WILKES-BARRE — The Shapiro Administration and the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) have announced a new registered apprenticeship program to train workers to plug oil and gas wells, helping to protect the environment and public health while providing workers with in-demand skills and family-sustaining wages.
UMWACC’s Gas Well Capping Technician program — the first-ever registered apprenticeship program for UMWA — provides workers with the knowledge to plug abandoned and orphaned wells that have the potential to cause health, safety, or environmental concerns and to mitigate harmful emissions and provide an economic boost to rural Appalachian communities transitioning away from fossil fuel economies.
“We have a huge abandoned well problem in Pennsylvania, and we need qualified and well-trained people to plug them,” said Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “There are more than 350,000 orphaned and abandoned wells across our Commonwealth — and they make up nearly 8% of our total methane emissions.
“Sooner or later, every orphaned well is going to be a threat to the environment and public health, and we need people with the skills and training to plug the wells and restore the surrounding landscape. In addition to removing the threat that old wells pose, some active wells could find new life as geothermal wells, capturing buried heat for clean energy.”
The Gas Well Capping Technician program is officially registered with the Apprenticeship and Training Office (ATO), housed within the Department of Labor & Industry (L&I), and will train workers on the following topics: safety, well capping techniques, cement properties and skills, and land remediation.
“The Shapiro Administration is committed to addressing the needs of in-demand industries and preparing workers with the skills needed to be successful in our workforce,” said L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker. “The Registered Apprenticeship Occupation of Well Capping Technicians program offers a solution to both of those goals, by providing real career opportunities for individuals dedicated to the environmental and public health of our Commonwealth.”
UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts said this is a positive step toward addressing unemployment in Appalachia’s coal mining communities.
“The program will not only help stop leaking gas and oil wells but also provide workers with family-sustaining wages,” Roberts said. “Capping abandoned and orphaned wells is expected to take decades.”
Pennsylvania has a long history of energy development, including the first commercial oil well in 1859. In 2022 the U.S. Department of the Interior awarded Pennsylvania an initial grant of $25 million to plug orphaned and abandoned gas wells.
DEP has plugged more than 250 wells since Gov. Josh Shapiro took office — more than have been plugged over the last nine years combined.
Sen. Casey, colleagues urge President Biden to declare major disaster in Pa.
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, this week led a bipartisan, bicameral group of Members of Congress in urging President Biden to approve a request by Gov. Josh Shapiro for a major disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The Members pressed the President to provide swift assistance to the counties across the Commonwealth that experienced severe storms and flooding earlier this month.
If granted, the declaration would help Pennsylvanians cover their expenses and needs as they recover from Tropical Storm Debby’s damages.
“Individual Assistance from the federal government is critical for helping households and individuals cover uninsured or under-insured expenses and needs as they recover from Tropical Storm Debby’s damages,” the Members wrote. “It is already evident that multiple counties have been severely impacted, leaving many people displaced, particularly some of our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians. To expedite the Commonwealth’s efforts to rebuild and move forward, we ask that you approve Gov. Shapiro’s request swiftly.”
In addition to Sen. Casey, the letter was signed by: U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), and U.S. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-6), Matt Cartwright (D-PA-8), Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA-15), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-4), and Susan Wild (D-PA-7).
Pa. awarded more than $1M in federal grants to boost sales of vegetable, mushroom, fruit, nut crops
The Shapiro Administration has announced that Pennsylvania received $915,758 in federal funds for 10 projects to increase the visibility, quality, and competitive standing of the state’s specialty crops, including fruit, vegetables, mushrooms, and nuts.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture received an additional $94,363 to administer the program, bringing Pennsylvania’s total award to more than $1.01 million.
The funds are a portion of $72.9 million awarded nationwide through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
“Pennsylvania is a national leader in mushrooms, apples, peaches, flowers, and other specialty crops,” said Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “Investments like this keep our growers at the top of their field, in demand by consumers, and at the cutting edge of technology to stay ahead of disease, pest, and climate threats.”
In addition to a new $10 million Agriculture Innovation and Conservation fund, the 2024-25 budget invests $13 million in the PA Farm Bill, which includes the state’s own PA Specialty Crop Block Grant program to enhance the federal program.
