Pennsylvania braces for extreme weather exacerbated by climate change - Public News Service

Pennsylvania braces for extreme weather exacerbated by climate change / Public News Service

Federal funds boost Northeast high-speed EV charging network; the Heat Dome remains the top story over more than half the nation; Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in TX face health disparities; Groups debunk claims of 'skyrocketing' numbers of non-citizen voters.

U.S. House passes the National Defense Authorization Act, with hard-right amendments. Political scientists say they worry a second Trump presidency could 'break' American democracy, while farmers voice concerns about the Farm Bill.

As summer nears, America's newest and largest international dark sky sanctuary beckons, rural job growth is up, but full recovery remains elusive, rural Americans living in prison towns support a transition, while birth control is more readily available in rural areas.

Pennsylvania braces for extreme weather exacerbated by climate change
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Pennsylvania Department of Transportation faced unprecedented levels of damage caused by floods and landslides in 2018, leading to costs exceeding $125.7 million for repairing and replacing infrastructure across the state. (Alliance/Adobe Stock)

New Mexico is among states with the most diverse species of animals, including the African oryx, or gemsbok. (NationalParkService)

Of the nearly 2.5 million people living within the 78 coastal communities in Massachusetts, roughly 55% are in state-designated Environmental Justice Block Groups, communities of color and low-income populations dealing with the effects of climate change. (Adobe Stock)

An Associated Press/NORC poll found 47% of people are unlikely to purchase an electric vehicle, with the biggest reason being the high cost. (Adobe Stock)

Despite the official start of the summer season on Thursday, climate change is exacerbated by extreme weather events in the Keystone State.

The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued an excessive heat watch for Pennsylvania, including parts of east-central Ohio and the northern panhandle of West Virginia.

Fiona Lo, climate scientist with the Environmental Defense Fund, said climate change has increased and will continue to increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including heat waves in Pennsylvania.

"So in the future, we'll expect heat waves will likely be hotter, last longer and occur more often. And this will happen in Pennsylvania and all over the U.S. and likely over the globe," Lo said. "This summer is predicted to be warmer than normal for Pennsylvania, and this is due to the shifting weather patterns from climate change."

According to the National Weather Service, the heat index is expected to reach 100 to 104 this week. The heat advisory remains in effect until 8 p.m. local time on Friday.

Lo points out that in addition to a heat wave in Pennsylvania, more frequent thunderstorms are expected, bringing lightning, heavy rain, hail and flash flooding. These intense downpours could also lead to worsened flooding throughout the state.

"Since 1958, Pennsylvania and all of the northeast region of the U.S. has experienced 60% increase in heavy rainfall, and that's the largest in all of the U.S," she said.

She added that Atlantic hurricanes have also increased with climate change. Even though hurricanes don't often hit Pennsylvania, the remnants of a hurricane and tropical storm can be felt up to 100 miles from the eye.

Lo said the consequences of flooding can impact health directly, such as drowning, injuries or powerlines in the water. For example, flooding can cause sewage to overflow and contaminate water, causing the transmission of diseases.

"Flooding can impact infrastructure. Erosion of roads, bridges, damage and disruption to transportation. And the impact on transportation means you might have less access to basic services such as health and food, " she explained.

Lo pointed out that Canadian wildfires, which affected the Northeast and Pennsylvania last year, were extreme weather events that impacted air quality. She said in addition to heat stress, flooding and changes in flowering cycles, warming disrupts agriculture. And the strain on infrastructure from heat waves can overload power grids from increased air conditioning use, which may require upgrades for better resilience.

Disclosure: Environmental Defense Fund contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Energy Policy, Environment, Public Lands/Wilderness. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.

Wildlife advocates say the current transition to clean energy will not only protect people in New Mexico communities, but also will have a huge impact on animals.

Shannon Heyck-Williams - associate vice president for climate and energy with the National Wildlife Federation - noted that the transition to clean energy helps all species adapt to worsening heat, more intense storms, and changing ecosystems.

