GPEN - Greater Philly Environmental Network, Philadelphia Pennsylvania

GOP SENATORS NOW OPPOSE GUTTING LOCAL CONTROL OF DRILLING
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 02/01/12
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL This week, nine Republican members of the Pennsylvania Senate announced their opposition to a key provision of the bad drilling legislation passed by both the Senate and House in late 2011. Sens. Chuck McIlhinney (Bucks), Tommy Tomlinson (Bucks), Ted Erickson (Delaware), Rich Alloway (Franklin), John Rafferty (Montgomery), Stewart Greenleaf (Montgomery), Pat Vance (Cumberland), Mike Folmer (Lebanon) and Bob Mensch (Montgomery) sent a letter to Senate Republican leaders stating their opposition to the bills' attack on the ability of local governments to regulate certain aspects of drilling in their communities. Originally Published: 01/27/12 (Send to a Friend)
HOUSE MAKES EVERYONE — TAXPAYERS, EMPLOYEES, AND ENVIRONMENT — HAPPY WITH ONE BILL
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 02/01/12
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL This week the Pennsylvania House passed great green building legislation that will cut energy and water use, reduce air and global warming pollution, make our public employees more productive and save taxpayers money too. House Bill 193, championed by Rep. Kate Harper, R-Montgomery, was approved by a 170-18 vote. The bill requires high-performance building standards for most construction projects involving buildings owned or substantially leased by the Commonwealth. PennFuture has been working on this legislation with the state's green building organizations for several years. House Bill 193 now moves to the Senate. Originally Published: 01/27/12 (Send to a Friend)
AIRING ON THE SIDE OF HUMAN HEALTH
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 01/23/12
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Rep. Greg Vitali, D-Delaware, has introduced important legislation that would help address the growing problem of air pollution from Marcellus Shale and other unconventional gas operations. House Bill 2113 would require the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to collect and publish information about air pollution emissions from Marcellus drilling, require air pollution permits for Marcellus wellhead area emissions, and increase air permit fees to help fund the DEP air pollution control program. Originally Published: 01/13/12 (Send to a Friend)
GREEN BUILDING LEGISLATION MOVING IN THE HOUSE
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 01/23/12
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL The House of Representatives has scheduled floor votes on important green building legislation sponsored by Representative Kate Harper, R-Montgomery. House Bill 193 would require most state-owned building projects to meet high-performance green building standards. The House is slated to consider amendments to HB 193 on January 18, and vote on final passage on January 23. Originally Published: 01/06/12 (Send to a Friend)
SOLAR JOBS BILL GETS A CHANCE TO SHINE
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 01/23/12
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Next Wednesday, January 11, the House Consumer Affairs Committee chaired by Representative Bob Godshall, R-Montgomery, will hold a hearing on the Solar Jobs Bill sponsored by Representative Chris Ross, R-Chester. Ross's House Bill 1580 now has 113 co-sponsors, more than half of the State House. The bill is vital to protecting solar jobs and the continuing growth of the solar industry in Pennsylvania. Originally Published: 01/06/12 (Send to a Friend)
PA REPS DEFEND CLEAN AIR ACT
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 01/23/12
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL The federal Clean Air Act is now under assault in Congress, especially by the U.S. House of Representatives. This week State Reps. Tony Payton, D-Philadelphia, and Gene DiGirolamo, R-Bucks, penned an excellent op-ed on the value of a strong Clean Air Act and the need to vigorously defend the law against the current attacks. Payton and DiGirolamo are co-chairs of the Pennsylvania House Asthma Caucus. More than 260,000 children and 890,000 adults in Pennsylvania suffer from asthma and are vulnerable to poor air quality. Originally Published: 12/22/11 (Send to a Friend)
LAND BANK LEGISLATION MOVES IN THE HOUSE
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 01/23/12
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL The House Urban Affairs Committee chaired by Rep. Chris Ross, R-Chester, yesterday approved legislation that would help address the problem of the estimated 300,000 vacant and often blighted properties in the state. House Bill 1682, sponsored by Rep. John Taylor, R-Philadelphia, provides for the creation of land banks. Land banks are locally created and locally controlled entities that work to return vacant and abandoned properties to productive reuse. Land banks acquire and maintain vacant properties, clear the title, do site preparation, and package and market parcels for redevelopment. House Bill 1682 allows counties and municipalities to establish land banks. PennFuture supports this important legislation. Originally Published: 12/16/11 (Send to a Friend)
A NEW ZONING CODE FOR PHILADELPHIA
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 01/23/12
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Philadelphia City Council this week unanimously approved a new zoning code. This modern zoning code with key sustainability elements will help Philadelphia protect its parks, encourage development near transit stops, provide incentives for green buildings, promote farmer's markets and urban gardens, and make it easier for citizens to shape the future of their neighborhoods. The Next Great City coalition led the effort in 2007 to establish a Zoning Code Commission. The new code will become effective eight months after Mayor Nutter signs it. Originally Published: 12/16/11 (Send to a Friend)
SENATE PASSES SAME FLAWED DRILLING BILL
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 01/23/12
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL This week the Senate passed House Bill 1950 with exactly the same language as the flawed Senate Bill 1100 the chamber approved on November 15. The vote was 28-22, with Republicans Chuck McIlhinney, R-Bucks, and Robert Tomlinson, R-Bucks, changing their votes from "yes" on November 15 to "no" on December 14. Senate Democrats, to their credit, offered a series of amendments that would have significantly improved the bill. All amendments failed, but each attracted GOP support. You can find out how your senator voted by reading the PennFuture Blog (http://my.pennfuture.org/site/R?i=9czsSdzmXoYjUCVjkk-u5w). The House is expected to vote "no" on the drilling bill next week, which will move the bill into a conference committee. The Democrats in both houses probably will be kept out of the real negotiations, with the final bill crafted by the Senate and House Republican leadership, Gov. Corbett, and the drillers. But all is not quiet on the legislative front. Legislators from both parties and both chambers are starting to feel the heat from their constituents. Originally Published: 12/16/11 (Send to a Friend)
PENNFUTURE LOSES TWO GREAT FRIENDS
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 11/09/11
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL It was a sad week at PennFuture as we learned of the death of two great PennFuture friends – Rob Stuart of Philadelphia who worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for all Philadelphians, and Gene Wilson, long active in community and conservation projects and a great supporter of the League of Women Voters. All PennFuture staff members send our condolences to the families of these fine men. Originally Published: 10/28/11 (Send to a Friend)
