Pennsylvania Legacies

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Pennsylvania Legacies

Show Notes

The PA Statewide Watershed Conference, held Oct. 29-30 in Altoona, convened experts and community volunteers alike to discuss water-related issues and solutions. This year's event featured artists who use creativity as a communication tool, inspiring people to get involved with their own watersheds. Just in time for the event, the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) released a report on the cumulative impacts of community watershed organizations, which are often small, all-volunteer groups that play a vital role in restoring and protecting the state's waterways. In this episode, we talk with Tali MacArthur, PEC's program manager for watershed outreach and one of the main organizers of the conference, as well as artists and other attendees.

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Oct 2, 2026

Monarch butterflies are an iconic species that can be found throughout North America, but various factors are threatening the stability of their population. Brandywine Conservancy is helping boost monarch butterfly numbers by establishing Monarch Waystations throughout the Laurel Highlands. Learn more about this initiative and how you can create your own Monarch Waystation on this episode of Pennsylvania Legacies.

Aug 28, 2026

A replay of our 2021 interview with Franklin Kury, the former state lawmaker who authored and championed Pennsylvania's first-in-the-nation Environmental Rights Amendment. Mr. Kury passed away this month, leaving a legacy that touches the lives of every Pennsylvanian -- including those not yet born.

Jun 5, 2026

Last 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.

May 22, 2026

Harmful 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.

Mar 4, 2026

Phoenix 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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