January 30, 2026: Youth File Second Amended Notice of Appeal

The youth filed a Second Amended Notice of Appeal, challenging the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s approval of the proposed 4.5-gigawatt fracked gas-fired Homer City power plant.  

The amended objections detail the massive scale of pollution authorized by the permit, including approximately 17.5 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year, and the resulting threats to young Pennsylvanians’ health, safety, and environment. The youth argue that approving the plant violates their constitutional rights to clean air, pure water, a stable climate system, and life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness under the Pennsylvania Constitution. They are asking the Environmental Hearing Board to overturn and vacate the approval as unconstitutional. 

The filing includes three exhibits: Exhibit A, DEP’s November 18, 2025, Plan Approval authorizing construction and initial operation of the facility; Exhibit B, DEP’s email notifying Our Children’s Trust that the Plan Approval had been issued; and Exhibit C, DEP’s Comment Response Document addressing public comments submitted during the approval process.