Planet Philadelphia

Environmental Justice in Philadelphia

3/25/2022

New Planet Philadelphia tomorrow
4-5:00 PM, Friday, 4/1/22
92.9 FM WGGT-LP in Philadelphia & streaming at gtownradio.com.

Photo credit: Carolyn Moseley

As one of the largest poor cities in the US, Philadelphia struggles with environmental justice (EJ). Below are some efforts to address these issues and updates on ongoing EJ issues in the city. Perhaps these issues and approaches to them may also help other cities with their EJ problems. Guests:

Saleem Chapman, Genevieve LeMee and Carolyn Moseley are respectively Chief Resilience Officer of Philadelphia’s Office of Sustainability (OOS), Senior Advisor for EJ in the OOS, and Executive Director of Eastwick United Community Development and member of the City’s EJ Advisory Committee. They will be talking about the City’s new EJ Commission, how it works and what it will be doing.

News segment: Linda Rosenwein brings us a compilation of environmental news and discussion of many of the recent environmental issues, events and successes in Philadelphia.

To hear Planet Philadelphia live, tune your radio dial to 92.9 FM
in NW Philadelphia or live stream at gtownradio.com
the 1st & 3rd Fridays/month.

Podcasts of full shows are available shortly after broadcast at
planetphiladelphia.com show archives page. Or listen to individual interviews on:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Anchor| Google| PocketCasts| Breaker| RadioPublic.

www.planetphiladelphia.com | www.gtownradio.com | facebook
@planetphila | @gtownradio

Announcements from 3/18/22 Show

3/21/2022

Resources from Cory Felder at Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)
RMI’s PUC Modernization Series: https://rmi.org/insight/puc-modernization-issue-briefs/
Utility Transition Hub (data to help people transition to decarbonization): https://utilitytransitionhub.rmi.org/

Help for Philadelphia to Lower Water and Other Utility Bills
Customers having trouble paying bills may qualify for lower monthly payments and can get personalized help from customer assistance experts by signing up for a Utility Fair appointment at water.phila.gov/utility-fairs
Wednesdays in March from 4–8 pm virtually on Zoom and are by appointment only. Registration: water.phila.gov/utility-fairs
Customers with past-due water bills may also be eligible for grants from the new Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Philadelphia Water Department customers may receive up to $5,000 towards delinquent water bills. Customers can learn more and apply at https://www.dhs.pa.gov/waterhelp.
#UtilityFairsPHL sessions will feature customer service staff from PWD and PECO. PGW customers can sign up to have a representative reach out to them directly for assistance.
Participants who RSVP will get follow-up information
Request an application or apply for assistance at www.phila.gov/water-bill-help or call (215) 685-6300.

Commenting on PA’s updated Environmental Justice (EJ) Policy
https://www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/OfficeofEnvironmentalJustice/Pages/Policy-Revision.aspx
Verbal public comments can be made on 4/5, 4/12, 4/28 – see the above link for more details
Separately, written comments also can be submitted.
Preliminary EJ Policy Revision discussion sessions will be held on 3/22 and 3/31 – see above link for more details
PA EJ Summer Internship Position
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/pabureau/jobs/3463012/environmental-justice-intern-office-of-environmental-justice?page=2&pagetype=transferJobs

Tree Planting Germantown IPL Tree Tenders
April 22 and 23
Contact Mark Smith for more information: 215-886-5383 or via email.

Penn State Brandywine presents “Storytelling: Winning the Climate Narrative”
Wednesday, March 30, 2022, 6:30 – 8pm
Register for ZOOM-based event: https://psu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0vf-GhqzkrHtIK8HS6CjEw7dSLjh7N8DEm
Features personal stories, poems and songs of climate wakening, sustainability, and change-making.

