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Open Letter to Gov. Wolf and Members of the General Assembly

The Growing Greener Coalition sent the following letter to Governor Wolf and members of the General Assembly on February 12, 2019. Click here for a PDF version.

The Growing Greener Coalition opposes Governor Wolf’s budget proposal to strip tens of millions of dollars away from tangible project investments in order to fund general government operations.

It’s been suggested that money can be taken from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund (Keystone) and the Environmental Stewardship Fund (ESF) because no harm will be done to project investments, and the proposed budget action would only tap unneeded money that’s just sitting around. This ill- considered notion misses fundamental issues:

  • Keystone and ESF were established to fund projects that make lasting improvements in communities; redirecting their funds to support government operations would seriously damage the reliability of these workhorses for achieving community and environmental improvements across the Commonwealth.
  • Keystone and ESF are starving for funds. Even without this budget proposal, they can’t meet the demands for project investments or the needs driving the demands (as described in the sections below)—not even close.
  • The Keystone and ESF monies in state accounts are committed to projects; capital projects by their nature can take a few years to complete. If the state were to redirect any of these committed monies into operations, the state would in fact be un-committing to the projects. Under future budgets, the state could recommit funds to those projects, but, in the meantime, communities would be placed in the difficult position of making major expenditures with hopes but no guarantees that the state will come through with money in the end. (Note that if Harrisburg decides communities must take on this risk, the monies to be freed of commitment should at least be redirected to funding the large backlog of unfunded and underfunded Keystone and ESF projects.)

Helping Communities Help Themselves; Leveraging Private and Local Resources

The Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund and Environmental Stewardship Fund owe their success and longevity to their direct support of community-driven projects. The dedicated funds empower local people and the private sector to address problems at their source, not from afar in Harrisburg. Every dollar in state grants typically leverages at least $1 in other investments and usually the multiplier is much larger. The Keystone Fund alone has leveraged more than $1 billion in public/private partnerships to complete nearly 5,000 projects.

Unmet Demand

Keystone and ESF come nowhere near to meeting present demand. Roughly half of all project investment proposals must be turned away. In the case of DCNR Keystone investments, 46% of projects are rejected for lack of sufficient state funds. And these rejections only represent a portion of unmet demand because grant applicants greatly self-limit their submissions knowing that competition for scarce dollars is fierce. Further, even for those projects funded, DCNR is only able to fund 85% on average of each request (and those requests already are generally limited to 50% of total project costs).

The Need

Pennsylvania’s environmental funding needs are huge. Pressing water issues— from water quality investments needed for the Susquehanna and Chesapeake and Pennsylvania’s other water basins to municipal stormwater management and flood reduction measures—hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars are needed in the coming years. The proposed budget diversion would worsen the needs as it would effectively take money away from communities as they work to address stormwater, flooding, water treatment, and other environmental issues.

The Keystone Fund delivers $7 in flood control and prevention, water treatment, and other natural services for every dollar invested. (See Pennsylvania’s Return on Investment in the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund and other studies here.) Now is the time to strengthen Pennsylvania’s dedicated environmental funds, so that they can deliver more, not less, in project investments.

Looking beyond water issues, our parks, trails, and other outdoor recreational spaces all have pressing needs. A new report identifies a billion dollars in deferred maintenance in our state parks and forests.

Workhorses for Lasting Improvements

The Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund and Environmental Stewardship Fund are the state’s workhorses for investing in projects that bring lasting benefits to communities across the Commonwealth. Among their many accomplishments, they’ve effectively and efficiently improved water quality, conserved lands important to local communities, and created outdoor recreation opportunities for visitors and tourists alike. Their exemplary track records and the needs they address are described at length at KeystoneFund.org and GrowingGreener.info.

Operations Should Be Funded Through General Fund

The Growing Greener Coalition respects that DCNR and DEP need money to operate and that environmental staffing has plummeted in the new millennium. However, the answer to agency needs lays with the General Fund—the appropriate source for general government operations—not in special funds dedicated to investing in projects and to leveraging the incredible energy and resources existing in our communities.

Conclusion

A portion of the realty transfer tax was dedicated to the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund in 1993 and landfill tipping fees were enacted to fund the Environmental Stewardship Fund in 1999 (and expanded in 2002) in order to reinvest in our communities, redress the environmental damage of the past, and respect our generations yet to come. Both funds were established with extraordinary bipartisan support in the General Assembly as well as in public referenda. The public’s enthusiasm continues to be overwhelming: surveys have found that 75% of Republican voters, 82% of Democrats, and 87% of independents support taxing themselves more to expand conservation funding.

The Governor’s budget proposal threatens to upend decades of bipartisan consensus on the need to maintain the dedication of the Keystone Fund and ESF so that they may consistently invest in projects that deliver today and will continue delivering for future generations.

The Growing Greener Coalition asks the Governor to rethink the Administration’s strategy and for the General Assembly to reject this proposal. Coalition partners are ready and willing to meet with the Governor and legislators to resolve the gaping disconnect between the budget proposal and the reality of gross shortages in available project funding.

