Environmental Funds & Investments

For Immediate Release: September 19, 2011

Renew Growing Greener Coalition: Impact Fee Must Address Statewide Environmental Impacts 

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Renew Growing Greener Coalition today issued the following statement from Executive Director Andrew Heath in response to Governor Corbett’s announcement that he will support an impact fee on natural gas drilling.

“We are pleased that the Corbett administration has said it will back an impact fee on Marcellus Shale drilling and that the Governor has specifically referenced the need to fund “environmental cleanup.”

“But the devil is in the details. …

For Immediate Release: September 16, 2011

Five More Organizations and Municipalities Join Coalition in Calling for Growing Greener Funding
Support to Restore Funding for Key State Environmental, Conservation and Recreation Program Continues to Grow 

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Renew Growing Greener Coalition today announced that five more organizations, businesses and municipalities have joined in supporting the effort to restore state funding for Growing Greener.

Brandywine Valley Association (West Chester), Red Clay Valley Association (West Chester), Chester Ridley Crum Watersheds Association (Media) and Venango PA Senior Environmental Corps (Oil City) have signed the Coalition’s Statement of Support, which calls for the establishment of a dedicated and sustainable source of revenue to support the renewal of Growing Greener.  They join 230 other organizations and groups that have also announced their support for renewing Growing Greener. …

For Immediate Release: September 14, 2011  

Renew Growing Greener Coalition Applauds Adams County for Resolution Calling for Renewal of State Funding to Protect Environment 

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Renew Growing Greener Coalition today applauded the Adams County Board of Commissioners for passing a resolution calling for the renewal of Growing Greener, the state’s primary source of funding to help local communities preserve open space and farmland, protect water quality, and enhance parks, trails and other recreational opportunities.

“County commissioners from across the Commonwealth understand the incredible importance of restoring funding for Growing Greener,” said Andrew Heath, executive director of the Renew Growing Greener Coalition. “Our Governor and Legislature should heed the public and restore funding for this critical program so future generations continue to have access to clean drinking water, fresh air, locally grown food and green open spaces.” …

For Immediate Release: August 17, 2011

Renew Growing Greener Coalition to Pennsylvania Lawmakers:
“Protect Our Economy by Protecting Our Environment”

(HARRISBURG, PA)  The Renew Growing Greener Coalition today called upon Pennsylvania lawmakers to protect the state’s economy by protecting its environment and restoring funding for the state Growing Greener program.

“Growing Greener has done more than preserve Pennsylvania’s land, water and air,” said Andrew Heath, executive director of the Renew Growing Greener Coalition. “It has contributed billions of dollars to the Pennsylvania economy by helping to boost tourism, create jobs and generate revenue.”

…

For Immediate Release: August 15, 2011

Renew Growing Greener Coalition Urges Legislators to Allocate Portion of Impact Fee on Drilling to Protect State’s Environment

(HARRISBURG, PA)  The Renew Growing Greener Coalition today urged state legislators to allocate a portion of any impact fee on natural gas drilling to renew funding for the state’s Growing Greener program and protect Pennsylvania’s environment.

“The Growing Greener program has shown Pennsylvania, and the nation, how you can improve environmental conditions, preserve open space and farmland, and protect public parks while continuing to grow local economies,” said Andrew Heath, executive director of the Renew Growing Greener Coalition.  “The General Assembly needs to identify funding sources for this program and the most obvious one at this time is an impact fee on natural gas drilling.” …

For Immediate Release: August 12, 2011

Eight More Organizations and Municipalities Join Coalition in Calling for Growing Greener Funding
Support to Restore Funding for Key State Environmental, Conservation and Recreation Program Continues to Grow

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Renew Growing Greener Coalition today announced that eight more organizations, businesses and municipalities have joined in supporting the effort to restore state funding for Growing Greener.

Endless Mountain Outfitters, Inc. (Sugar Run), Greenbelt Overhaul Alliance of Levittown (Levittown), Responsible Drilling Alliance (Williamsport), Schuylkill Headwaters Association (Pottsville), and West Philadelphia Urban Living Studio (Philadelphia) have signed the Coalition’s Statement of Support, which calls for the establishment of a dedicated and sustainable source of revenue to support the renewal of Growing Greener. They join 225 other organizations and groups that have also announced their support for renewing Growing Greener.

In addition, the following municipalities join over 85 other municipalities and 22 counties, representing more than 5 million Pennsylvanians, which have passed resolutions:

• Kennett Square Borough (Chester County)
• Lansdowne Borough (Delaware County)
• West Pikeland Township (Chester County)

Growing Greener is a bipartisan program established in 1999 under Governor Tom Ridge and later expanded by Governors Schweiker and Rendell.  Since its establishment, Growing Greener has created a legacy of success, preserving more than 33,700 acres of Pennsylvania’s family farmland, conserving more than 42,300 acres of threatened open space, adding 26,000 acres to state parks and forests, and restoring over 16,000 acres of abandoned mine lands.

Moreover, Growing Greener has contributed billions of dollars to the Pennsylvania economy by helping to boost tourism, create jobs and generate revenue.

Yet despite its success, the availability of Growing Greener funding is 80 percent lower in this year’s budget.

About the Renew Growing Greener Coalition

The Renew Growing Greener Coalition is the Commonwealth’s largest coalition of conservation, recreation and environmental organizations representing more than 310 organizations and government entities.  For more information on the Coalition, visit www.RenewGrowingGreener.org.

 

For Immediate Release: June 24, 2011

Five More Organizations and Municipalities Join Coalition in Calling for Growing Greener Funding
Support to Restore Funding for Key State Environmental, Conservation and Recreation Program Continues to Grow

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Renew Growing Greener Coalition today announced that five more organizations and municipalities have joined in supporting the effort to restore state funding for Growing Greener.

Clean Air Council (Philadelphia) and Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy (Schwenksville) have signed the Coalition’s Statement of Support, which calls for the establishment of a dedicated and sustainable source of revenue to support the renewal of Growing Greener. They join more than 220 other organizations and groups that have also announced their support for renewing Growing Greener. …

For Immediate Release: June 17, 2011

Twelve More Organizations and Municipalities Join Coalition in Calling for Growing Greener Funding
Support to Restore Funding for Key State Environmental, Conservation and Recreation Program Continues to Grow

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Renew Growing Greener Coalition today announced that twelve more organizations and municipalities have joined in supporting the effort to restore state funding for Growing Greener.

Delaware River City Corporation (Philadelphia), Hay Creek Watershed Association (Geigertown), People’s Emergency Center (Philadelphia), and The W2Group (Philadelphia) have signed the Coalition’s Statement of Support, which calls for the establishment of a dedicated and sustainable source of revenue to support the renewal of Growing Greener. They join more than 215 other organizations and groups that have also announced their support for renewing Growing Greener. …

For Immediate Release: June 3, 2011

Four More Organizations Join Coalition in Calling for Growing Greener Funding
Support to Restore Funding for Key State Environmental Program Continues to Grow

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Renew Growing Greener Coalition today announced that four more organizations have joined in supporting the effort to restore state funding for Growing Greener.

Delaware Valley Green Building Council (Philadelphia), Delaware Valley Ornithological Club (Havertown), Friends Center (Philadelphia), and Schuylkill River Development Corporation (Philadelphia) have signed the Coalition’s Statement of Support, which calls for the establishment of a dedicated and sustainable source of revenue to support the renewal of Growing Greener. They join more than 280 other organizations and municipalities that have also announced their support for renewing Growing Greener. …