PRESS INFORMATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 29, 2025 (UPDATED - August 5, 2025)
Contact: Karen Feridun, Better Path Coalition, 610-678-7726, betterpathpa@gmail.com
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Organizations and People Across Pennsylvania Call on DEP to Provide Public with Information on Data Centers
42 Organizations and 169 People from 36 Counties Submit Letter to Secretary Shirley
(UPDATED: Letter resubmitted with 50 Organizations and 209 People from 41 Counties Submit Letter to Secretary Shirley - Read letter here)
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Pennsylvania: Today, No False Climate Solutions PA and the Better Path Coalition submitted a letter to Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Jessica Shirley calling on the agency to provide timely information on proposed data centers and public participation opportunities for each of them. The letter was signed by 42 organizations and 169 people from 36 counties.
The letter follows from recent announcements of massive investments in data centers proposed across the state and additional investments in the infrastructure needed to power many of them with natural gas.
The letter opens, “The Shapiro administration is partnering with Senator David McCormick and the Trump administration to attract billions of dollars of investments in data centers to Pennsylvania, yet anyone searching the DEP’s website will not find much information about this consequential development, nor opportunities to voice concerns about it. The undersigned 42 organizations and 169 individuals from 36 counties are calling on the Department to correct these deficiencies.”
The signers point to the single entry that a search of the DEP’s website for the proposed Homer City data center campus yields. “Previously, the largest coal-burning power plant in Pennsylvania, Homer City Generating Station, will now become the largest natural gas-powered plant in the country. The plant will be transformed into a more than 3,200-acre natural gas-powered data center campus, designed to meet the growing AI and high-performance computing needs.”
Among recommendations the signers suggest are a one-stop shop for the public akin to the agency’s GreenPort that is tailored to industrial users and improvements in the dissemination of public notices of hearings and written comment periods.
The letter and full list of signers can be viewed here.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 24, 2025
Contact: Karen Feridun, Better Path Coalition, 610-678-7726, betterpathpa@gmail.com
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Special Statement: Response to Nobers’ Post-Gazette Op-Ed on Our Coalitions We Won’t Cross Picket Line to Submit
Statement by The Better Path Coalition and No False Climate Solutions PA
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Jeff Nobers, Executive Director of Pittsburgh Works Together and the Builders Guild of Western Pennsylvania, crossed a picket line to publish an op-ed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette criticizing a letter we submitted to Governor Shapiro. We believe that the governor was wrong to participate in the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit in Pittsburgh last week. When his plans to attend were announced two days before the event, we said as much to him in a letter written by the Better Path Coalition and No False Climate Solutions PA and signed by 27 organizations and 14 individuals.
The Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh’s strike coincidentally reached the 1,000-day mark the day before the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit. We would typically publish a response in the same paper where an opinion about us was expressed, but we honor the striking workers in a way the 18 trades groups that make up the Builders Guild apparently do not. Therefore, we have elected to respond to Nobers’ criticism by issuing this statement.
Nobers claims that we want to “stomp our feet and throw a temper tantrum” rather than debate and discuss facts and policy. It is a common tactic among those who would prefer to turn their backs on any facts about environmental destruction, public health impacts, and the rapid intensification of the climate crisis to use pejoratives.
Our coalitions and partners have been attempting to discuss the facts with the Shapiro administration since he was preparing to take office with the help of his transition team. We have submitted several letters to the governor since that time.. He has never replied to a single one. We have received no response to our requests to meet with him. We do not enjoy the unfettered access to the governor that Building Trade leaders like Rob Bair have.
In fact, Bair also attended the Summit. Shapiro pointed to him in the audience during the panel discussion when he said, "And so if the senator and others can bring investment from across the globe to right here in Pennsylvania so we can build out our infrastructure, we can put Rob Bair's guys to work."
It is that relationship that is a current matter of concern for us. Governor Shapiro’s Lightning Plan is composed of different initiatives that are moving through the legislature now. One bill, HB 502, introduced by Representative Mandy Steele, would establish the Reliable Energy Siting and Electric Transition (RESET) board. The board would serve as the central siting authority for large-scale energy projects in Pennsylvania, stripping municipal governments of their zoning authority. The voting members of the board would include the Building Trades and the PA Chamber of Business and Industry, two unelected private sector members who are not accountable to the people. Steele’s co-sponsorship memo for the bill was entitled, “Lightning Plan: Get Stuff Built with the RESET Board.” Shapiro’s plan gives the Building Trades a vote on which stuff gets built, or, to use Shapiro’s words, which stuff “puts Rob Bair’s guys to work.”
