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In this Update:
The Pros and Cons of Data Center Development
During last week’s public hearing on data centers, 19 panelists from several different perspectives – local government, education, environmental agencies, and business and labor – provided us with information about the potential impacts on nearby communities, both positive and negative. Nine possible sites are now under review in the district I represent in Carbon, Schuylkill, and southern Luzerne counties, with many more under consideration throughout Pennsylvania. One key focus of our discussion was the impact on watersheds – a top concern of local residents. We heard that it may be possible to recycle water from abandoned coal mines, rather than drawing on other water sources. Merle Madrid from AWS also shared information about new dry cooling technology that utilizes the surrounding air instead of water. Andrew D. Dehoff from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission discussed how the impacts on the water supply could be harmful, but he also documented proven strategies to reduce concerns. The commission previously offered incentives to power plants to explore dry cooling technology, which successfully reduced water usage. We also discussed the economic benefits. In addition to creating many family-sustaining, permanent jobs, Esch McCombie, co-chair of McNees Wallace & Nurick’s Real Estate Group, noted that the low-traffic, high-value nature of data centers could generate significant tax revenue without increased commuter or truck traffic or new student enrollments at nearby schools. One local township recently received a real estate transfer tax payment for a possible data center site which is equal to 50 percent of its budget for the entire year. Our biggest takeaway from the hearing: data centers COULD be an economic driver for our region, but the sites must be chosen VERY carefully. Thanking Local Volunteer Firefighters
It was a busy weekend, with multiple events throughout this large Senate district, beginning with Saturday’s annual Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighter’s parade through Frackville and Butler Township! This year’s convention was hosted by Friendship Fire Co. No.1, Englewood, which is also celebrating its 100th year of service. Thank you to every volunteer firefighter who puts their safety on the line to protect our neighborhoods. Congressman Dan Meuser, state Reps. Jamie Barton, JoAnne Stehr, and Tim Twardzik, and many other local leaders joined me at the parade and honored our firefighters for their work. Special thanks to Rep. Twardzik for the ride in his amazingly small fire truck!! How Do We Address Homeless Camps?
Many communities are struggling to address rising instances of homeless encampments. When I chaired a recent public hearing of the Senate Majority Policy Committee reviewing mental health services, I noted that local towns like Lehighton and Pottsville have never dealt with homelessness on this scale before. Encampments can bring real safety concerns – drug paraphernalia, crime, risks from open flames, sanitation, and more. Here in Pennsylvania, by a bipartisan margin of 36-14, the Senate recently passed legislation to strengthen the ability of municipalities and residents to address unsafe encampments. Senate Bill 780, sponsored by Senator Joe Picozzi, allows people living near an encampment to petition their municipality to declare it a public nuisance. If it’s declared a nuisance, the encampment must either be approved by the property owner or ejected within 30 days. On the federal level, President Trump recently took aim at encampments by banning the use of federal funding for safe injection sites and deploying the D.C. National Guard to clear unauthorized homeless encampments. Major cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco have also increased encampment closures. Celebrating the NFL Champion Pottsville Maroons
It’s been 100 years since the Pottsville Maroons won the NFL championship, only to have it revoked shortly after because the team played an unsanctioned exhibition game. My busy weekend included the Schuylkill County Historical Society’s celebration of this anniversary, which featured former NFL players and authors who wrote about the Maroons. After learning more about this from the historical society, I asked NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to correct this injustice. There is no reason why this championship should not be restored – the reasoning given at the time had nothing to do with the performance of the team. Learn more about this fascinating piece of local history here. Ukrainian Homestead Celebrates Heritage Near Lehighton
The terrible war in Ukraine isn’t just the lead story on the news. I focused on it during my busy weekend when I visited Lehighton, where the Ukrainian Homestead hosted its annual festival in recognition of the 34th anniversary of Ukrainian Independence. Rep. Dane Watro and I enjoyed the rich culture on display and the passion so many of the attendees have for their heritage. In my comments Sunday, I noted that the district I represent in Schuylkill, Carbon, and Luzerne counties includes some of the most concentrated communities of Ukrainian Americans in the United States. I was proud to support their homeland’s efforts to defend against Russia’s aggression by introducing legislation which was signed into law to ban companies connected to the governments of Russia or Belarus from receiving any Pennsylvania contracts, grants, or tax credits. Fall Cleanup Events Set Across Schuylkill County
Schuylkill County will host its annual fall cleanup and recycling event for its residents during the first two weeks of September. If you have scrap tires, appliances, scrap metal, or other bulky items, this is a great opportunity to dispose of them responsibly.
One of my first bills to become law – Act 190, known as the Waste Tire Recycling Act/Small Business and Household Pollution Prevention Program Act – created these clean-up and recycling efforts across Pennsylvania. As this photo from long ago notes, I introduced it after visiting a burning, illegal dump with fire fighters near Pottsville with 750,000 waste tires. Since this bill became law, 97% of all scrap tires across Pennsylvania – 31 million tires (!!) – have been safely recycled. The illegal tire dump is now a very popular park! Events like the annual fall cleanup are a key reason why. Visit Lehighton for Railroad Day
Lehighton Downtown Initiative is hosting Railroad Day on Saturday, August 23 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Lehighton Downtown Farmers Market. Join them to learn more about the railroading history of Lehighton and the surrounding areas. To further showcase the borough’s heritage, LDI is in the process of restoring the historic caboose located on Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard. Meeting with Luzerne County Clergy
Rep. Dane Watro and I hosted a lunch with clergy members from southern Luzerne County churches and Hazleton Mayor Jeff Cusat this week. We discussed the state budget, pharmacy closures, the new dental school coming to Tamaqua, the need to end political violence, and more. Educating Seniors About Scams in Friedensburg
Thank you to the more than 20 people who joined Rep. Tim Twardzik and me at our scam seminar in Friedensburg. David Shallcross from Attorney General Dave Sunday’s office gave a thorough presentation about how to avoid falling prey to the latest scams targeting seniors. We’ll be hosting more of these events soon in Schuylkill, Carbon, and Luzerne counties. See the full list of my upcoming events here. Replace Hard-to-Read License Plates in Orwigsburg
Is your license plate worn out? You can get it replaced for free at an event Rep. Jamie Barton and I are hosting on Wednesday, September 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Orwigsburg Veterans Community Memorial Hall. A local police officer will be on hand to inspect your plate to determine if it qualifies for replacement. For more information or to RSVP, call 570-773-0891. August is Back to School Month
As we head into the late stretch of summer, children and parents across our area are preparing for the return to school. It’s a time filled with lots of excitement and more than a little nervousness. Please keep an eye out for more child pedestrians along the roads, particularly around bus stops.
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