SOLAR JOBS BILL POISED TO RISE IN THE HOUSE
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 11/09/11
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL The number of House co-sponsors of Representative Chris Ross's (R-Chester) Solar Jobs Bill has now grown to 110, more than a majority of the 203-member House of Representatives. House Bill 1580 was referred to the Consumer Affairs Committee chaired by Representative Robert Godshall (R-Montgomery). This week Godshall announced that his committee will hold a hearing on HB 1580 on November 17. Originally Published: 10/28/11 (Send to a Friend)
WORKERS ADD THEIR VOICES FOR A DRILLING TAX
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 10/26/11
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL A coalition of labor unions representing 1.1 million Pennsylvanians has endorsed the fair and comprehensive drilling tax bill that Representatives Tom Murt, R-Montgomery, and Gene DiGirolamo, R-Bucks, plan to introduce as House Bill 1863. The Coalition for Labor Engagement and Accountable Revenues, or CLEAR Coalition, is comprised of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO; District Councils 13 and 47 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; American Federation of Teachers Pennsylvania; Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties; Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association; Service Employees International Union; United Food and Commercial Workers; and the Pennsylvania State Education Association. Originally Published: 10/21/11 (Send to a Friend)
SOLAR JOBS BILL DAWNS IN THE HOUSE
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 10/26/11
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Representative Chris Ross, R-Chester, recently introduced the Solar Jobs Bill with an impressive list of 106 co-sponsors--a majority of the 203-member House of Representatives. House Bill 1580 was referred to the Consumer Affairs Committee chaired by Representative Robert Godshall (R-Montgomery). Originally Published: 10/21/11 (Send to a Friend)
GOOD CALL BY THE UMP
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 10/26/11
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Yesterday a federal judge ruled that PennFuture, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and four other organizations can intervene on the side of the EPA against a lawsuit filed by the American Farm Bureau Federation. With its suit, the Farm Bureau is trying to stop the Susquehanna River cleanup plan and other efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay – measures that are vital to the future of clean water here and in the Bay. Originally Published: 10/14/11 (Send to a Friend)
NFL GREEN BOWL
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 10/26/11
	Contact: Bryan Collins / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL The Philadelphia Eagles plan to build the NFL's largest solar array at Lincoln Park. The project will cost more than $30 million and will cover the stadium's roof, its south-facing facade and parts of the parking lot. The Eagles will also install two small wind turbines above the end zones. The Washington Redskins recently unveiled the soon-to-be second largest solar array at an NFL stadium. The Seattle Seahawks put the largest solar array in Washington state on a building next to their stadium. Originally Published: 10/14/11 (Send to a Friend)
SAVING MONEY IS ACADEMIC
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 10/12/11
	Contact: Bryan Collins / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL State Treasurer Rob McCord has an innovative financing program to help Pennsylvania colleges and universities make investments in energy efficiency that will save money, reduce pollution, and cut heat-trapping gases that are causing our climate to change. The Campus Energy Efficiency Fund is expected to leverage $45 million in investment including up to $10 million from Treasury. Drexel University is the inaugural participant in the fund to make sure that the Dragons' fire will be more efficiently harnessed. Originally Published: 10/07/11 (Send to a Friend)
CORBETT'S DRILLING FEE PLAN PANNED, BUT THERE'S A REAL PLAN ON THE TABLE
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 10/12/11
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL With great hoopla this week, Gov. Tom Corbett unveiled his Marcellus Shale proposal. And reaction was swift – and negative. Corbett's scheme pushes the fee collection down to counties, it's puny even if all the counties collect the full impact fee, and there is no funding for statewide conservation and environmental programs. Meanwhile, Reps. Tom Murt, R-Montgomery, and Gene DiGirolamo, R-Bucks, continue to build a substantial list of Republican and Democratic co-sponsors for a fair and comprehensive drilling tax bill they plan to introduce as House Bill 1863. This week Reps. Murt and DiGirolamo held a press conference with a diverse group of supporters to highlight the legislation and the wide range of investments their bill would make in host communities, environmental programs, education, economic development, transportation, housing and human services. Originally Published: 10/07/11 (Send to a Friend)
PROTECTING THE PARKS
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 10/05/11
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL On Sept. 29 PennFuture kicked off a major campaign to prevent Marcellus Shale drilling in Pennsylvania's State Parks, "Don't drill through the heart of Pennsylvania." The campaign is urgently needed as 61 state parks lie above the Marcellus Shale and firms are investigating the prospects for drilling in the parks. Since we don't own the mineral rights for most of the parks, they are potentially wide open for drilling. Some of our popular and scenic parks are at the greatest and most immediate risk for drilling including Ohiopyle, Ricketts Glen, Pymatuning, Maurice K. Goddard, Yellow Creek and Cook Forest. Our state parks campaign includes asking industry to pledge to keep the parks safe from drilling and pipeline activity; and legislative and DEP action to develop stringent rules and a high impact fee for anyone wanting to drill in our parks. Originally Published: 09/30/11 (Send to a Friend)
NEW DRILLING TAX EFFORT GAINING STEAM
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 10/05/11
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Members of the General Assembly from both parties are signing on to the proposal by Reps. Tom Murt, R-Montgomery, and Gene DiGirolamo, R-Bucks, for a fair and comprehensive drilling tax bill. Their legislation will impose a 4.9 percent tax -- a robust levy but lower than the rate in neighboring West Virginia where the industry is thriving. In return, this bill seriously considers the need to fund statewide priorities and for all Pennsylvanians to benefit from drilling. The legislation makes long-term investments in clean air, clean water and our parks and forests, including funding Growing Greener, AND reinvests in education, job creation, housing and the social services Pennsylvanians need -- all which took major hits in the last state budget. Meanwhile, Rep. Marguerite Quinn's, R-Bucks, impact fee legislation (House Bill 1700) continues to be part of the conversation as well. It looks like the Senate will take up impact fee legislation in October, and either the Murt-DiGirolamo bill or the Quinn bill could be considered as an amendment if the bill is taken up by the House. Originally Published: 09/30/11 (Send to a Friend)
WHERE DID THEY GET OUR NAME?