Expanded Philadelphia Street Sweeping in April
Neighborhoods to be swept:
Frankford: Bridge to Adams Streets from Griscom Street to Torresdale Avenue
Germantown: Berkley Street to Chelten Avenue from Pulaski Avenue to Wakefield Street
Kensington: North 2nd Street to Kensington Avenue from East Tioga Street to East Lehigh Avenue
Logan: West Godfrey Avenue to West Roosevelt Boulevard from North Broad to North 5th Streets
Nicetown: North Broad to Clarissa Streets from West Hunting Park to Windrim Avenues
North Central: North Broad to North 22nd Streets from West Glenwood Avenue to Diamond Street
Paschall: South 58th to South 70th Streets from Greenway to Dicks Avenues
Point Breeze: Christian to McKean Streets from South Broad to South 24th Streets
Port Richmond: Kensington to Aramingo Avenues from East Tioga Street to East Lehigh Avenue
South Philly: McKean Street to West Oregon Avenue from South 4th to South 8th Streets
Southwest Philly: Woodland to Kingsessing Avenues from South 49th Street to Cemetery Avenue
Strawberry Mansion: Diamond Street to West Lehigh Avenue from West Sedgley Avenue to North 33rd Street
West Philly: Parkside Avenue to Spring Garden Street from North 52nd to North 40th Streets
West Fairhill: North 5th to North 13th Streets from West Glenwood to West Susquehanna Avenues

PODCAST: 3/18/2022 Planet Philadelphia environmental radio show

3/19/2022

Agencies regulating our energy and environmental future

Guests on this broadcast:
• Cory Felder from the Rocky Mountain Institute will tell us about PUCs and what changes are needed in a fast changing energy landscape.
• Ethan Howland, reporter for Utility Dive, will tell us about FERC’s recent decisions that may better help control climate change.

Listen to full broadcast show:

https://www.mixcloud.com/PlanetPhiladelphia/agenicies-regulating-our-energy-and-environmental-future/

Tune in April 1, 2022 for the next Planet Philadelphia.

To hear Planet Philadelphia live, tune your radio dial to 92.9 FM
in NW Philadelphia or live stream at gtownradio.com
the 1st & 3rd Fridays/month.

Podcasts of full shows are available shortly after broadcst at
planetphiladelphia.com show archives page. Or listen to individual interviews on:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Anchor| Google| PocketCasts| Breaker| RadioPublic.

www.planetphiladelphia.com | www.gtownradio.com | facebook
@planetphila | @gtownradio

Tune in 4-5:00 PM ET today for new Planet Philadelphia environmental radio show

3/18/2022

Regulatory Agencies Affecting Our Environment And Lives

Photo by Alexander Popov on Unsplash

Listen to Planet Philadelphia broadcast
4-5:00 PM today on
92.9 FM WGGT-LP in NW Philadelphia  
& on gtownradio.com online everywhere.

Guests on today's broadcast:

Cory Felder works at the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to transform global energy systems across the real economy. Cory is a Manager on RMI’s Carbon-Free Electricity Team, where he focuses on utility business models and regulatory reform issues. He will tell us about PUCs, their effect on the environment, what changes are needed for their functioning, and what influences them.

Ethan Howland is a reporter for Utility Dive who has been covering the FERC, Congress, electricity markets, and the power sector for two decades. Utility Dive is a leading publication of business journalists operated by Industry Dive. Ethan will tell us about FERC’s responsibilities, how it intersects with other entities, and recent FERC decisions that may be more favorable to controlling climate change.

To hear Planet Philadelphia live, tune your radio dial to 92.9 FM
in NW Philadelphia or live stream at gtownradio.com
the 1st & 3rd Fridays/month.

Podcasts of full shows are available shortly after broadcst at
planetphiladelphia.com show archives page. Or listen to individual interviews on:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Anchor| Google| PocketCasts| Breaker| RadioPublic.

www.planetphiladelphia.com | www.gtownradio.com | facebook
@planetphila | @gtownradio

Regulatory AgenciesAffecting Our Environment And Lives

3/11/2022

Coming up on Planet Philadelphia
4-5:00 PM Friday 3/18/22
92.9 FM WGGT-LP in Philadelphia  and live streaming at gtownradio.com

Some lesser known “independent” regulatory agencies control a lot of what happens in energy. All states have Public Utility Commissions (PUCs) which regulate within that state and there is a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) which is responsible for interstate transmission issues, among other things. How do these agencies work, how are they affecting our environment, and how can the public have input into their decisions?