For more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the people and organizations of the Coalition including:

Conservation Voters of PA
Joshua McNeil, Executive Director
[email protected]

Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds R. John Dawes, Executive Director
[email protected]

Lancaster Farmland Trust
Jeffrey Swinehart, Chief Operating Officer [email protected]

Natural Lands
Oliver P. Bass, President
[email protected]

PennFuture (Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future) Jacquelyn Bonomo, President & CEO
[email protected]

Pennsylvania Environmental Council John Walliser, Senior Vice President
[email protected]

Pennsylvania Land Trust Association Andrew M. Loza, Executive Director
[email protected]

Pennsylvania Park and Forest Foundation Marci Mowery, President
[email protected]

Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society Tim Herd, CEO
[email protected]

Sierra Club PA Chapter
Joanne Kilgour, Chapter Director
[email protected]

The Nature Conservancy, PA Chapter Ronald L. Ramsey, Senior Policy Advisor
[email protected]

Trout Unlimited
David Kinney, Eastern Policy Director
[email protected]

Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Cynthia Carrow, Vice President
[email protected]

Demand and Need: Keystone and Environmental Stewardship Funds

Governor Wolf’s budget proposal would strip tens of millions of dollars away from tangible project investments in order to fund general government operations. Tax receipts were wisely dedicated to the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund in 1993 and the Environmental Stewardship Fund in 1999 (and again in 2002) in continuation of Pennsylvania’s tradition of investing in its communities, redressing the environmental damage of the past, and respecting our generations yet to come.

Keystone and ESF come nowhere near to meeting present demand. Roughly half of all project investment proposals must be turned away. In the case of DCNR Keystone investments, 46% of projects are rejected for lack of sufficient state funds. And these rejections only represent a portion of unmet demand because grant applicants greatly self-limit their submissions knowing that competition for scarce dollars is fierce. Further, even for those projects funded, DCNR is only able to fund 85% on average of each request (and those requests already are generally limited to 50% of total project costs).

Pennsylvania’s environmental funding needs are huge. Pressing water issues—from water quality investments needed for the Susquehanna and Chesapeake and Pennsylvania’s other water basins to municipal stormwater management and flood reduction measures—hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars are needed in the coming years. The Keystone Fund delivers $7 in flood control and prevention, water treatment, and other natural services for every dollar invested. (See Pennsylvania’s Return on Investment in the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund and other studies in the Economic Benefits section of https://conservationtools.org.)  Now is the time to see how Pennsylvania’s dedicated environmental funds can deliver more, not less, in project investments.

The Governor’s budget proposal threatens to upend more than two decades of bipartisan consensus on the need to maintain the dedication of the Keystone Fund and ESF so that they may consistently invest in projects that deliver today and will continue delivering for future generations. The Growing Greener Coalition asks the Governor to rethink the Administration’s strategy and for the General Assembly to reject this proposal.

Governor’s Budget Proposes Stripping Tens of Millions from Community Projects

The Growing Greener Coalition opposes Governor Wolf’s budget proposal to strip tens of millions of dollars away from tangible project investments in order to fund general government operations. Tax receipts were wisely dedicated to the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund in 1993 and the Environmental Stewardship Fund in 1999 (and again in 2002) in continuation of Pennsylvania’s tradition of investing in its communities, redressing the environmental damage of the past, and respecting our generations yet to come.

The Governor’s budget proposal threatens to upend more than two decades of bipartisan consensus on the need to maintain the dedication of the Keystone Fund and ESF so that they may consistently invest in projects that deliver today and will continue delivering for future generations. The Growing Greener Coalition asks the Governor to rethink the Administration’s strategy and for the General Assembly to reject this proposal.

Coalition Testimony: “The Time for Boosting Investments in Growing Greener Is Now”

On August 16, at the request of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, Growing Greener Coalition Executive Committee member Andy Loza testified at a hearing on SB 799 about the need for renewed investments in Growing Greener. Below is the full text of his testimony. View/download the PDF here.

To: Chairman Maher, Chairman Carroll, and Members of the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Re: 8/16/2018 Informational Meeting on Senate Bill 799

Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony today regarding Growing Greener. With over half the current members of the State House being elected since passage of the most recent Growing Greener legislation, I appreciate the opportunity to provide a historical look at the program and the need to greatly boost Growing Greener investments to address Pennsylvania’s environmental needs.

Article 1 is the Pennsylvania Constitution’s bill of rights. Section 27 of Article 1 guarantees Pennsylvanians—including future generations—the right to clean air, pure water, and the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic, and esthetic values of the environment. This Constitutional right stands equal and together with the rights of Pennsylvanians to freedom of speech and religion, the right to bear arms, and other core rights.

Recognizing that this environmental right couldn’t be upheld through environmental regulation alone, in 1999 Governor Ridge and a bipartisan group of legislative leaders established Growing Greener. Over the subsequent 19 years, Growing Greener investments have supported many hundreds of projects to ensure clean water and conserve the best of Pennsylvania. Steadily and incrementally, Growing Greener has made Pennsylvania a better place to live, work, and play.

