Clean Air Ohio

More than 350 gas-powered generators could soon be operating just outside Philadelphia as part of Amazon’s proposed data center in Fairless Hills, Bucks County. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is hosting a public meeting about this proposal July 14. 

Over the July 4 holiday heatwave, existing data centers were instructed to run their gas generators on already polluted days, severely endangering local public health. We need our elected officials to prevent this from happening again.  

On hot summer days, when the region is already struggling with unhealthy air quality, those generators could add significant pollution to the air we breathe. Unless elected officials act now, this proposal could become a model for future data center development across southeastern Pennsylvania. 

Meeting growing electricity demand doesn’t mean building more fossil fuel infrastructure.

Data centers rely on massive amounts of electricity, and how we meet that demand will shape Pennsylvania’s energy future. Electricity costs are rising in Philadelphia, but expanded solar deployment has helped moderate those increases. 

Rather than responding to growing electricity demand with more fossil fuel development, city residents should demand that new data center development bring more solar onto our grid, making it easier for homes and commercial spaces to electrify while reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. 

The City is already taking steps in this direction. A planned 1.5 megawatt solar farm near the Northeast Philadelphia Airport would give the City government a set electricity rate for 25 years, in addition to a 20-year contract with a solar farm in Clearfield County, PA, further locking in long-term electricity rates for municipal operations, but not for residents.  

This should be extended to include Pennsylvania households. Pennsylvanians are still waiting for the state legislature to pass House Bill 1155, which would allow households to benefit from community solar projects and see savings on their electric bills while supporting clean energy.   

We can’t allow data center growth to become an excuse for slowing the transition away from fossil fuels. 

Regardless of nearby industrial development, residents can take action on their own. Moving from gas cooking and heating appliances to electric devices will improve air quality inside your home and throughout the region.

In the middle of a polluted, summer heat wave, it doesn’t make much sense to heat a tank of water with an open flame so you can wash your hands. Tankless, electric water heaters that only heat the water you need could have a massive impact on the city’s public health while reducing energy bills.  

Nationwide, electricity consumption is increasing, yet new solar generation — not additional gas-fired power — is meeting much of that demand. Pennsylvania should follow that example.

Courts have affirmed that states have the right to set a standard for the air pollution that’s emitted by gas appliances in buildings. Transitioning away from your own household gas appliances is one way to remove gas pollution from your life. Contacting your elected officials to ask them to push back against the hundreds of gas generators proposed in the region is another. 

Click here to tell your state and local officials to support a three-year pause on data center development.

“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.

Happy Fourth of July! As we celebrate America’s 250th, learn how you can get around to major summer 2026 events without a car, or being stuck in traffic with GoPhillyGo: Car-Free Routes Map!

Spotlight PA: Pennsylvania’s budget is late for the fifth year in a row – Pennsylvania legislators missed the budget deadline of June 30, for the fifth year in a row. Republicans that lead the Senate have stated they expect the budget deal in the days after the fourth. Democrats that lead the House were less positive about passing a budget soon. Clashes over state spending, revenue sources, and other hot topics all delay budget deals. Without a set budget, many schools, libraries, non-profits, counties, and other recipients of state funds suffer. With transit agencies in all counties across the state heading towards fiscal cliffs, service cuts, and fare increases, a revenue source is absolutely necessary.

PhillyVoice: Here are the road closures and SEPTA detours for the Fourth of July concert and fireworks – Drivers can expect roads around the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to be closed this week as the city prepares for the Fourth of July concert and celebration on Saturday. The concert begins on the 4th at 5pm, with doors opening at 3pm, and concluding with fireworks at around 11:30pm. Several roads will be closed from Friday to Monday morning, the full list posted here. Several SEPTA routes will also be adjusted to accommodate the event.

PhillyVoice: PPA starts issuing speeding tickets using traffic cameras along Route 13 after warning period ends – Six traffic cameras have been active on Route 13 since April of this year, and will begin authorizing tickets to drivers exceeding the 25 mph speed limit. The 60-day warning period in Northeast Philadelphia is ending, and fines begin at $100. This is the latest in partnerships between the city and the PPA, aimed to improve traffic safety, and revenue brought in to cover further safety measures.