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 09/28/11
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL PennFuture, along with about 100 other organizations, was listed as a supporter of legislation in Congress that would stop key clean air rules in a press release from Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. In fact, PennFuture opposes the legislation and fully supports strengthening clean air regulations. Rep. Upton’s office issued a correction after groups that oppose the dirty air legislation complained. Originally Published: 09/23/11 (Send to a Friend)
BAD FOR BABIES
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 09/28/11
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Bisphenol-A, or BPA, is linked to breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes, male infertility and other problems. Because of concerns about the impact of BPA on the brain development of fetuses, infants and children, baby bottles that contain BPA are banned in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin. This week the House Democratic Policy Committee, chaired by Rep. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, held a hearing on House Bill 192, which would ban BPA in infant and baby products manufactured or sold in Pennsylvania. HB 192 is sponsored by Rep. Larry Curry, D-Montgomery and has been held without action in the House Health Committee chaired by Rep. Matt Baker, R-Tioga. Originally Published: 09/23/11 (Send to a Friend)
NEW DRILLING TAX EFFORT GAINING STEAM
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 09/28/11
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Representatives Tom Murt, R-Montgomery and Gene DiGirolamo, R-Bucks are now seeking co-sponsors for a significant, fair and comprehensive drilling tax bill they plan to introduce within a few weeks. The legislation will impose a 4.9 percent production tax. This proposed levy is robust, but still lower than the rate of our neighbor, West Virginia, which is supporting the booming industry by leading the nation with new wells drilled in 2010. The revenue will help revitalize our state’s valuable Growing Greener program and provide funding for hazardous sites cleanup, clean water programs, county conservation districts and the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. The legislation also assists communities that "host" the drilling and makes significant investments in education, social services and economic development, among other programs. Originally Published: 09/23/11 (Send to a Friend)
SAVING PRIMROSE CREEK
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 09/28/11
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL PennFuture recently filed an appeal before the Environmental Hearing Board, challenging a permit granted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection allowing New Hope Crushed Stone Quarry to expand its operations in Solebury Township, Bucks County. The appeal was filed on behalf of the Primrose Creek Watershed Association as well as PennFuture. The permit approval came after DEP determined that the creek was impaired, and that the quarry was the cause of the impairment. Now DEP wants to allow the quarry to expand without imposing any new conditions or requirements to address the impairment of Primrose Creek caused by the quarry. We are asking the EHB to revoke this improper authorization. A copy of the appeal is available via the WEBSITE link. Other appeals in this matter have been filed by Solebury Township and Solebury School. Originally Published: 09/16/11 (Send to a Friend)
COMMONWEALTH REACHES SOLAR MILESTONE
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 09/28/11
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Pennsylvania now has 100 megawatts of installed solar capacity according to the PJM Generation Attribute Tracking System (GATS). The solar energy from these systems can produce enough electricity to power over 12,600 homes. Our solar sector is a tremendous success story, growing from 3 megawatts to 100 megawatts in four years and creating thousands of jobs. But this faster-than-expected growth of the solar market is crashing the market for solar renewable energy credits (SRECs), making it more difficult to finance solar projects. To address this issue, Representative Chris Ross, R-Chester, plans to introduce the Solar Jobs Bill this fall as House Bill 1580. Ross's bill will make a temporary three-year adjustment in the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard law to stabilize the SREC market and keep the solar industry creating jobs and pollution-free energy in Pennsylvania. Originally Published: 09/09/11 (Send to a Friend)
ECO-MERICA OPENS SHOWROOM IN WARMINSTER, PA
	Organization: Eco-merica Conservation Center Date Posted: 07/08/11
	Contact: (215)322-0476 WEBSITE EMAIL Eco-merica Inc., a regional leader in renewable energy design and installation services for the residential and commercial sectors, has opened a new retail location in Warminster. Among the products and services available at the store are: solar electric systems, geothermal HVAC systems, insulation Services, Low-e windows, LED lighting products, eco-friendly flooring and countertops, Zero-VOC paint, rainwater collection cystems, eco-friendly cleaning products and much more. Go to www.eco-merica.com for more details. (Send to a Friend)
NEXT STEPS FOR RECYCLING IN PENNSYLVANIA
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 04/27/11
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Pennsylvania's core recycling law, commonly known as Act 101, has a long record of success and job creation since its passage in 1988. But the program now lacks the ambition and energy of its early years, and falls short of much more aggressive recycling efforts in other states. Professor John Dernbach and his students at Widener Law School's Environmental Law Center authored a report that deserves serious consideration by legislators and other state policymakers. The report is entitled "Next Generation Recycling and Waste Reduction: Building on the Success of Pennsylvania's 1988 Legislation" (cf. http://blogs.law.widener.edu/envirolawblog/embargoed-recycling-report/). Originally Published: 04/22/11 (Send to a Friend)
BEHOLDEN TO WHOM?
