
Sophia Schmidt covers the environment for WHYY’s PlanPhilly. Before coming to Philadelphia in 2021, Sophia reported on her home state of Delaware for Delaware Public Media and produced interviews for NPR’s “Weekend Edition.” Sophia was a 2021 Metcalf Fellow.
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The company has agreed to create a nonprofit to distribute at least $100,000 a year for community initiatives.
7 months ago
Listen 1:20Philly property owners could soon face fines if their EV chargers don’t work
Electric vehicle owners say the city does not have enough public chargers, and the ones that do exist need to be maintained.
8 months ago
Listen 1:05Philadelphia City Council approves extension of tax breaks for former PES refinery site
The Keystone Opportunity Zone extension, which still needs to be approved by the Board of Education, would stretch through 2043.
8 months ago
Schools in Pa. and N.J. are getting money for electric school buses
Electric buses don’t release tailpipe pollution, so they’re better for the climate and healthier for kids.
8 months ago
Listen 1:14EPA reaches historic $4.2 million settlement over 2019 South Philly refinery explosion and fire
The federal agency claims Philadelphia Energy Solutions failed to properly monitor a burst pipe that started the fire. The bankrupt former operator hasn’t admitted fault.
8 months ago
Listen 1:11Volunteers knock on doors to create climate ‘super-voters’ in Philadelphia
The Environmental Voter Project targets people who are passionate about climate and the environment, but rarely or never vote.
8 months ago
Listen 4:56Philly will now pick up your old fridge at the curb. But you may have to wait
City sanitation crews have already collected tons worth of household items too big to put in the regular trash.
8 months ago
Listen 1:17More than one in seven outdoor workers faced heat-related symptoms on the job last year, according to a survey by a research nonprofit.
8 months ago
Listen 1:07Philly restarts curbside trash pickup of bulky items, by appointment
Items eligible for pickup include refrigerators, large furniture, hot water heaters and even tires.
8 months ago
Listen 1:10SEPTA to try out hydrogen fuel cell buses as early as this fall
The 10-bus pilot is part of the agency's efforts to transition to a climate-friendly fleet. But it has attracted criticism from some environmentalists.
8 months ago
Listen 1:04Philly Tree Plan implementation gets underway with USDA grant
The city, school district and a group of nonprofits are officially joining forces to plant and protect more trees.
8 months ago
Listen 1:10Low-income Philadelphians continue to face high energy costs, analysis finds
A national nonprofit found Black and Hispanic households spend more of their income on energy than households overall.
9 months ago