Join our team! Become an intern and get school credit or volunteer hours. Internships What You Need to Know We are seeking socially and environmentally conscious people who are strong communicators and have a passion for helping others and the community in areas of science, organizing, sustainability, communications, environmental policy, and environmental law. A successful applicant will embody our organization’s core tenets of Creativity, Quality Communication, Education & Leadership of Others, Culture of Service, Relationship Building, Adaptability, and Effective Time & Project Management. We offer unpaid internships (for course credit). If offered an internship position, we will work around school requirements and work schedules as much as possible to ensure that the Intern's needs are met during their time on our team. If you are interested in a position, please click the "Apply Now" button and complete the application form with a resume and cover letter. Contact kyle@protectpt.org with any questions. Internship Type General Intern Environmental Policy & Advocacy Intern Digital Media & Outreach Intern Legal Research & Writing Intern Environmental Science & Research Internship Community Organizer Intern SPRING/SUMMER 2026 APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN! Protect PT is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment. Therefore, qualified applicants will be considered regardless of sex, race, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or any other protected category. Apply Now! What Do We Look For?

Data centers are energy intensive facilities that contain a large network of computer servers that store, manage, back up, and recover data. In January of 2025, Protect PT learned about a proposed data center located in Upper Burrell, PA, at the old Alcoa plant. According to TECfusions, the company responsible, this one data center will consume three gigawatts of electricity—more electricity than produced by solar in the state of Pennsylvania. Data Centers & Fracking Proposed Data Centers Near You in Southwestern PA Sign up for Email Updates A data center is a warehouse-like building containing rows of networked computer servers and equipment used for the remote processing, storage, and distribution of data. Municipalities across Pennsylvania are currently receiving many proposals for large data center projects, primarily for the purpose of allowing technology companies to power AI tools and cloud computing. These hyperscale facilities can cover hundreds of acres of land and require vast amounts of energy and water. Our Advocacy Target Areas: Regional sites where we actively mobilize community members around shared concerns. Upper Burrell Springdale Get Involved Upcoming Events SAVE (Save Allegheny Valley Environment) Springdale Resident Meetings Date : Every Wednesday Time : 7 PM - 8:30 PM Location : From Italy Pizza Restaurant 1115 Lincoln Ave, Springdale, PA 15144 Monthly Upper Burrell Community Meetings Date : Last Wednesday of Each Month Time : 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM Location : Penn State New Kensington 3550 7th Street Rd, New Kensington, PA 15068 Download our fact sheets! Get your own yard sign! Homer City Data Center Impacts to Residents and the Environment from Large Scale Data Centers Increased Electric Costs Data centers use tremendous amounts of electricity. New hyperscale facilities, which are designed to support AI development, demand hundreds of megawatts (MW) or even several gigawatts (GW) of energy. That's as much energy as a mid-size city like Pittsburgh. This can drive up costs for local residents and small businesses. People in northern Virginia, the "Data Center Capital of the World," are already facing rate hikes as data centers consume more than 25% of the state's electricity . Fracking Operations A sudden influx in energy-intensive data center projects would strain our resources, encouraging more unconventional oil and gas development. Many of these facilities are being proposed alongside gas-fired power plants. Southwestern Pennsylvanians are already facing the burdens of fracking in the form of negative health impacts, disturbances, and stress. We are concerned that data center development would be a significant roadblock to moving in the right direction for a clean and healthy energy future. High Water Usage Data centers have become a top 10 water consuming industry in the United States. Hyperscale facilities can consume up to five million gallons of water per day to cool their servers. In fact, each 100-word email generated by an AI Chatbot using GPT-4 requires 519 millimeters of water for cooling, which is more than 1 standard bottle of water. Not all water authorities may be capable of or suitable for serving these data centers. This high water use could also pose a problem during periods of drought. Air Pollution Noise and Light Pollution Many of these data centers would be powered by gas-fired power plants or mobile gas turbines, which release harmful pollutants into the air. Data centers are also often equipped with backup diesel generators, which kick for additional power use. These noisy generators produce particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide, which can cause breathing problems in exposed populations. People living near data centers are sometimes affected by noise and light pollution. Data centers emit constant, low-frequency noise, which can affect physical and mental wellbeing. The type of activity that a data center is used for can affect how much sound it produces, with cryptocurrency mines being especially loud. Careful facility siting and design is necessary to prevent data centers from emitting nuisance noise. Resources AI Data Centers & Fracking - Video Playlist Frac Tracker - National Data Centers Tracker EESI - Data Centers & Water Consumption Large Scale Data Center Impacts - Resource Guide Water Keepers Chesapeake - Water Supply Article: SWPA Residents Rage Against the Machines ORVI - Fracking & Economics