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 04/27/11
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL U.S. Rep. Tim Holden (D-PA 17) led the charge in Washington to weaken the Clean Water Act. The Obama Administration is trying to straighten out confusion caused by a Supreme Court ruling a decade ago that some of the waterways that the act had been helping to keep clean for 30 years weren't actually subject to federal oversight. The EPA is now trying to restore that authority, not - as Holden and some others claim — trying to expand its authority. The letter to weaken the Clean Water Act was signed by 170 representatives, largely along party lines (147 Republicans and 23 Democrats). Pennsylvania Republican representatives Mike Kelly, Jim Gerlach, Patrick Meehan, Mike Fitzpatrick and Joe Pitts did not sign the letter. All but three of Pennsylvania's Democratic representatives stayed off the letter; the three who signed the dirty water dispatch were Holden, Jason Altmire and Mark Critz. Originally Published: 04/22/11 (Send to a Friend)
TELL ALL WHEN IT COMES TO FRACKING
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 04/20/11
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL This week the Ground Water Protection Council and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission launched Frac Focus - a searchable online voluntary chemical disclosure registry that gives detailed well-specific information about the amount of water and chemicals used in fracking natural gas wells. U.S. Senator Bob Casey, noting that the registry is voluntary and has no oversight, said, "This isn't enough, but any progress is welcome." Senator Casey has reintroduced the FRAC Act which requires all drillers to disclose their chemical use before fracking, and submit a post-fracking report. Originally Published: 04/15/11 (Send to a Friend)
HARPER TO INTRODUCE DRILLING TAX BILL
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 04/20/11
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL In the latest sign that support for drilling tax crosses party lines as sound public policy and necessary for meeting our state's obligations, Representative Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) is now seeking House co-sponsors for a drilling tax bill that she plans to introduce. Harper dedicates 29.6 percent of the tax revenue to the state's Growing Greener program, which is nearly out of money. It's good to see a member of the House Republican caucus play a lead role on the drilling tax. House members should increase the bill's 1.5 percent tax rate for the first five years of the production of a Marcellus gas well. Approximately 40 percent of the production of a Marcellus well occurs during the first five years. Originally Published: 04/15/11 (Send to a Friend)
GENERAL ASSEMBLY PLACES FOXES IN CHARGE OF HEN HOUSE BUILDING CODES
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 04/20/11
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL An extraordinarily bad bill rammed through the General Assembly this week gave the powerful building lobby veto power over any future changes to Pennsylvania's statewide building code that improve energy efficiency, safety and public health. Environmental and green building organizations believe that future improvements to energy efficiency in the building codes are now unlikely. House Bill 377, which will repeal safety sprinkler requirements in new home construction, passed the House on March 7. Last week the Senate Labor and Industry Committee amended the bill to require a 2/3 vote from the Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council (RAC) to update our statewide building code in the future. Now, the builders and their allies on the RAC have veto power over any update of our building codes that protect the lives, health, property and environment of all Pennsylvanians. An amendment to strip the harmful supermajority language from HB 377 in the Senate nearly succeeded thanks to the efforts of Senators Mike Waugh (R-York), Chuck McIlhinney (R-Bucks), and Christina Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia). You can see the roll call for the 22-28 amendment vote at http://my.pennfuture.org/site/R?i=WD4FXPmj8f4UnC1bMxd84g. The Senate then approved HB 377 by a 33-17 vote. The House voted 129-68 on Wednesday to give final approval to HB 377. The vote occurred less than 24 hours after HB 377 passed the Senate, hardly enough time for legislators to consider the far-reaching changes to the bill. And Governor Corbett? According to yesterday's Philadelphia Inquirer, Governor Corbett supports the provisions of HB 377 that repeal the sprinkler requirement, but is "reviewing" the provisions of the bill that change the RAC's voting procedures. Corbett now has the opportunity to do the right thing and veto the bill. Will he stand up to the builders lobby that endorsed his candidacy for governor? Originally Published: 04/15/11 (Send to a Friend)
DAY 57: DRILLING TAX BILL HELD HOSTAGE
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 04/20/11
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL House Bill 33, the drilling tax bill, now has 70 House co-sponsors. But it has been bottled up since February 9 in the House Finance Committee chaired by Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre). Now the bill's prime sponsor, Representative Greg Vitali (D-Delaware), has filed a motion for a discharge resolution to get it out of committee and to the full House of Representatives for consideration. A vote on the resolution could come as early as April 27. Originally Published: 04/15/11 (Send to a Friend)
PHILLY ZOO GOES GREEN
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 04/11/11
	Contact: Bryan Collins / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL The Philadelphia Zoo will now be getting 25 percent of its electricity from renewable resources and plans to increase the amount of green energy over time. GDF Suez Energy Resources will donate enough renewable energy credits to offset more than 3 million pounds of carbon dioxide each year - the equivalent to taking 314 cars off the road. Originally Published: 04/08/11 (Send to a Friend)
ATTACKS ON CLEAN AIR ACT REJECTED
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 04/11/11
	Contact: Bryan Collins / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL The United States Senate defeated all-out attacks on the Clean Air Act in votes yesterday that would have destroyed or delayed the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate global warming pollution. A series of amendments to an unrelated bill would have: exempted certain small companies and farms from EPA greenhouse gas regulations; suspended any EPA regulations on climate pollution, except for motor vehicles, for two years; delayed EPA regulations on greenhouse gases for two years and completely exempted agriculture; and worst of all, permanently blocked the EPA from acting in any way to regulate greenhouse gases. Both Senator Casey and Senator Toomey voted against three of the amendments. Senator Casey supported delaying EPA regulations and exempting agriculture, but Senator Toomey supported the worst one that would have banned EPA from ever regulating global warming pollution. Originally Published: 04/08/11 (Send to a Friend)
PHILLY IN TOP TEN CLEANTECH CITIES
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 04/06/11