Cory Felder works at the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to transform global energy systems across the real economy. Cory is a Manager on RMI’s Carbon-Free Electricity Team, where he focuses on utility business models and regulatory reform issues. He will tell us about PUCs, their effect on the environment, what changes are needed for their functioning, and what influences them.

Ethan Howland is a reporter for Utility Dive who has been covering the FERC, Congress, electricity markets, and the power sector for two decades. Utility Dive is a leading publication of business journalists operated by Industry Dive. Ethan will tell us about FERC’s responsibilities, how it intersects with other entities, and recent FERC decisions that may be more favorable to controlling climate change.

To hear Planet Philadelphia live, tune your radio dial to 92.9 FM
in NW Philadelphia or live stream at gtownradio.com
the 1st & 3rd Fridays/month.

Podcasts of full shows are available shortly after broadcst at
planetphiladelphia.com show archives page. Or listen to individual interviews on:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Anchor| Google| PocketCasts| Breaker| RadioPublic.

www.planetphiladelphia.com | www.gtownradio.com | facebook
@planetphila | @gtownradio

Listen to the podcast of the 3/4/22 show about two promising innovations to lower GHG

3/5/2022

Technological innovations are in development all the time to reduce significant sources of greenhouse gases. Here are a couple, one which addresses food preservation and the other methane in the atmosphere. Guests:

Mathew Powell-Palm from Berkeley’s University of California in the Department of Mechanical Engineering tells us about a new technique that could help not only with climate change, but with food shortages.
Desirée Plata from MIT’s Ralph M. Parson Laboratory School of Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering will discuss the problems with the powerful GHG methane and a cheap plus effective way of controlling methane emissions using clay and improve our chances to deal with the climate crisis.

Listen to the full broadcast:

https://www.mixcloud.com/PlanetPhiladelphia/promising-innovations-to-lower-greenhouse-gases-3422/

Individual segments:

https://anchor.fm/kay-wood9/episodes/New-technique-that-could-help-with-climate-change--food-shortages-Mathew-Powell-Palm-from-Berkeleys-University-of-California-in-the-Department-of-Mechanical-Engineering-e1f9bik

https://anchor.fm/kay-wood9/episodes/Cheap-effective-way-of-controlling-methane-emissions---Desire-Plata--MITs-Ralph-M--Parson-Laboratory-School-of-Engineering-in-the-Department-of-Civil-and-Environmental-Engineering-e1f9bp1

https://anchor.fm/kay-wood9/episodes/Linda-Rosenwein--environmental-news-round-up-3422-radio-show-e1f9bso

To hear Planet Philadelphia live, tune your radio dial to 92.9 FM
in NW Philadelphia or live stream at gtownradio.com
the 1st & 3rd Fridays/month.

Podcasts of full shows are available shortly after broadcst at
planetphiladelphia.com show archives page. Or listen to individual interviews on:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Anchor| Google| PocketCasts| Breaker| RadioPublic.

www.planetphiladelphia.com | www.gtownradio.com | facebook
@planetphila | @gtownradio

Announcements for 3/4/22 Show

3/5/2022

Summer Internships with PA Department of Environmental Protection
Office of Environmental Justice. Intern to assist in the development of public communications.
See the Commonwealth’s employment website for the internship postings: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/pabureau/transferjobs

Germantown Info Hub
Has a free newsletter with information on neighborhood resources, jobs, goings on, etc. Some of these things have an environmental component. Get the email newsletter at the following location: https://germantowninfohub.org/