Our work involves community education and involvment with the beaver run well pad, youth climate action, oil and gas waste, and legal advocacy. Our Work We work in communities across Westmoreland and eastern Allegheny counties impacted by unconventional oil and gas development. What We Do Using grassroots organizing, policy analysis, environmental science, and community education, and legal advocacy, we work to protect our public health and preserve our natural environment here in southwest PA. We collaborate with a diverse network of non-profit organizations as well as local and state government officials to enact change that benefits local residents. Legal Advocacy Our legal team works to protect Pennsylvanian's right to clean air and pure water, as as acknowledged under the Pennsylvania Constitution, Article 1 Section 27. Learn More Focus Areas Penn Township Protect PT's home base, Penn Township, has had significant levels of unconventional oil and gas development in the past decade, including over ten proposed well pads and two compressor stations. Learn More Beaver Run Reservoir Located in Westmoreland County, Beaver Run is a public water source for 150,000 people in the 39 surrounding townships. More than 50 wells are located near the reservoir; many less than 1,000 feet from the water's edge. Learn More Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill This landfill produces significant health and environmental impacts to nearby residents in Rostraver, Monessen, and Belle Vernon. Learn More Operator Accountability Holding local operators accountable for their actions is critical to protecting our rights to clean air, pure water, and the preservation of our environment. View our permitting digest, find out what operators are near you, and report your observations here! Learn More Data Centers and Fracking As of early 2025, Protect PT has begun working around a proposed data center located in Upper Burrell Township that would negatively impact residents. Learn More Plum Injection Well The Plum Injection Well is situated near the Allegheny River, the drinking water source for the city of Pittsburgh and surrounding communities. A leak from the injection well could impact hundreds of thousands of residents. Learn More Additional Resources 1. Fracking 101 Learn what fracking is and how it can impact you, your family, and your community. Learn More 2. Leasing Information Learn everything you need to know before you consider signing a lease. Learn More 3. Permitting and Violations Stay up to date about new permits and operator violations near you. Learn More Support our Work Become a member of Protect PT and help us continue providing essential programs that protect our environment and public health here in southwest PA. I WANT TO BE A MEMBER!

Our Mission Protect PT (Penn-Trafford) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring residents' safety, security, and quality of life by engaging in education and advocacy to protect the economic, environmental, and legal rights of the people in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties.  ​ About Us Our Mission Protect PT (Penn-Trafford) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring residents' safety, security, and quality of life by engaging in education and advocacy to protect the economic, environmental, and legal rights of the people in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties. Protect PT was established in 2014 as a grassroots community-based nonprofit organization designed to protect our community from the harmful environmental impacts of fossil fuel activity. We are dedicated to ensuring Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties residents’ safety, security, and quality of life. Meet the Team Gillian Graber (She/Her) Jim Cirilano (He/Him) Yvonne Sorovacu (She/Her) Kyle Zboran (They/Them) Sara Majorsky (She/Her) Lauren Posey (She/Her) Mina Kimak (She/Her Noah Bedard (He/Him) Brandon Mutschler (He/Him) Community Environmental Education Center Our Financial Supporters Our financial supporters include community member contributions as well as the organizations below that fiscally support our work in a variety of ways. 2026 The Heinz Endowments 11th Hour Project The Schmidt Family Foundation EPA ARP Enhanced Air Quality Monitoring for Communities Equation Campaign Just Fund Frontline Justice OVR Participatory Fund Patagonia Environmental Grants Rural Climate Democracy 2025 The Heinz Endowments 11th Hour Project The Schmidt Family Foundation Rural Climate Democracy EPA ARP Enhanced Air Quality Monitoring for Communities Equation Campaign Pittsburgh Wishbook Patagonia Environmental Grants OVR Participatory Fund Park Foundation Just Fund Frontline Justice