"Twenty-percent is actually pretty rapid growth from just a few years ago," said Heyck-Williams. "A lot of that is because the cost of clean energy - like solar panels. for example, or wind turbines - has dropped really low, and is competitive now with fossil fuels."

Federal investments in clean transportation also are meant to address climate change.

In many areas, development has created a significant stress for wildlife.

That, along with the use of fossil fuels, according to Heyck-Williams, has impacted their access to food and water, the ability to migrate - especially in the West - and disrupted historic reproductive patterns.

But, she added, people in New Mexico and other states have options to ensure federal dollars are coming their way.

"This is one of those moments where we're not only helping re-shape with legislation like this, our overall economy," said Heyck-Williams, "but communities can weigh in with their leaders to demand certain kinds of those investments and make sure that they come to town"

The legislation funneled money into federal grants and other incentives to businesses, homeowners, schools, hospitals, and more to install the latest clean technologies.

Disclosure: National Wildlife Federation contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Endangered Species & Wildlife, Energy Policy, Water. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.

More than 1,000 people will receive job training in construction, wastewater management and more, to combat the growing threat of sea level rise.

Gina Raimondo, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, said a 21st-century workforce must be climate literate.

"If we're going to ensure that American workers can take advantage of the jobs that we're creating, then we have to be proactive about training folks," Raimondo asserted. "So they have the skills they need to get the jobs that are available."

The program is one of nine climate-related job programs nationwide funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and focused on economically-disadvantaged communities, which often face disproportionate impacts from climate change.

More than half of Massachusetts residents live in coastal communities, and state officials are planning for an additional 2.5 feet of water by 2050 if global greenhouse gas emissions are not significantly reduced. Cities and towns will need a pipeline of skilled workers for flood mitigation efforts and infrastructure upgrades.

Frank Niepold, program manager, for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said providing workers with vital wraparound services, like child care and health care, will help ensure they complete their training.

"This program is designed to really build that connection between the training and the employment in a much more explicit way," Niepold explained. "While also helping historically underserved people to get access to those good jobs."

The funding will be distributed through Boston's Office of Workforce Development to employers, colleges and community groups. Officials said training projects could begin as soon as Aug. 1.

As New York and New Jersey transition to electric vehicles, consumers have mixed feelings about it.

Polls show fewer than half of New York drivers would buy an EV as their next vehicle. The number increases for New Jersey drivers, who feel phasing out gas-powered cars can improve air quality.

W. Reed Gusciora, mayor of Trenton, said more electric vehicles on the road mean cleaner air and fewer health issues.

"Families are suffering from higher rates of asthma and heart disease, and other health issues directly linked to air pollution," Gusciora pointed out. "The transition to electric vehicles offer a lifeline significantly reducing the pollutants that compromise the air we breathe."

The city recently announced it has high levels of lead in the soil, which Gusciora attributes to air pollution. The American Lung Association ranks Mercer County, where Trenton is located, as one of the worst in the state for air quality.

Reports showed transitioning to EVs can reduce deaths in the state and create $36 billion in public health benefits.

New Jersey and New York are transitioning to renewable energy sources, predominantly offshore wind.

New Jersey Asm. Carol Murphy, D-Mount Laurel, said along with the jobs offshore wind creates, implementing it creates more sustainable transportation.

"Not only does offshore wind provide the jobs and the necessary health benefits that provide us to live not only on the shores," Murphy noted. "But in many of our communities once we see the impact of offshore wind being able to have on our vehicles, and be able to see the power that is going to generate."

Some studies showed electric vehicles can reduce pollution in environmental justice communities.

Kaleem Shabazz, a council member in Atlantic City, said the city is introducing measures to reduce the climate effects residents face.

"We are revamping our parking lots to have EV chargers," Shabazz outlined. "We purchased electric vehicles for our city fleet. We are working in conjunction with city government to do an audit on energy buildings in our city."
A U.S. Water Alliance report finds maintaining Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding in water infrastructure could reduce service disruptions to water-reliant businesses, saving them 46% over 20 years. (Adobe Stock)