The PA Farm Bill makes critical investments in building the processing infrastructure and marketing the industry needs and removing barriers between the industry and workers who want to be part of its future.
“We are happy to once again partner with Pennsylvania on the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The innovative projects funded through this program will strengthen U.S. specialty crop production and markets and ensure Americans have sustained access to fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops and support the region’s specialty crop growers to help ensure their long-term success.”
Grants announced today fund projects focused on research, marketing, apprenticeships, and sustainability for mushrooms, apples, potatoes, and other crops for which Pennsylvania ranks among the nation’s top producers.
State celebrates state budget win for Pa. tourism
Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger joined local leaders and business owners this week to highlight major investments by Gov. Josh Shapiro’s bipartisan 2024-2025 budget to support tourism, create jobs, and spur the economy across Pennsylvania.
Gov. Shapiro’s bipartisan 2024-25 budget includes a $15 million investment in tourism marketing to boost the economy, attract more visitors, and support good-paying jobs — building on the Governor’s launch of the Great American Getaway brand to encourage tens of millions within a few hours’ drive to visit Pennsylvania.
“From beautiful state parks, to our outdoor recreation businesses, to hospitality and entertainment industries across the Commonwealth, tourism is a powerful economic engine generating over $76 billion a year and supporting more than 486,000 jobs,” Siger said. “Governor Shapiro recognizes that tourism benefits nearly every corner of Pennsylvania.”
Pennsylvania is a premier weekend getaway destination within close driving proximity to major hubs along the East Coast, including New York City, Baltimore, and Washington DC.
The Commonwealth’s main streets and small towns, world class restaurants and bars, top tier events and sports, renowned historical sites, verdant state parks and thrilling outdoor recreation can be experienced in a single weekend by nearly 72 million people who live within a four-hour drive of thousands of getaways and experiences.
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said, “The investment in tourism secured by Gov. Shapiro in the budget helps us show visitors and Pennsylvanians the fun they can have outdoors that in turn supports the economies of the local communities that welcome and serve them.”
The Pennsylvania Tourism Office, housed within the Department of Community and Economic Development, is dedicated to inspiring travel to Pennsylvania. From iconic attractions to hidden gems, tourism in Pennsylvania helps support the state’s economy and creates jobs for local businesses — all while improving residents’ quality of life.
The 2024-2025 budget delivers on the Governor’s key priorities to make Pennsylvania more competitive economically, and includes:
• $500 million for site development, including $400 million for the PA SITES (Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites) program;
• $20 million for the Main Street Matters program to support small businesses and commercial corridors that are the backbone of communities across our Commonwealth;
• $20 million in state funding for small minority-owned businesses in Pennsylvania; and
• $15 million for tourism marketing to boost the economy, attract more visitors, and support good-paying jobs.
Shapiro Administration announces $1M for Hunger-Free Campus Grants
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has announced $1 million in PA Hunger-Free Campus Grant funding to help institutions of higher education (IHE) better serve their school communities and ensure their students have access to the healthy, nutritious food they need to thrive.
Last year, the Shapiro Administration awarded $1 million in grants to 30 institutions of higher education and private licensed schools to combat student hunger on campuses across the Commonwealth.
“Learning and achieving is much harder to accomplish when you’re trying to learn on an empty stomach, and food insecurity knows no age or geographic limits — it impacts learners from pre-K to post-secondary in all areas of the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “This grant funding will continue the critical work of addressing food insecurity on Pennsylvania’s college and university campuses so students can focus on learning rather than hunger.”
Interested applications should apply through the eGrants system. Additional information about the grant is available on the Pennsylvania Hunger-Free Campus Initiative webpage. Applications will be accepted until Sept. 23, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.
Through the PA Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program, colleges with the PA Hunger-Free Campus or PA Hunger-Free Campus+ designation may apply for competitive funding in an amount up to:
• $20,000 for institutions with 3,000 or fewer learners.
• $40,000 for institutions with 3,001 to 7,000 learners.
• $60,000 for institutions with 7,001 learners or more.
Most Popular
Comments / 0