Get Involved As a grassroots organization, Protect PT encourages all community members to get involved in our work by becoming a member, volunteering, joining our board, or applying for internships or jobs with us! Become a Member Support Protect PT's Work By becoming a member, you are ensuring that we have the legal standing needed to continue advocating for your rights and the rights of your community. Every membership increases our ability to fulfill our mission to ensure the safety, security, and quality of life for our community. Become a Member Take Action Check out our updated list of actions that residents can take to better our community and support our continued advocacy. Take Action Internships Protect PT offers several internships for high school and college students looking to gain experience in our focus areas, including environmental policy, law, community organizing, and digital marketing. Click below to see what internship positions are currently available. Internships Careers Protect PT offers a supportive and flexible working environment and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All of our positions are based in our home base of Harrison City, PA. Click below to see what positions are currently available. Careers Volunteer If you are a socially and environmentally conscious person who has a positive attitude, flexibility, enthusiasm, and a passion for helping others and the community, please join us by volunteering your time. Volunteer With Us Join our Board We are always looking for board members with experience in the following areas: legal, grant writing/development, environmental science/engineering, and finance/business operations. If you have experience in any of those areas and would like to serve your community, please consider joining our board. Join our Board Mentorship We strive to be of service to other communities in the southwestern Pennsylvania region to help them better protect themselves from unconventional gas development and its associated infrastructure. In order to serve other communities, we are offering mentorship and guidance to individuals or groups that want to work toward social change in their community. Learn More

Join our team! Be a member of our board, volunteer, or intern to create change in your community. Become an intern and get school credit or volunteer hours. Careers at Protect PT PPT offers a supportive and flexible working environment and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. If you have any questions about job oppertunities at Protect PT, email us at info@protectpt.org . If you would like to support Protect PT's mission but are not currently seeking an employee position, you can visit our Take Action! page and sign up to be a volunteer . Additionally, you can donate and become a PPT member. Internship applicants can learn more about our openings and apply on our internship page . Current Positions Community Organizer (Full-Time) Are you a socially and environmentally conscious individual with a passion for helping the community? Protect PT wants you to apply to our full-time Community Organizer role! We're seeking an energetic self-starter, ideally with experience in community organizing, who strongly believes that our communities deserve to be empowered with the tools to participate in environmental advocacy. If this sounds like you, please view the job details at the link above, and apply at https://protectpt.info/apply . Applicants should be sure to include a cover letter, resume, and writing and design samples! Our Core Tenets Protect PT's Inclusion Policy Protect PT is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment. Therefore, qualified applicants will be considered regardless of sex, race, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or any other protected category. The work I do here affects my friends and family. My parents get their drinking water from Beaver Run Reservoir. If you apply for a job here, you’ll be fighting for my parents, too. [Additionally], I’m disabled. I need accommodation under the ADA in order to do my job. Of all the places I’ve worked, Protect PT has done the best job of accommodating me. Management’s focus is always on the results I achieve. When personal health issues come up, Protect PT has stood by me. Tom P. Former Environmental Policy Advocate

