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Susan Phillips

Susan Phillips tells stories about the consequences of political decisions on people's every day lives. She has worked as a reporter for WHYY since 2004. Susan's coverage of the 2008 Presidential election resulted in a story on the front page of the New York Times. In 2010 she traveled to Haiti to cover the earthquake. That same year she produced an award-winning series on Pennsylvania's natural gas rush called "The Shale Game." She received a 2013 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Journalism Award for her work covering natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania. She has also won several Edward R. Murrow awards for her work with StateImpact. In 2013/14 she spent a year at MIT as a Knight Science Journalism Fellow. She has also been a Metcalf Fellow, an MBL Logan Science Journalism Fellow and reported from Marrakech on the 2016 climate talks as an International Reporting Project Fellow. A graduate of Columbia School of Journalism, she earned her Bachelor's degree in International Relations from George Washington University.

Latest by Susan Phillips


New sinkhole forms along Mariner East pipeline in Chester County

The sinkhole occurred in the area of Lisa Drive, West Whiteland Township, where multiple sinkholes first appeared during construction of the pipeline in March 2018.

By Susan Phillips

Pennsylvania’s largest coal plant, and one of its largest polluters, to shut down

The switch to natural gas from coal has some predicting a similar shift in the coming decades when new natural gas plants begin to age.

By Susan Phillips

Pennsylvania sets drinking water standards on two ‘forever chemical’ PFAS compounds

There are no federal maximum contaminant levels for PFAS. Pennsylvania joins others states that have set their own.

By Susan Phillips

Postal Service commits to 100 percent electric vehicle replacement beginning in 2026

The Biden Administration provided $3 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act to help make the purchase, which is expected to cost $9.6 billion in total.

By Susan Phillips

Vanguard pulls out of international climate initiative, angering environmentalists

The Sunrise Project is part of the global Vanguard S.O.S. campaign aimed at pressuring the company to disinvest in fossil fuels.

By Susan Phillips

Updated: 2022-12-13 16:36:01

‘Gasland’ driller will pay millions for new water system in Dimock

The no-contest plea to multiple criminal charges marks the first time Cabot Oil and Gas has taken responsibility for destroying drinking water supplies.Ā 

By Susan Phillips

Environmental groups up their election spending in PA citing ‘existential issues’

The executive director of Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania said, “This is such an existential election for environmental issues in this state, particularly at the top of the ticket with the governor’s race.”

By Susan Phillips

New Jersey sues 5 oil companies and trade group over climate disinformation

NJ wants fossil fuel industry to pay for the impacts of climate change
By Susan Phillips

How the Clean Water Act fixed the Delaware River’s pollution problem

The backbone of the nation’s current water quality regulations dates back to the early 1970s with the passage of laws like the Safe Drinking Water Act and theĀ Clean Water Act, which is 50 years old as of Oct. 18.

By Susan Phillips

PES refinery explosion investigation says EPA should scrutinize deadly chemical hydroflouric acid

The Chemical Safety Board’s investigation points to a corroded pipe as the source of the explosion. It also says several safety provisions failed to kick in immediately or were not in place.

By Susan Phillips
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