Nobers argues that we are among a minority of Americans, according to polling data he cites, that do not want civility from public officials. It is a baseless claim, but it is, moreover, an irrelevant one. Shapiro surely knew the focus of the Summit organized by Senator Dave McCormick and attended by President Donald Trump was going to be on projects that align with the Trump administration’s goal of unleashing American coal, natural gas, and nuclear energy on the world. The Shapiro administration was already brokering deals for hyper-scale data centers for months before the Summit. Allegheny Front reported after the Summit that Shapiro did not mention climate change. Instead, he was wholly supportive of the massive investments in, largely, natural gas-powered data centers announced that day. Civility is something to be admired among parties who are not in agreement on something. That is clearly not the case here.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 14, 2025
Contact: Karen Feridun, Better Path Coalition, 610-678-7726, betterpathpa@gmail.com
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Environmental Advocates Oppose Shapiro’s Attendance at McCormick Summit
41 Organizations and Individuals Submit Letter to Shapiro
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Harrisburg: Environmental advocates are reacting to reports that Governor Josh Shapiro will attend the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit hosted by Senator David McCormick in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. President Donald Trump and members of his cabinet are also scheduled to attend.
The Better Path Coalition and No False Climate Solutions PA submitted a letter to Shapiro signed by 27 organizations and 14 individuals expressing their opposition to his plans. The letter states, “Your attendance will be taken as acceptance of, or even agreement with, President Trump’s dirty energy agenda and outrageous rollback of bedrock environmental laws.”
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The signers note that Shapiro’s catchphrase, “Getting S**t Done,” is not an inherently virtuous goal when the stuff that gets done promotes further dirty energy production. The letter closes, “It IS time to get things done. Pennsylvania has the resources, technical expertise, and workforce needed to lead the way to the renewable energy future.”
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“If there was any confusion about Governor Shapiro’s energy agenda, his participation in a summit organized by dirty energy devotee Senator David McCormick and attended by climate denier President Donald Trump and members of his cabinet should clear things up,” said Karen Feridun, Co-Founder of the Better Path Coalition. “And would somebody please take Shapiro’s copy of Abundance away from him?”
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“This is exactly the wrong direction on energy at this critical time. Pennsylvania has a chance to pivot right now and lead on the renewable energy transition that we need to fight the climate crisis. This meeting is just about planning more fracking projects and asking Pennsylvanians to sacrifice our health and the environment yet again.” said Sandy Field, PhD, Chair of the Climate Reality Project: Susquehanna Valley PA chapter.
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“Pennsylvanians need Governor Shapiro to distinguish himself from the federal drive to force more dirty energy when we need truly clean renewable and sustainable energy sources like wind and solar. We have the right to clean air and water and a healthy environment but with fossil fuel development, particularly fracking here in the Commonwealth, that’s not possible. Governor Shapiro, don’t align yourself with those who are campaigning for more pollution and degradation, please don’t attend this summit,” said Tracy Carluccio, Deputy Director, Delaware Riverkeeper Network.​
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“If Governor Shapiro is serious about becoming a leading voice for change, he should come out in opposition to this summit and bring Pennsylvania into modern energy with wind and solar. AI and the data center hype is predicated on more fracking, unnecessary power plants, and more health harms impacting our communities. This summit is a backwards direction, indicated clearly by the hosts who are demolishing our environment and health,” said Josephine Gingerich, Health Advocacy Outreach Coordinator for Physicians for Social Responsibility PA.
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“Governor Shapiro is attending the event in Pittsburgh because his administration is “getting shit done“ while he’s been shitting on communities all across the Commonwealth and that shit was made possible by dirty campaign contributions by fossil fuel interests. Go to pennsylvaniaactiononclimate.org and click on the Governor Shapiro tab for more information,” said Michael Bagdes-Canning, Founder, Pennsylvania Action on Climate.​
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“Pennsylvanians are paying the price for decisions made behind closed doors: higher utility bills, contaminated water, poor air quality, and worsening health. When our voices aren’t even invited to the table, it’s not innovation—it’s exploitation. Governor Shapiro’s choice to stand with fossil fuel executives instead of impacted communities sends a clear message: our lives are expendable. But the people of Pennsylvania are not disposable and we will continue to demand a seat at the table, not a spot on the sacrifice zone map,” said Hilary Flint, PA Field Organizing Manager, Center for Oil and Gas Organizing
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“Oil and gas corporations want to fuel the AI boom — meaning Pennsylvanians will continue to lose out,” said Robin Lesko, Western Pennsylvania Organizing Manager, Food & Water Watch. ”We need leadership to ditch polluting industries and plug into protecting our communities and the environment, but instead Governor Shapiro is aligning himself with the Trump administration in putting fossil fuel corporations first. Our leaders must do better for people across the Commonwealth.”