Operator Accountability Weekly Permitting and Violations Digest Are you concerned with unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD) in Southwest PA? Do you worry about how oil and gas companies are impacting the environment? If so, sign up to receive a weekly round-up from Protect PT on any new permits filed by oil and gas companies operating in the area or notices of violations. Citizen watchdogs help ensure the Department of Environmental Protection is adequately addressing the impacts of fracking, and that they hold oil and gas companies to the highest standard when complying with the law. All reports are sourced from the Department of Environmental Protection's Pennsylvania's Environment Facility Application Compliance Tracking System (eFACTS) . Use our map to find operators near you! Subscribe Here See Something? Say Something. Use our reporting app to notify community of environmental hazards in your area! IF YOU ARE WITNESSING AN ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCY, CONTACT THE DEP IMMEDIATELY AT 800-541-2050 Report Your Observations You can report observations at home or on the go with our environmental reporting tool . This mobile responsive website can be used on any device. You can record observations of environmental hazards and health impacts, as well as find additional directions on reporting these impacts to the proper agencies. You should report... Air pollution Noise and Nuisance related to development Water contamination Headaches, dizziness, or other symptoms caused by pollution Safety concerns And more! Be sure to also report your observations to the DEP in order to hold operators accountable for their actions. Protect PT will follow up on any reports you make through the app, but will not disclose any personal information to third parties without your consent. If you have questions about using this tool, contact the Environmental Science team at enviroscience@protectpt.org . Learn to Make a Report! OR Download Our App! We Can Hold Them Accountable Check out these recent enforcement actions by the DEP. View more on our Instagram! File Your Report Here Or, scan this QR code with your phone to file a report on your mobile device!

Read and sign up for our quarterly newsletters! Newsletters Every quarter, Protect PT sends our print newsletter to our biggest supporters across PA. If you would like to join this list, please fill out the form below! Check out our past newsletters below. Summer2026 Spring 2026 Fall 2025 Winter 2026 Summer 2025 Spring 2025 Winter 2025 Fall 2024 Summer 2024 Spring 2024 Fall 2023 Winter 2024 DONATE TODAY!

About Us Proposed to support the increased power load to data centers, the Kammer-Juniata line would cut across 222 miles from the panhandle of West Virginia to Central Pennsylvania. The developers have petitioned the state to receive eminent domain to facilitate its construction, all while subsidizing its cost using our tax dollars and raising utility costs. Kammer-Juniata High Voltage Power Line Proposed Map Image Source: Mountain Watershed Association Subscribe to our emails Join the Facebook Group! Learn More about Transmission Lines Engage with your municipality to advocate for your protections!

Proposed Springdale Data Center Latest News Air Pollution Dispersion Map Sign up for Email Updates SAVE (Save Allegheny Valley Environment) Springdale Resident Meetings Date : Every Wednesday Time : 7 PM - 8:30 PM Location : From Italy Pizza Restaurant 1115 Lincoln Ave, Springdale, PA 15144 Located at the site of a former coal plant, the Springdale data center project is backed by Davidson Kempner Capital Management, a large hedge fund manager. This project would pull about 350 MW from the grid. Located in the middle of town, it is in close proximity to homes and businesses. This data center received conditional use approval from the Borough Council in December 2025. Now, the developer has applied to Allegheny County for land development approval. We expect a public hearing to take place in Fall 2026. Save Allegheny Valley Environmental, or SAVE, is a local community group opposing this project.