EPA Listening Sessions on Brownfield Funding Opportunities
MAC GRANT LISTENING SESSION
Date: March 10, 2022
Time: 12:00-2:00 PM Eastern Time
To join: https://usepa.zoomgov.com/j/1610792570
RLF GRANT LISTENING SESSION
Date: March 11, 2022
Time: 12:00-2:00 PM Eastern Time
To join: https://usepa.zoomgov.com/j/1604426220
For more information on Brownfields Grants, visit: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-epa-brownfield-grant-funding

Zoom Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) Talk
Put on by a local neighborhood group
Wednesday 3/23 7pm
Speaker: Julia Nakleh, Climate Reality leader (2020) and on the leadership team of the Philadelphia and Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter of the Climate Reality Project
Registration: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fmeeting%2Fregister%2FtZIkdOurqD4rHd3m4pdY2XmtaOUKMMIkJ24i&data=04%7C01%7C%7Ce3d749a93a404cb6c39408d9e7726383%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637795300745456329%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=e%2Fo%2FtSXfjjLKoRaODUjCVBKroKJgfCpa0lOxxjim0A4%3D&reserved=0

Philadelphia Hazardous Waste Event
Saturday April2 9am-3pm
8401 State Rd. at Ashburner St.
Drop off items that are toxic, flammable corrosive or reactive.
Registration, more information and a list of acceptable waste: https://www.phila.gov/services/trash-recycling-city-upkeep/dispose-of-household-hazardous-waste/

Free Legal Help with Utilities
Put on by the Community Legal Services Energy Unit
Saturday 3/12 11am-2pm
For Philadelphia residents at Face to Face Germantown (123 E. Price St.)
All Philadelphians welcome, but particularly aimed at Germantown residents
Register and arrive before 11am and you are guaranteed to be seen:
https://tinyurl.com/mtdrcn2w

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources is now accepting applications for the 2022 round of Community Conservation Partnership Program grants. Applications accepted until April 6. More information: https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Communities/Grants/Pages/default.aspx

Franklin Institute is currently accepting applications for 2022 GSK Science in the Summer™ Educators! This is a free, summer education program that aims to inspire the next generation of scientists. The goal of the program is to increase children’s value of and confidence in doing science and pursuing STEM careers, especially for populations underrepresented in STEM. This year, the program will take place from July 5 – August 12 in libraries throughout the greater Philadelphia area counties: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia County.
Educators will apply to lead programs in-person in one of the counties listed above and will travel to libraries to deliver the program to participants in grades 2 – 6. We are seeking educators with 3+ years of experience working with children in a group setting or a valid teaching certificate. We are accepting educators on a rolling basis (until April 1 or when all positions are filled) so educators are encouraged to apply early.
Compensation:
   •   $275/ 4-hour program led
   •   $50 one-time rate for attending the training
   •   $25/day for on-call substitution plus the full $275 if called in
You can find information on how to apply on our webpage or by copying and pasting the following link into your web browser: http://scienceinthesummer.fi.edu/educators

Tune in 4:00 Today! Promising Innovations to Lower Greenhouse Gases

3/4/2022

Planet Philadelphia 4-5:00 PM today
92.9 FM WGGT-LP in Philadelphia
and live streaming at gtownradio.com

Mathew Powell-Palm, postdoctoral fellow at Berkeley’s University of California in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He will tell us about isochoric freezing, a new way to freeze food for preservation that uses much less energy, thereby using less fossil fuel, and preserves food better.

Desirée Plata, associate professor at MIT’s Ralph M. Parson Laboratory School of Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, will discuss the problem of methane for climate change and a cheap plus effective way of controlling methane emissions using clay.

To hear Planet Philadelphia live, tune your radio dial to 92.9 FM
in NW Philadelphia or live stream at gtownradio.com
the 1st & 3rd Fridays/month.

Podcasts of full shows are available shortly after broadcst at
planetphiladelphia.com show archives page. Or listen to individual interviews on:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Anchor| Google| PocketCasts| Breaker| RadioPublic.

www.planetphiladelphia.com | www.gtownradio.com | facebook
@planetphila | @gtownradio