	Contact: Bryan Collins / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL From Lincoln Field, the Eagles green stadium, to the Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster for Energy Efficient Buildings at the Navy Yard, Philadelphia's embrace of renewable energy and energy efficiency has caught the attention of Cleantechies (http://blog.cleantechies.com/2011/03/25/top-ten-cleantech-cities-in-the-united-states/) which listed the City of Brotherly Love in the top ten of cleantech cities in the United States. The public and private investments in clean energy and energy efficiency are driven by a desire to protect Philly's government, businesses and residents from volatile dirty energy costs. Originally Published: 04/01/11 (Send to a Friend)
SENATOR YUDICHAK INTRODUCES A DRILLING TAX
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 04/06/11
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Senator John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) introduced Senate Bill 905, a bipartisan bill that would impose a tax on natural gas drilling. Three Republican senators are cosponsors – Senator Ted Erickson (R-Delaware) Senator Stewart Greenleaf (R-Bucks, Montgomery) and Senator Charles McIlhinney (R-Bucks, Montgomery). According to Senator Yudichak, the tax would bring in $125 million the first year, rising to $400 million by the fifth year. The revenue from the drilling tax would be split three ways with a third going to Growing Greener, a third to a grant program that funds water and sewer projects ,and a third to communities where drilling is occurring. Representative Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) previously introduced a drilling tax, House Bill 33, in the lower chamber. Originally Published: 04/01/11 (Send to a Friend)
HEALTHCARE'S HARVEST: SEEDING SUSTAINABILITY IN HOSPITAL KITCHENS
	Organization: Women's Health & Environmental Network Date Posted: 03/31/11
	Contact: 215-990-1271 WEBSITE EMAIL This collection of recipes offers hospitals, other healthcare facilities and institutions flavorful, sustainable and healthy meals. Building on WHEN’s previous sustainable food cook training, it is designed to offer organizations an opportunity to enhance their fare by using and creating seasonal, sustainable, and/or organic, menus. Recipes with photos and nutritional data feature Sustainable Poultry, Sustainable Seafood & Fish, and Tasty Vegetarian. Examples include: Pommery Mustard Chicken with Grilled Pear, Lentils and Spinach (gluten-free option), Sea Scallops on Singapore Noodles and Veggie Sliders on Whole Wheat Rolls. (Send to a Friend)
GIVE ME LAND LOTS OF LAND
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 03/30/11
	Contact: Anne Crowley / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Two miles, that is. That's the minimum amount of land surface that would remain undisturbed by drilling rigs if Rep. Greg Vitali's proposed legislation (HB 1211) passes. This would protect the rest of the state from facing the fate Dimock Township (Susquehanna County), where 63 wells have been drilled in a 9-square-mile area, and five separate wells pads are within a quarter-mile of each other. Originally Published: 03/25/11 (Send to a Friend)
NEXT STEPS FOR THE NEXT GREAT CITY
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 03/23/11
	Contact: Bryan Collins / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Philadelphia has made extraordinary progress since 2007, when 130 community, faith, environmental, business, and union organizations declared that Philadelphia could be the Next Great City if it created cleaner, safer and healthier neighborhoods. The Next Great City coalition, coordinated by PennFuture, has achieved the majority of its initial 10 recommendations in partnership with the administration of Mayor Michael Nutter. Now the Next Great City coalition is turning its attention to Philadelphia City Council, urging candidates to enhance the city's environmental quality, strengthen its neighborhoods, and increase its economic competitiveness. The coalition has developed five new priorities for the next City Council that will be elected this November: sell or transfer publicly owned vacant properties; make streets safe for walking and biking; reuse and recycle food and construction waste; disclose energy costs to property buyers; and, improve access to fresh, local food. Originally Published: 03/18/11 (Send to a Friend)
SWEP ENVIRONMENTAL GRANT PROGRAM
	Organization: Society of Women Environmental Professionals of Greater Philadelphia (The) Date Posted: 03/18/11
	Contact: 610-935-5577 WEBSITE EMAIL The Society of Women Environmental Professionals of Greater Philadelphia is announcing the opening of its 2011 Environmental Grant Program. The Grant is intended to help fund organizations or programs that creatively address a locally defined need to create, enhance, restore, or protect the natural environment or to provide environmental awareness through educational sessions with particular emphasis on encouraging girls and/or women in the sciences, engineering, or environmental fields. Grant applications will be accepted between February 1, 2011 and March 31, 2011 and the Grant Award will be announced Earth Day April 22, 2010. (Send to a Friend)
WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 03/16/11
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL During the course of budget negotiations, legislators may end up considering leasing more forestland for drilling as they face a harsh public backlash to cuts. To try to ensure that doesn't happen 76 members of the House, led by Representative Greg Vitali (D-Delaware), have introduced House Bill 150, which would create at least a three-year freeze on further leasing of state land for gas and oil drilling. Many of these legislators, including House Democratic Whip Mike Hanna (D-Clinton and Centre) and House Democratic Caucus Chair Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny), were joined by Pennsylvania conservation and environmental organizations including PennFuture at a press conference to urge support for the bill. Originally Published: 03/11/11 (Send to a Friend)
SOME BILLS WORTH WATCHING
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 03/16/11
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Well over 1,600 bills have already been introduced in just the first two months of the 2011-12 session of the General Assembly (and PennFuture's Policy Director Steve Stroman takes at least a quick look at each one). Here are just a couple of the bills he's watching: Senator Daylin Leach's (D-Montgomery) Senate Bill 425 is a comprehensive amendment to the Oil & Gas Act that would better protect natural resources and communities from gas drilling. The bill addresses a wide range of issues including well bonding, permitting, location of wells near water, well inspections and protection of the traditional ability of local governments to regulate the time and place of gas drilling.... Representative Kate Harper's (R-Montgomery) House Bill 193 would require green building standards for most state-owned buildings. Senator John Rafferty (R-Montgomery) and Representative Matt Smith (D-Allegheny) also plan to introduce green building legislation in the near future. Originally Published: 03/04/11 (Send to a Friend)
80 HOUSE MEMBERS TO CORBETT: NO MORE DRILLING LEASES IN OUR FORESTS
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 03/16/11
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL This week 80 members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives sent a letter to Governor Corbett urging him not to lease additional state forest land for natural gas drilling. Governor Rendell's executive order banning further leasing of state land for drilling is now in place, but could be felled with one swoop of Corbett's pen. To see if your legislator signed, check http://www.pennfuture.org/userfiles11/SignedMoratoriumLetter03-02-2011.pdf Originally Published: 03/04/11 (Send to a Friend)
SPRING FOR TREES!
