Catch up on the latest sustainability news:

Philadelphia Water Department releases service line records. PWD will soon be sending out notices to property owners and residents to update them on the materials of their water service lines. These are annual notices that help residents understand if their service lines may contain lead. PWD’s records are incomplete, however, since the department does not own service lines; they are instead customer-owned pipes. 

City procures solar energy agreement. Philadelphia entered into a power purchase agreement with the 20-Megawatt Abes Run Solar project. The fixed-rate, 20-year contract will provide an estimated 5 percent of municipal energy. “This project meets all our goals: delivering 20-Megawatts of clean and green energy for the city, bringing us closer to our goal of 100 percent zero-carbon renewable electricity, while providing a fixed-rate price hedge for 20 years,” said Elizabeth Lankenau, Director of the Philadelphia Office of Sustainability.

New pocket park honors woman who fought to preserve Elfreth’s Alley. A vacant lot at the end of America’s oldest residential street is going to be turned into a new park. The park will be named Dolly Ottey Park after the woman who formed Elfreth’s Alley Association in 1934 and successfully saved the street from development. The project is set to be completed this upcoming spring. The Philadelphia Inquirer

Federal energy assistance programs reopens. LIHEAP – or the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program – is open after the 43-day government shutdown caused funding delays. Pennsylvanians can apply to LIHEAP for assistance with heating and fueling costs during the winter months. Find out more and apply online here. WHYY

Next week: Green Philly hosts “Green Elephant” holiday party. Join Green Philly for a sustainable twist on the classic gift-swap game on December 9th at Indy Hall Clubhouse. Find out more here!

Cover photo: Guests at GP’s Green Elephant in 2024.

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Angie Bacha (she/her) is a Philadelphia-based solutions journalist and recent Erasmus Mundus Master's in Journalism, Media and Globalisation student in Aarhus, Denmark. Previously, she worked as a student journalist at Community College of Philadelphia and Editorial Intern at Resolve Philly. Some other hats she has worn: Human Rights and Theatre Studies graduate; teaching artist; carpenter; AmeriCorps volunteer; and rock climbing gym shift supervisor. NEWS TIPS: angiebacha1@gmail.com View all posts by Angie Bacha