Philadelphia Today: Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts Completes First Phase of $150 Million AveArts 2.0 Transformation

CBS Pittsburgh: PRT unveils “Spirit of ’76”-inspired “T” train ahead of Fourth of July weekend festivities

BillyPenn: Here’s how road closures for America 250 events may affect your commute

CBS Philadelphia: NJ Transit fares increase by 3% starting July 1

The Inquirer: Spanning 100 Years: See how the Benjamin Franklin Bridge was built a century ago

“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.

The FIFA World Cup is here! Learn how you can get around to major summer 2026 events without a car, or being stuck in traffic with GoPhillyGo: Car-Free Routes Map!

NBC Philadelphia: SEPTA announces next steps of mixed-use development at Germantown Station – SEPTA has announced it is seeking information from local developers to enhance mixed-use development at Germantown Station. The primary target for this development is a vacant lot at 120-128 E Chelten Ave in Historic Germantown. This is part of a larger program, SEPTA’s Transit-Oriented Communities, that develops areas near transit stops and supports the public transit network. Other mixed-use concept locations considered or announced by SEPTA include areas around East Armat St Bridges, Ambler Station, Conshohocken, and Langhorne stations.

Metro Philadelphia: How SEPTA plans to move tens of thousands of World Cup fans – SEPTA has been preparing for the World Cup to arrive in Philly this summer, and now that it’s here, tens of thousands of fans will be riding it around the city, with measured improvements as well. The Broad Street Line has trains going to and leaving from NRG every four to five minutes a few hours leading up to kickoff. NRG has had some upgrades recently as well, such as new roofing, a new ventilation system, and enhanced lighting and signage. These upgrades were in part funded by federal operating money to assist with the World Cup; the general SEPTA budget has yet to be announced by the PA state government, but is due at the end of this month.

The Burg: Regional bus system Rabbittransit to introduce mobile pay, fare raises in July – Buses in Harrisburg are part of the regional system known as Rabbittransit. This week, it was announced that a new smartcard and mobile payment system will be installed next month on the Capital Region, Gettysburg, Shippensburg, and York routes of the public transit system. The rabbitPAY system will launch mid-to-end July, and allow riders to load reusable transit passes through an app, and tap to ride. Also being added is fare capping, meaning riders can pay as they go, and once the cost of a daily or monthly pass is reached, the rest of the rides during that period are free.

The Inquirer: There are plans for an 86-unit apartment complex next to SEPTA’s Jenkintown station

Delco Today: Business Class Seating at Philadelphia International Airport Soars Past Pre-Pandemic Levels

92.5 XTU: Pennsylvania Braces for Record Traffic Amid 250th Independence Day Anniversary

WJAC: Cambria County officials press state lawmakers to fix outdated CamTran payment system

NJ.com: Here’s what N.J. e-bike owners and riders have to do now to avoid a fine under a new law

Block Club Chicago: Chicago’s Bike Lanes Don’t Hurt Businesses, City Report Finds

“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.

The FIFA World Cup is here! Learn how you can get around to major summer 2026 events without a car, or being stuck in traffic with GoPhillyGo: Car-Free Routes Map!

WHYY: SEPTA, transit police reach tentative deal on new contract to avoid strike during World Cup – SEPTA police have been working without a contract since the end of March, and now they have reached a tentative agreement to avoid striking. Union members will now vote to ratify the agreement, and if agreed upon, it will move to SEPTA’s board for adoption. The agreement comes months after SEPTA reported significant drops in crime across the network. In 2023, the SEPTA police union authorized a strike, and after three days, it ended with a new contract.

NBC Philadelphia: 2000+ parking tickets issued during first weekend of FIFA Fan Fest in Lemon Hill – According to the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA), over 2,000 tickets were issued this past weekend for illegal parking near Lemon Hill’s FIFA Fan Fest. The event began on June 11 and will end on July 19. PPA monitored 587 residential blocks in the enforcement zone and issued 2,497 tickets for illegal parking. 173 were written in error to residents with valid parking permits, making around 7% of the tickets incorrect.

Erie Today (via AOL): How does the Pa. budget serve public transit outside big-city hubs? – It’s state budget season in Pennsylvania, and the due date is June 30, and PA’s state budget hasn’t been approved on time since 2021. Last year, the budget was delayed for five months, heavily due to Republicans blocking $292 million for public transit. This year, Shapiro will ask for $300 million for the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Trust Fund to pay for public transit across the state. Around 7.7% of sales tax goes into public transit, and the proposed budget would increase that by 1.75%. There are over 30 fixed-route public transit systems across the state outside PRT and SEPTA, and these smaller systems rely on state funding to access healthcare, employment, education, and travel. 65% of the state’s public transit users have no other transportation option, underscoring the need for the service.