	Organization: Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers Date Posted: 03/08/11
	Contact: 215 951 0330 WEBSITE EMAIL SPRING FOR TREES! ..buy a Philly Native for the Wonderful Wissahickon. Spring is Upon Us: Help us in restoring the Wissahickon by reaching our campaign goal of purchasing 1,000 trees. Just $10 for a tree! More. (Send to a Friend)
SAVE THE FOREST BILL INTRODUCED IN THE SENATE
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 02/23/11
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Senator Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery and Delaware) has introduced Senate Bill 426, which would put a three-year freeze on further leasing of Pennsylvania state forests for gas drilling. The drillers already have access to more than 700,000 acres of state forest land, nearly half of the 1.5 million acres that lie above the Marcellus Shale. The following senators are co-sponsors of Senate Bill 426: John Blake (D-Lackawanna), Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton), Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), Edwin Erickson (R-Delaware), Jim Ferlo (D-Allegheny), Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny), Stewart Greenleaf (R-Montgomery), Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery), John Rafferty (R-Montgomery) and Mike Stack (D-Philadelphia). DCNR officials have predicted that we are already likely to see at least 1,000 well drilling pads and as many as 12,000 deep gas wells in our state forests, along with an extensive network of roads, pipelines, wastewater impoundments, compressor stations and other infrastructure. Drilling is already having a negative impact on recreational uses of the state forests, including fishing, hunting, hiking, camping and outdoor tourism. Originally Published: 02/18/11 (Send to a Friend)
DRILLING TAX BILL LAUNCHED WITH 60 COSPONSORS, LEADERSHIP SUPPORT
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 02/16/11
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Representative Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) introduced his drilling tax legislation as House Bill 33 with an impressive bipartisan 60 House members co-sponsoring the bill. Among the many legislators joining Vitali to launch the bill were House Minority Whip Michael Hanna (D-Clinton), House Democratic Caucus Chair Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny), Legislative Black Caucus Chair Ronald Waters (D-Philadelphia), and House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Minority Chair Camille "Bud" George (D-Clearfield). House Bill 33 allocates one-third of the drilling tax revenue to environmental programs, one-third to local governments "hosting" the drilling, and one-third to the General Fund. Pennsylvania's popular and successful Growing Greener program is nearly out of money. The drilling tax bill would provide an estimated $78.6 million to Growing Greener in the 2011-12 fiscal year, $102.3 million in 2012-13 and $128.2 million in 2013-14. House Bill 33 is now in the Finance Committee chaired by Representative Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre). Pennsylvania remains the only major gas producing state without a drilling tax. A drilling tax will mean that all Pennsylvanians will benefit from the development of this resource, funding for environmental programs is guaranteed, and taxpayers are protected from the costs for damage to the environment and local communities. Originally Published: 02/11/11 (Send to a Friend)
DRILLERS TO GET MESSAGE TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 02/09/11
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Representative Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) plans to introduce a new bipartisan bill to tax drilling for natural gas deep in the Marcellus Shale at a Tuesday Capitol press conference with legislators, conservation and outdoors groups, and other public interest organizations. Pennsylvania remains the only gas producing state without a drilling tax. The tax rate in the bill will be just below that of neighboring West Virginia, where the drilling industry is thriving with the tax. This bill allocates one-third of the drilling tax revenue to environmental programs, one-third to local governments "hosting" the drilling, and one-third to the General Fund. Pennsylvania's popular and extraordinarily beneficial Growing Greener program is nearly out of money. The drilling tax bill would provide an estimated $78.6 million to Growing Greener in the 2011-12 fiscal year, $102.3 million in 2012-13 and $128.2 million in 2013-14. Originally Published: 02/04/11 (Send to a Friend)
STILL WORKING TO SAVE OUR FORESTS
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 12/08/10
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Representative Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) is looking for co-sponsors for legislation that will put a three-year freeze on further leasing of Pennsylvania state forests for natural gas drilling. The legislation will be identical to his House Bill 2235, which passed the House on May 4 by a strong, bipartisan 157-33 vote. Unfortunately, the bill died in the Senate. Governor Rendell signed an executive order on October 26, placing a moratorium on leasing any more land for gas drilling on state forest and other lands owned by the Commonwealth. He took the action after DCNR conducted an extensive and scientific evaluation of the state forest system which found that leasing any more of our public forest land would damage critical environmental assets. More leasing would also put the Commonwealth at risk of losing the sustainable forest management certification that protects Pennsylvania's $6 billion forest products industry and 40,000 jobs. Originally Published: 12/03/10 (Send to a Friend)
GREEN GOES GREENER
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 12/01/10
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL The Philadelphia Eagles are taking Lincoln Financial Field off the grid and becoming the global green leader by generating all of the arena's electricity needs from renewable resources. The solar panels, wind turbines and alternative fuels power plant will save the franchise $60 million in electric bills over 20 years. Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said the move is a good business decision noting that the savings, "prove that sustainable energy policies are consistent with sound business practices." Originally Published: 11/19/10 (Send to a Friend)
THE VALUE OF OPEN SPACE
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 12/01/10
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Open space in southeastern Pennsylvania adds $16 billion to the value of the region's housing stock, saves local governments over $132 million per year in costs associated with environmental services, helps residents stay fit and active, generates $270 million in tax revenue and supports 7,000 jobs according to a study by the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia. The study was commissioned by the GreenSpace Alliance and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Originally Published: 11/19/10 (Send to a Friend)
WIND AND FARMING BILL
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 12/01/10
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL House Bill 1394 allows landowners to lease land enrolled in Clean and Green for wind energy and pay back taxes only on the portion of the property used for the wind energy system. Clean energy projects such as solar, methane digesters and small-scale wind on Clean and Green land would be exempt from back taxes if more than half of the energy generated is used on the property. Representative Tom Houghton (D-Chester) was the prime sponsor of House Bill 1394, and Representative Dave Kessler (D-Berks) and Senator Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) developed similar legislation. The unanimous passage of House Bill 1394 was the result of a stakeholder process organized by House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Majority Chair Mike Hanna (D-Clinton) and Minority Chair John Maher (R-Allegheny) and Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Majority Chair Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster). PennFuture participated in the stakeholder meetings. Originally Published: 11/19/10 (Send to a Friend)