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"Communities like Chester that have been overly polluted deserve and we demand that Govenor Shapiro protect us. People over pollution," said Zulene Mayfield, Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living.
“Dear Governor Shapiro, Please consider serving the residents of this Commonwealth over the interests of the fossil fuel industry. It is well past time to do so but hopefully you will finally open your eyes to the facts. Continuing your allegiance to non renewable, harmful gas does not protect the very near future for our kids,” said Victoria Switzer, former resident and activist of the Dimock Shalefield.
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“Given the summit’s emphasis on fossil gas infrastructure and its alignment with national figures whose agenda conflicts with Pennsylvania’s clean‑energy future, Governor Shapiro should not attend,” said Gail Neustadt, Allegheny County resident.
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"Dear Governor Shapiro, rushing to implement artificial intelligence is not the robust job creator you appear to think it is,” said Mark Dixon, Allegheny County resident. “AI has the potential to devastate the job market while worsening local pollution and climate emissions. Do you want that to be your legacy?"
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“We can’t be healthy when the air we breathe and the water we drink is contaminated by the process of harvesting fossil fuels and the wastes left behind. This cost must not be ignored.” stated Barbara W. Brandom, MD, Allegheny County resident and member of Concerned Health Professionals of Pennsylvania.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 20, 2025
Contact: Karen Feridun, Better Path Coalition, 610-678-7726, betterpathpa@gmail.com
Environmental Advocates to Shapiro: Don’t Deal with a Would-Be Dictator
Joint Statement by the Better Path and No False Climate Solutions PA Coalitions
Harrisburg: Environmental advocates are calling on Governor Josh Shapiro to refuse Trump’s appointment to his Council of Governors. The long list of indefensible actions taken by the Trump regime in the past month have done incalculable harm to countless people across the globe and in his own country. He is dismantling our democracy. Our environment is just one casualty of his reckless actions. Governor Shapiro should not be normalizing any of this by engaging with him.
The phony “energy emergency” Trump declared as soon as he took office will have huge ramifications for communities that have already suffered for generations from fossil fuel extraction in Pennsylvania. We have called on the Governor many times to break his ties to the industry. This relationship will cement them.
We’ve never needed a champion more than we do right now. Pennsylvania prides itself in being the birthplace of American democracy. Our commonwealth should have no hand in ending it. We call on Governor Shapiro to put Pennsylvania and its people first in this unprecedented moment.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 31, 2025
Contact: Karen Feridun, Better Path Coalition, 610-678-7726, betterpathpa@gmail.com
Sometimes, the Devil Isn’t in the Details
Statement from the Better Path Coalition on Governor Shapiro’s Lightning Plan
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Pennsylvania: Natural gas production, data centers, and fossil fuel subsidies are among the features of Governor Josh Shapiro’s energy plan that are barely distinguishable from the Trump administration’s plan.
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“Sometimes, the devil isn’t in the details. Two things are impossible to miss - the president is an unabashed climate denier and climate change is already taking a devastating toll on our planet. Supporters of Governor Shapiro’s Lightning Plan will point to what they consider to be stark differences between his plan and the president’s call to “drill, baby, drill,” but, in this unprecedented moment, the differences are irrelevant. Any plan to continue and even expand fossil fuel production in Pennsylvania is absolutely unacceptable,” said Karen Feridun, Co-founder of the Better Path Coalition.
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Much of Shapiro’s Lightning Plan is a rehash of past economic proposals and a renewed commitment of his loyalty to bad actors like CNX and trade groups that lobby for the fossil fuel industry. Conspicuously absent from his plan is an environmental justice component, a facet of his proposal that aligns with the president’s attack on equity efforts.
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“He can keep repackaging his worn out fossil fuel agenda as much as he likes, but it won’t change the facts that fracking continues to do irreparable harm to Pennsylvanians and that, increasingly, the planet is quite literally burning. He has reneged on the oath he swore to uphold Pennsylvania’s Environmental Rights Amendment and on every promise he made to impacted communities as Attorney General after his Grand Jury investigation of the fracking industry,” continued Feridun. “His failure to take aggressive action to buck the federal government, put his constituents first, and transition the state from fossil fuels to renewable energy will be his legacy.”
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