Talen Energy mailed the 2024 Emergency Preparedness Guide to area residents within the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station evacuation zone and asks that you keep this brochure in a convenient location and readily available for your use. It contains information and planning resources for any emergency situation at and around the plant. There are also SPECIAL ASSISTANCE and FARMER'S ASSISTANCE cards to be completed and mailed back if required during an emergency. You can visit https://talen.bayarddirect.com/2/ for another copy.

If you have any questions, please contact your County Emergency Management Agency at these numbers:

Luzerne - 570-820-4400, Columbia - 570-389-5720

or email Butler Township/Conyngham Borough EMC at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Best Buy Retail Stores in Pennsylvania are once again accepting televisions and monitors (up to 49”) for recycling. There are a few restrictions, and a fee in most cases, associated with this program. It is important to ensure residents are made aware of the restrictions and potential fees prior to taking their televisions/monitors to a Best Buy Retail Store for drop off:

• Only televisions/monitors up to 49 inches will be accepted.
• There is a limit or two items per day (two televisions or two monitors; or one of each).
• Best Buy branded televisions and monitors (Dynex or Insignia) will be accepted at no charge.
• Televisions and monitors of other brands will be accepted, but the resident will be charged $29.99 per television or monitor. Residents paying the collection fee will be issued a $30 Best Buy Gift Card. Please note, this collection fee model is acceptable in accordance with Section 504 of the Covered Device Recycling Act (CDRA).

The Luzerne County Heating and Utility Assistance program provides a one-time grant of $290 per address to heat related utility vendors on behalf of eligible ratepayers.

To be eligible, the applicant must meet each of the following requirements:

• Household must reside in Luzerne County
• Household annual income between 200% and 300% of the Federal Poverty Guideline (see chart below)
• The household must provide all household income for the prior 30 days to determine their annual income
• A Luzerne County renter or homeowner who is responsible for paying for their main or secondary heating source (natural gas, electric, deliverable fuels i.e. fuel oil, kerosene, propane, coal)
• The ratepayer must reside in the household
• Utility costs must have been incurred after March 3, 2021

Renters whose utility service is included as part of their rental cost are not eligible.

PLEASE NOTE: Payment will NOT be made to the individual. This is a one-time grant of $290 per address to heat related utility vendors on behalf of eligible ratepayers. You must supply your primary heating vendor information.

Application can be made online or via a paper application. Questions can be directed to CEO's ARPA Utility Program at: 570-826-0510 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Income Eligibility Guidelines

To be eligible, the gross household income before taxes and other deductions must fall between the lower and upper income limits noted below.

Apply Now

Printable Application417.24 KB

Information taken from Commission on Economic Opportunity.

Public Meeting & Plans Display

2026 I-81 Northbound Bridge over West Foothills Drive Project

Date: December 12, 2023
Time: 4:30 - 6:00 PM (Plans Display), 6:00 PM (Presentation at the Butler Township Supervisors Meeting)
Location: Butler Township Municipal Building, 83 Corporate Drive, Drums, PA 18222

Webpages: https://www.penndot.pa.gov/RegionalOffices/district-4/PublicMeetings/Luzerne%20County/Pages/Interstate-81-Section-362.aspx

Project Description

The existing structure is a concrete spread box beam bridge with an overall structure length of 127'. The existing structure is in poor condition and does not meet current design standards. The bridge will be replaced with a wider structure to provide the required lane and shoulder widths and maintain two lanes of traffic during all stages of traffic control. The project also consists of the construction of a stormwater management facility along the northeast quadrant of I-81 NB/West Foothills Drive.

Traffic Control/Impacts

You will probably be most interested in the timing of the project and the impacts to traffic during construction. This information along with detour plans can be found on the referenced website, but can be summarized as follows:

• Construction is anticipated to begin in the Spring of 2026 and complete by fall of 2027. 
• Traffic impacts are summarized below but the exact timing of the traffic impacts summarized below will not be determined until later in the design process:

• I-81 Northbound: Short-term single lane closures for inside and outside shoulder work. Overnight short-term right lane closures to deliver beams for the third stage of construction.
• I-81 Southbound: Overnight short-term left lane closures to deliver beams to the project for the second stage of construction.
• West Foothills Drive: Short-term and long-term detours will be necessary for full-depth roadway reconstruction as well as bridge demolition and construction. 

• From eastbound T-425 (West Foothills Drive) turn left onto T-338 (Center Hill Road).
• Turn right onto T-429 (Butler Dr./W.Butler Drive).
• Turn right onto County Highway 39 (South Beisels Road)
• Turn right onto SR 3021 (Old Turnpike Road)
• Merge onto T-376 (Short Street)
• Turn left onto T-425 (West Foothills Drive).
• End of detour.  Westbound detour same in opposite direction.

Plans displayed at the Butler Township Building, 83 Corporate Drive, Drums, PA from 12/12/2023 to 1/5/2024. JMT representatives will be present before the Supervisors meeting starting at 4:30 PM to answer any questions from the public.  The JMT representatives will also make a very brief presentation about the project during the meeting.  The plans will remain on display until 1/5/2024.

Documents

SR 81 over West Foothills Drive Bridge Replacement452.55 KB

District 4 Public Meeting Comment Form181.09 KB

Now Accepting Applications

Luzerne County is pleased to open the application process for its Luzerne County Small Business Sustainability Grant Program.

One-time, $5,000 grant awards will be distributed to successful applicants that meet all eligibility requirements. Grants must be used for expenses related to supporting ongoing business operations including: Payroll and/or employee benefits; Mortgage or rent payments; Utility, inventory or equipment costs; Other operating costs; and/or Technical assistance, counseling, or other services to support business planning.

The goal of this program is to help mitigate the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on small businesses, keep their doors open, protect local jobs, support community economic recovery, and increase resiliency across Luzerne County.

The application process is straightforward to encourage all eligible businesses in Luzerne County to apply.

The intention of this program is to distribute grant funds of $5,000 to eligible businesses with less than 20 Full Time Equivalent Employees. Businesses with 20 or more Full Time Employees may be eligible for up to $10,000 as funding allows. All applicants, regardless of size or entity type, must complete the Applicant Information and Attestation Form to be considered for funding.

This program is being administered for Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, by the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Greater Hazleton and Greater Wyoming Valley Chambers of Commerce.

Please visit https://www.luzernecountyready.org/ for more information.