E-WASTE RECYCLING BILL
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 12/01/10
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Legislation that creates a statewide electronic waste recycling program now awaits Governor Rendell's signature. House Bill 708 requires manufacturers to establish a program to collect, transport, and recycle old computer equipment and televisions sold in here. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) must approve the manufacturers’ recycling programs. The bill also bans the landfill disposal of the e-waste in two years. Representative Chris Ross (R-Chester) was the prime sponsor of House Bill 708. Senator Ted Erickson (R-Delaware) introduced companion legislation in the Senate and helped move the bill there. Originally Published: 11/19/10 (Send to a Friend)
AND THEY’RE BACK
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 11/17/10
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL The House Democratic leadership did a 180 and decided that it would call the House back into session on Monday to tie up some loose legislative ends. We’re hoping that a number of bills we’ve pushed for years, including the legislation to grow green jobs by requiring e-cycling and the Housing Trust Fund Bill will get approval and the governor’s signature. Originally Published: 11/12/10 (Send to a Friend)
COMMONWEALTH RECOGNIZED AS TOP GREEN ENERGY BUYER
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 11/10/10
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL The Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership released the top 50 purchasers of green energy in the country, and Pennsylvania is well represented. Coming in at number five is the Commonwealth, which is buying 50 percent of its power from green providers. Also in the top 50 from Pennsylvania are the University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University and Penn State University. Originally Published: 11/05/10 (Send to a Friend)
MORE ENERGY SAVINGS IN THE WORKS
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 11/10/10
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Next week Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and the Metropolitan Caucus (a coalition of commissioners and council members from Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties) will unveil EnergyWorks, a comprehensive energy solutions program for residential, commercial and industrial building owners. Originally Published: 11/05/10 (Send to a Friend)
SAVING ENERGY, SAVING MONEY
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 11/10/10
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Act 129, Pennsylvania’s historic energy savings law passed in 2008, requires Pennsylvania’s utilities to reduce both overall demand for electricity by one percent by 2011 and three percent by 2013, and peak demand for electricity by 4.5 percent by 2013. This week PECO announced that it has already met its electricity savings requirement for 2011. PECO Smart Ideas, the utility’s Act 129 program, has saved its customers over $68 million. The energy savings from reducing demand has the same impact as not driving about 457 million miles or planting nearly 440,000 trees. Originally Published: 11/05/10 (Send to a Friend)
BULLETIN: HOUSE CANCELS REMAINDER OF SESSION
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 11/10/10
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL The House of Representatives was scheduled to return to Harrisburg for five more days of voting starting Monday. A wide range of bills that have worked their way through the legislative process need the House to vote to agree with the Senate amendments, then the bills can go to Governor Rendell for his signature. One such bill is Representative Chris Ross’ (R-Chester) vital electronic waste recycling bill. PennFuture just learned that the House Democrats have canceled all remaining votes this session. The House Democrats and the Senate Republicans promised to pass both a natural gas severance tax and an independent fiscal office. Now all of the kids are breaking their promises, taking their toys and going home. This decision cheats citizens and destroys years of work for good policy. Originally Published: 11/05/10 (Send to a Friend)
A VICTORY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST BLIGHT
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 11/03/10
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Governor Rendell signed legislation this week that gives communities new tools to clean up blight. The Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act makes it easier for municipalities to hold property owners responsible for the costs to secure, clean up or demolish blighted buildings. It also allows communities to file for extradition of out-of-state landlords to face criminal charges. Senator David Argall (R-Schuylkill) was the prime sponsor of the legislation. This bill was a priority of the Pennsylvania Works! Coalition. Congratulations to the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, which led the campaign for the bill. Originally Published: 10/29/10 (Send to a Friend)
A BOOST FOR CLEAN ENERGY
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 10/20/10
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Farmers and other landowners with properties enrolled in Clean and Green will have new opportunities to generate clean energy with passage of House Bill 1394 sponsored by Representative Tom Houghton (D-Chester). The bill now goes back to the House for final approval. Senator Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) and Representative Dave Kessler (D-Berks) also sponsored bills that were vital parts of this effort. The bill allows landowners to lease land enrolled in Clean and Green for wind energy and pay back taxes only on the portion of the property used for the wind energy system. Wind energy and agriculture can go hand in hand. Clean energy projects such as solar, methane digesters and small-scale wind on Clean and Green land would be exempt from back taxes if more than half of the energy generated is used on the property. PennFuture participated in stakeholder sessions to iron out the details of this bill that were convened by Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Majority Chair Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster), and House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Majority Chair Mike Hanna (D-Clinton) and Minority Chair John Maher (R-Allegheny). Originally Published: 10/15/10 (Send to a Friend)
E-WASTE BILL ADVANCES
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 10/20/10
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Legislation that requires electronics manufacturers to establish a program to collect, transport and recycle old computer equipment and televisions sold in Pennsylvania is a step closer to becoming law thanks to Senate passage of House Bill 708. Enacting the bill will promote the reuse of electronic equipment, the recovery of metals and other valuable resources, create green jobs and ensure proper recycling of toxic materials that are often either disposed in landfills or exported to developing countries that lack safeguards for workers and the environment. House Bill 708 is sponsored by Representative Chris Ross (R-Chester). Senator Ted Erickson (R-Delaware) is the sponsor of companion legislation and provided valuable leadership in moving the bill through the Senate, and Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Chair Mary Jo White (R-Venango) also played a vital role in Senate amendment and passage of the bill. The House must now concur with Senate amendments for the bill to go to Governor Rendell for his signature. Originally Published: 10/15/10 (Send to a Friend)