What you should know before leasing your land to gas and oil production/exploration? We have resources and templates you can use to make an educated decision about leasing. What You Should Know Before Signing a Lease You should seriously consider consulting an attorney knowledgeable in this particular area of law as well as your mortgage lender and homeowner's insurance carrier as your decision to sign may affect your ability to refinance, sell, or be covered for any damages related to drilling. Pennsylvania does not currently have automatic forced pooling (the act of being forced by state law into participation in an oil and/or gas producing unit) and it is very difficult, and impossible in many circumstances, for companies to use this controversial legal tool to gain access to minerals beneath your property. The promise of income for your family for generations is often exaggerated and there are hidden fees, taxes, deductions etc. See a list of questions to ask before signing from our partners at Environmental Integrity Project Other Concerns Associated With Unconventional Gas Development Nuisance: Fracking is a heavy industrial process. Each well requires thousands of truck trips and results in significant noise. Drilling operations continue 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and require substantial lighting and produces tons of waste. Fire & Explosions: There is always the potential for fire and explosions with the nature of natural gas production and the evacuation area on an unconventional gas well is typically a 1/2 mile radius from the well. Water & Air Pollution: According to the DEP, in 2014 more than 240 private water supplies were said to have been damaged by oil and gas operations during the past seven years. Streams and tributaries are also at risk from contamination due to spills or regurgitation of flow back from slick water hydraulic fracturing. Residents living less than 1⁄2 mile from wells are at greater risk for health effects from exposure to air pollutants during well completion activities due to exposure to toxic chemicals released during the process. Property Value Depreciation: All of the above concerns are issues that can affect property values. Property values will also be affected by whether or not the mineral rights have been severed from the surface rights, whether the mineral rights can be or are leased to an oil & gas company, and problems obtaining mortgages and insurance coverage. Part of Protect PT's mission is to protect the rights of the entire community, if you have questions or want us to put you in contact with legal experts who may be able to help you, please contact us. Contact Us Canvass Your Neighborhood If oil and gas companies are approaching you and your neighbors about leasing it is important that everyone is aware of what it will entail. If you would like to share this information you can canvass your area with this printable "Think Before You Sign A Lease" door hanger. Click the image to the right for the PDF. Some Research To Do Before Signing Always consult an attorney knowledgable in this area of law before signing ANYTHING! Call your mortgage lender and home owner's insurance- your decision to sign may affect refinancing, selling, or damage coverage related to drilling. The promise of income for your family is often exaggerated and there are hidden fees, taxes, deductions, etc... ALL of your neighbors have NOT signed; gas cannot be extracted from your land without your permission. High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing is a heavy industrial process- do your homework before you sign away your rights. Denying a Lease For a sample letter you can use to deny gas companies the leasing of your mineral rights, download below. Additional Sources Mortgage Lenders on Fracking

Solar in Rural Communities Sign-up for Email Updates Upcoming Events Affordable, Safe Energy From the Sun Did you know that just one hour of noontime summer sun is equal to the entire annual U.S. electricity demand? Harnessing this plentiful, constant resource allows us to generate reliable electricity for our communities and reduce our environmental impact. Over the past decade, solar energy has seen great technological advancements, with costs falling by about 90% while panel efficiency improves to over 20%. For homeowners, this means it takes about 7-10 years to break even on a home solar system investment. Once the payback period is over, homeowners enjoy free or reduced electricity costs, with panels providing free power for 15-20 years after they have paid themselves off. For electric utility providers, this means that solar panels are now the quickest and cheapest form of energy generation to install. And for farmers, starting to practice agrivoltaics is more accessible than ever. Agrivoltaics is the practice of co-locating agricultural production with solar energy generation on the same land. Farmers can do this with crops, livestock (as seen above), greenhouses, or pollinator habitats. This dual use of property generates stable income for farmers and can even result in crop benefits like increased yield and reduced water loss. While research is ongoing, current findings demonstrate that vegetables and berries are some of the most suitable crops for agrivoltaics. Check Out Our Fact Sheet! Watch our Webinar! Resources Check out Solar United Neighbors , a national organization conducting solar advocacy and helping homeowners go solar to save on their electric bills. PA Solar Center helps nonprofits and small businesses go solar. They also offer this online resource hub , which contains a qualified solar developer directory. Read this white paper from PennFuture on solar development in Pennsylvania to learn about solar benefits for communities, common myths about solar, and solar policy. The U.S. Department of Energy has a page describing the benefits of residential solar electricity and how to plan and finance your home solar system. If there's one thing most Pennsylvanians can agree on, it's that their electric bills are too high. Electricity costs have skyrocketed over the past five years, rising on average by 46 percent since 2018. To help combat rising energy costs, the PA Solar Center and Solar United Neighbors have joined together to create a new campaign – Energy Independence for Pennsylvania (EI4PA). And they are looking for volunteers like you to help them promote the cost-saving benefits of solar! Opportunities range from in-person presentations to posting to social media from the comfort of your own home. Learn More Here