who helped create the still-unreleased toolkit, explain why it's already drawing national attention.
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