THE WHOLE WORLD IS ACTING
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 10/06/10
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Join the 350.org movement for a Global Work Party for the environment on 10/10/10. People from 176 countries in more than 5,450 events will work for solutions for climate change and to send a message to politicians that we need to reduce dangerous heat-trapping gases. There are more than a dozen work parties scheduled in Pennsylvania. Find one in your town (go to http://www.350.org/en) or start one of your own. Originally Published: 10/01/10 (Send to a Friend)
ON THE WISH LIST
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 10/06/10
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL The Senate should take another giant step when it returns to work on October 12 by passing the green buildings legislation. This legislation would make new state-owned buildings meet high-performance green building standards. This one is good for taxpayers and the environment – green buildings save energy, water and other natural resources. There are two nearly identical bills for the Senate to pick – House Bill 444 sponsored by Representative Matt Smith (D-Allegheny) and Senate Bill 728 sponsored by Senator John Rafferty (R-Montgomery). Originally Published: 10/01/10 (Send to a Friend)
PROFILE IN COURAGE — REPRESENTATIVE KATE HARPER
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 10/06/10
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Representative Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) bucked her leadership and championed an amendment to the tax bill that substantially increased the funding for Growing Greener programs. Harper's amendment was key to gaining support from Republicans in southeastern Pennsylvania and it kept the severance tax alive this session. Harper's stand on the House floor took considerable courage given the intense pressure she faced. Originally Published: 10/01/10 (Send to a Friend)
WOO HOO - HOUSE PASSES SEVERANCE TAX
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 10/06/10
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL On Wednesday the House of Representatives passed an extraction tax on deep gas drilling by a 104-94 vote. The House-passed tax is fair and robust and provides vital funding to help protect Pennsylvania's land, water, wildlife and communities. The two-year campaign to pass the severance tax would not have been possible without the solid and persistent leadership of Rep. Dave Levdansky (D-Washington/Allegheny) and Rep. Bud George (D-Clearfield) and the support of the House “green dogs." Originally Published: 10/01/10 (Send to a Friend)
BETTER PLANS NEEDED FOR CLEAN WATER
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 10/06/10
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL The Environmental Protection Agency released plans today for a massive water cleanup plan, officially called a total maximum daily load or TMDL, for the Chesapeake Bay and Pennsylvania rivers and streams that feed it. As part of this cleanup plan the entire region is going on a pollution diet, and individual states in the region need to write their own cleanup plans. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania’s plan has fallen short. The plan lacks a clear timeline for action, an enforcement strategy and clear consequences if polluters fail to meet reduction goals. If the state doesn’t act to make improvements, the EPA will issue a plan of its own. Today marks the beginning of a 45-day period for the public to send comments to the EPA and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Originally Published: 09/24/10 (Send to a Friend)
AAA GETS AN FFF
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 10/06/10
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL This week the Rails to Trails Conservancy asked its members sign a petition asking the American Automobile Association (AAA) to stop lobbying Congress to cut funding for trail, biking and walking programs that support a balanced transportation system. This is hardly the first time AAA has worked against smart transportation policies. In 2005 AAA attempted to block the Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles Program that allows our state’s residents to purchase the cleanest, most fuel-efficient cars and light trucks. A reminder - one of the perks of joining PennFuture is a discount on membership to the Better World Club, the nation’s only environmentally friendly auto club. Originally Published: 09/24/10 (Send to a Friend)
INSPECTING THE INSPECTORS
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 10/06/10
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL Last year’s annual report of the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) on Pennsylvania’s regulation of coal mining activities contained a startling statistic: When Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) coal mine inspectors were accompanied by their OSM counterparts on “oversight inspections,” they found 27.5 times more violations than when the state inspectors were on their own. This year’s discrepancy is even worse. The OSM evaluation report for the year ending June 2010 shows the violation rate was 55 times higher during federal oversight inspections than it was when nobody was looking over the shoulder of state inspectors. Originally Published: 09/24/10 (Send to a Friend)
E-WASTE BILL ADVANCES IN SENATE
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 10/06/10
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL This week the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee chaired by Senator Mary Jo White (R-Venango) unanimously approved legislation that will require producers of electronic waste to establish a program to collect, transport and recycle electronic equipment. House Bill 708 is sponsored by Representative Chris Ross (R-Chester), and Senator Ted Erickson (R-Delaware) has introduced companion legislation in the Senate. HB 708 now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Originally Published: 09/24/10 (Send to a Friend)
KEEP THE PROMISE TOUR CONCLUDES
	Organization: PennFuture Date Posted: 10/06/10
	Contact: Christine Knapp / 215-545-9692 WEBSITE EMAIL On Sept. 23 PennFuture wrapped up its nine-stop Keep the Promise Tour aimed at holding our legislators to their promise to pass the severance tax, with a breakfast in Johnstown and a town hall in Uniontown. The tour was a great success, attracting hundreds of citizens and considerable media coverage. We had great participation by many including county commissioners, county conservation districts, township and borough officials, land trusts, watershed and conservation organizations, angling groups, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. PennFuture also greatly appreciates the 17 legislators who attended: Senators Richard Alloway (R-Franklin), Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne), Ted Erickson (R-Delaware) and Chuck McIlhinney (R-Bucks), and House members Larry Curry (D-Montgomery), Bill DeWeese (D-Greene), Mike Hanna (D-Clinton), Deberah Kula (D-Fayette), Dave Levdansky (D-Allegheny), Tim Mahoney (D-Fayette), Rick Mirabito (D-Lycoming), Dan Moul (R-Adams), Scott Petri (R-Bucks), Marguerite Quinn (R-Bucks), Ken Smith (D-Lackawanna), Rick Taylor (D-Montgomery) and Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) Originally Published: 09/24/10 (Send to a Friend)