Talk PA Transportation: Officials Seek Public Opinion: Statewide Transportation Improvement Program

Philly Voice: SEPTA moves forward with mixed-use development at Germantown Station

Urban Wire: Congress’s Transportation Reauthorization Bill Would Drastically Underfund Transit and Rail Projects

StreetsBlog USA: In New Jersey, Mayors Show How Quickly We Can Slow Down Drivers

Business Insider: Uber now keeps most of the fare from your ride in some cities, according to a new driver study

CBS Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh cyclist pedaling across the country for a good cause

PHILADELPHIA, PA (June 12, 2026) –  As the Greater Philadelphia region prepares to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors for FIFA World Cup matches and America 250  celebrations, Clean Air Council has launched an interactive digital map to help visitors and residents reach major events without driving. 

This map highlights event locations and shows public transit and biking options, helping you avoid traffic and parking hassles, reduce pollution, and explore Philly car-free. 

The map is hosted on the Clean Air Council’s website at gophillygo.cleanair.org.

“No one wants to spend their summer sitting in traffic and paying for expensive event parking,” said Titania Markland, Clean Air Council Sustainable Transportation Program Manager. “Traveling car-free to the Philadelphia region’s many events this summer is a win for attendee experience, your wallet, and the environment. We are excited to launch GoPhillyGo: Car-Free Routes to make car-free travel planning easy and fun.”

“The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission is pleased to help fund this effort to make traveling around our region without a car this summer, and beyond, a bit easier, for visitors and residents alike,” said Stacy Bartels, Manager of TDM Strategy and Marketing. “Fewer cars on the roads means less traffic congestion and air pollution, which is good for everyone.”

The fun doesn’t stop at summer’s end. Clean Air Council plans to keep the map updated with events and travel information year-round to promote a sustainable, car-free lifestyle. For more information and to access the map, please visit: gophillygo.cleanair.org.

“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.

The FIFA World Cup is here! Learn how you can get around to major summer 2026 events without a car, or being stuck in traffic with GoPhillyGo: Car-Free Routes Map!

The Inquirer: Philly has a new law to boost development around transit. Which neighborhoods will benefit? – City Council has approved a bill to incentivize denser and taller development around Philadelphia transit stations. City Council expanded the existing housing agenda to a quarter-mile radius around SEPTA rail, intercity bus stations, PATCO, water taxi, and some bus or trolley stops. However, the unique caveat making it different from other cities is that City Council must opt stations into the transit-oriented development policies. West Philadelphia representatives have opted in most Market Frankford Line stations, but no stops on the Broad Street Line have yet to be included. Factors making this difficult include different representative districts on the same transit lines and other political disagreements.

NBC Philadelphia: Safety, accessibility upgrades debut in along Market Street in Philly’s Old City – Ahead of the 250th celebrations in the city this summer, Market Street between 2nd and 6th has completed safety and accessibility improvements. Upgrades include new traffic and pedestrian signals, wider sidewalks, protected bike lanes, and accessible curb ramps. Improvements should continue across the city ahead of the 250th celebrations this summer.

BillyPenn: World Cup fans can take a hike — literally. Soccer enthusiasts in Philly can access Lemon Hill fan fest and other sites via trails – Philadelphia will host its first FIFA World Cup game this weekend, with an influx of fans heading to East Fairmount Park’s Lemon Hill. To avoid extreme traffic congestion and parking scarcities, the Circuit Trails Coalition is reminding the public of over 400 miles of trails in the greater Philadelphia area. The Schuylkill River Trail is 120 miles long, and fans can access many World Cup festivities without cars. Find other ways to access summer 2026 events with Clean Air Council’s GoPhillyGo: Car-Free Routes interactive map.

PhillyVoice: With the World Cup set to kick off, SEPTA touts refurbished stations and additional train capacity

The Inquirer: City Council bans horse-drawn carriages in Philadelphia

BillyPenn: First modular shelters arrive for eventual inclusion in Chinatown Stitch cap park

The Inquirer: SEPTA is expanding daily bus service to the Navy Yard by extending Route 45

CBS Pittsburgh: Parkway East will close in 1 month for Commercial Street Bridge replacement project

Anthropocene: A landmark MIT study debunks persistent myths about electric vehicles

PhillyVoice: Walmart plans to bring delivery drones to Philly in 2027