Monday, February 25, 2013
The Washington County Conservation District will receive a total of $83,758—the third highest amount in the state.
Washington County is one of five southwestern Pennsylvania counties to receive a large portion of a state fund set aside by Marcellus Shale drilling fees to promote local conservation efforts. “These grants will help fund the important work of county conservation districts,” state Sen. Tim Solobay, D-Canonsburg, said. “Learning better ways to use and save resources while teaching stewardship to citizens is an important part of our effort to preserve and improve the environment of the region.” The grants will be dispersed from the Unconventional Gas Well Fund, created under Act 13 of 2012 to help all county conservation districts continue their services, with a special emphasis on those that host Marcellus Shale gas wells. Conservation …
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Democrats voice concerns while Republicans lend support for Gov. Tom Corbett's 2013-14 budget.
Western Pennsylvania Democrats had some harsh words for Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed 2013-14 state budget, which he presented Tuesday, while state Republican Party Chairman Rob Gleason called the governor's plan a "balanced and responsible budget that reinvests in Pennsylvania." “The plan presented by the governor is disappointing,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills. “It was long on politics but short on solutions.” State Rep. Erin Molchany, a newly elected Democrat serving South Hills communities said the governor’s "Band-Aid budget does little to make up for the hurt this state has felt from his deep cuts." State Rep. Robert Matzie, a Democrat representing the Sewickley area, said: “New Jersey has Chris Christie as …
Thursday, August 16, 2012
The event is scheduled to run from Aug. 29 through Aug. 31.
To educate local elected officials and businesses about the energy industry and to drive economic development in Washington County, officials from the Washington County Chamber of Commerce and Washington County Energy Partners announced their first-ever energy symposium, which is slated for Aug. 29 through Aug. 31—during the Mylan Classic. The Mylan Classic is a PGA Tour-sanctioned event on the Web.com Tour that will be held at the Southpointe Golf Club. The symposium, hosted by America’s National Gas Alliance, will feature three days of energy-related events, and will feature experts from the industry, business and government. Scheduled to participate on panels are state Sen. Tim Solobay, D-Canonsburg, Pam Witmer, commissioner of the …
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The measure now heads to the House for consideration.
The state Senate has approved a Marcellus Shale bill by a vote of 31-19. The Post-Gazette reports that it includes a levy on shale. “The Republican-negotiated measure melds the fee amounts in previous bill(s) into a tiered system pegged against the price of natural gas, which would raise between $190,000 and $355,000 per well over 15 years. That fee is projected to raise more than $190 million retroactively for 2011, rising to $333 million by 2015,” the newspaper reported. State Sen. Tim Solobay, D-Canonsburg, voted yes—as he said all his southwestern Pennsylvania colleagues did. The measure now heads to the House for consideration. Check back with Peters Patch for updates.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
A resolution honoring fallen police officer John David Dryer was introduced by state Sen. Tim Solobay this week.
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, January 19, 2012
A state Senate this week honored the lifetime community service of slain East Washington Police Officer John David Dryer, who was killed in the line of duty Dec. 19, during a traffic stop. State Sen. Tim Solobay D-Canonsburg, who introduced a condolence resolution, noted that Dryer’s law enforcement career was a calling rather than a job. “He didn't have to be a police officer to put food on the table. It wasn't just a convenient, casual career choice. He did it out of his desire to serve,” Solobay told his colleagues on the Senate floor. “This is as honorable a calling as an individual can have.” Dryer, 46, was also a veterinarian, a dog trainer, a wildlife conservation officer, a volunteer firefighter and an emergency medical technician…
Saturday, November 19, 2011
CNG powers Waste Management’s collection trucks and will now be available to other fleets and consumers.
- BUSINESS
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Saturday, November 19, 2011
Waste Management of Western Pennsylvania celebrated the grand opening of its first public-access compressed natural gas fueling station in the City of Washington Thursday—and announced plans to convert its regional fleet to the alternative fuel. State and local officials such as state Sen. Tim Solobay, Sen. John Pippy and Chartiers Township Supervisor Harlan Shober attended. The new Clean N’ Green Fuel public fueling station, to be operated by PetroCard, will sell CNG to commercial fleets as well as individuals with CNG-equipped vehicles. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates CNG reduces particulate matter emissions by 86 percent, carbon monoxide emissions by 80 percent, nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 32 percent, and greenhouse …
Friday, November 18, 2011
The senator took aim at Rick Santorum, who suggested Penn State should be prohibited from bowl games in the wake of the sex-abuse allegations.
Any suggestion that Penn State’s football team be barred from post season play is misguided, state Sen. Tim Solobay said today. “There are a lot of disturbing questions still unanswered about this Penn State scandal and a lot of concern about why they’re still unanswered after many years,” Solobay, D-Canonsburg, said. “But for many of those kids, these could be the last football games of their lives. Taking that away from students for something the faculty did or didn’t do is misguided.” According to a report in the Des Moines Register, Rick Santorum, a former Republican U.S. Senator now running for president, said Penn State should not be invited to a bowl game and that it would be “in the best interests of everybody to finish the …
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
The bill would impose a tax of 3 percent on gas production.
The state Senate on Tuesday night approved legislation that "would establish reasonable fees on gas drillers, establish strong environmental safeguards, and strengthen oversight of the Marcellus Shale drilling industry," according to Sen. Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, who sponsored the measure. Passage of Senate Bill 1100 comes after months of negotiation. "This legislation will help communities impacted by drilling, provide for reasonable local zoning parameters and implement strong environmental protections," Scarnati said. "Through a reasonable and well-thought-out impact fee on shale companies, we can manage this tremendous resource in a way that improves our economy, creates new jobs and opportunities for our residents and protects our …
Thursday, September 1, 2011
A roundup of the region's top stories for Thursday, Sept. 1.
Here are today's top stories from Patch sites in your region: Two Arrested in Video Store Robbery Teen Accused of Robbing Solobay Found Not Guilty Firehouse Subs Opens New 'Station' in McMurray Parents Question Proposal To Make Streams Elementary An All I-B School Despite Decline in Numbers, a Celebration of Summer Job Success Shootout: Daly vs. Mediate
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Some lawmakers said they would support a local impact fee while others scoffed at bill recently introduced by state Rep. Jesse White.
Residents in places such as Cecil Township experience all the inconvenience of Marcellus Shale drilling: Noise, dust and the added taxpayer expense of solicitor fees from drawing up drilling ordinances. And while township Manager Don Gennuso said he didn't get a chance to sift through all the details of a bill introduced by state Rep. Jesse White, D-Cecil, he agrees with the concept in theory (see attached PDF for a breakdown of how the fee would be distributed). "The (fee) should go to the local communities that are impacted the most," he said. Peters Township Manager Michael Silvestri agreed, saying he supports the bill. "I would support any bill that provides funding to municipalities for impacts of gas drilling and that does not tie …
Jon Wain
1:09 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
first the lottery next the state stores next the gas tax next-------------------------------------- Frank oyu said it right.Opps forgot the turn pike more ›