Growing Greener grants have helped locally-based organizations help their communities. Watershed associations, land trusts, conservation districts, and other groups have brought hundreds of miles of stream back to life, made our water safer to drink, reduced the threat of flooding, and made fishing, swimming, and paddling possible where once there was only death. These organizations have used proven, cost-effective methods to get results, including:

  • Passive and active treatment of abandoned-mine drainage.
  • Tree plantings along waterways.
  • Streambank stabilization and habitat structures.

Growing Greener investments have also:

  • Restored 1600 acres of abandoned mine lands and 250 acres of brownfields to productive use.
  • Plugged more than 700 abandoned oil and gas wells.
  • Rebuilt water treatment infrastructure.
  • Conserved 80,000 acres of open space for outdoor recreation and wildlife.
  • Preserved more than 80,000 acres of productive farmland that preserve rural traditions and stabilize rural economies.
  • Improved hundreds of parks, planted tens of thousands of trees, rehabilitated dams, and fixed stormwater infrastructure.
  • Supported more than 130 infrastructure projects in state parks and forests, ensuring that they are sanitary, safe, and accessible for millions of visitors each year.

Growing Greener has built a tremendous record of success. But due to cumulative environmental damage dating back to the 1800s and the needs of today’s population, there is much more to do:

There are still more than 19,000 miles of rivers and streams toxic to life— unsafe for drinking, swimming, fishing, and boating.

  • 200,000 acres of abandoned mine land and thousands of brownfield sites pollute our water and threaten human health and safety. What’s more, these are wasted lands—lands that, if restored, could be contributing to local economies and jobs.
  • Hundreds of thousands of unplugged wells (8,000 documented by DEP so far) present local hazards and vent immense quantities of methane into the air.
  • The funding gap to fix aging water-treatment facilities is $18 billion.
  • Farmland is disappearing rapidly—since 1982, nearly a million acres have been permanently lost.
  • State parks and forests require nearly $1 billion in necessary repairs and improvements.
  • The list goes on.

We have almost two decades of evidence showing that Growing Greener investments provide effective solutions to these challenges. The cost effectiveness of Growing Greener projects is particularly evident when we compare them to other taxpayer-funded projects. For example:

  • For the cost of building one mile of highway, you can restore vegetation along 2500 miles of streams or build 77 miles of multi-use trails.1
  • For the cost to build one pro sports stadium, you can permanently preserve 600 family farms or build 6,400 new playgrounds or thoroughly rehabilitate a third of our state park and forest infrastructure.

Setting cost-effectiveness, community needs, and environmental rights aside, Growing Greener on economic considerations alone, is a good deal for Pennsylvania. For example:

  • Every dollar invested in conservation returns $7 in flood prevention and water treatment savings.
  • Every dollar spent on watershed restoration leverages $1.25 in local investments.
  • By stabilizing local farm economies, preserved farms preserve jobs and business tax receipts. These farms pay more in taxes than they receive in services.
  • The outdoor recreation industry, which depends on a natural resource base supported by Growing Greener investments, sustains 251,000 direct jobs (tens of thousands more than the entire energy sector3).

But Growing Greener is underfunded relative to its much higher, past funding levels and it’s underfunded relative to the tremendous backlog of environmental needs waiting to be addressed. Quite simply there’s a huge number of projects to complete and nowhere near enough money to complete them. Without a substantial injection of new funding:

  • 19,000 miles of unsafe stream will remain burdens on their communities— useless for drinking, fishing, swimming, and boating—useless to the economy and useless for life.
  • Productive farms and the local economies they support will disappear.
  • Abandoned mine land and brownfields will continue to burden their communities—wasting away when they should be sparking jobs and redevelopment.
  • Communities will lose open spaces crucial to their identities and recreational needs.
  • State parks and forests will become increasingly unpleasant, unsafe, and inaccessible—or closed altogether.

Polling shows that 91% of Pennsylvanians support increasing state funding to protect water, conserve open space, and create opportunities for outdoor recreation. This overwhelming support cuts across party lines:

  • 75% of Republicans
  • 82% of Democrats
  • 87% of Independents

…are willing to pay $10–20 more in taxes each year (per household) for these purposes.

Given this strong bipartisan support, the pressing challenges our commonwealth is facing, and the constitutional right of all Pennsylvanians to clean air, pure water, and open space, the time for greatly boosting investments in Growing Greener is now.

Respectfully submitted,

Andrew M. Loza
Executive Committee Member, Growing Greener Coalition
Executive Director, Pennsylvania Land Trust Association

Growing Greener Coalition Receives Bipartisan Support from Legislators

Several state senators and representatives held a press conference this morning alongside the Growing Greener Coalition to support a $50 million funding investment into the Growing Greener III program.

Rep. Alex Charlton (R–Delaware) began by issuing his support for Growing Greener III and urging Rep. John Maher (R–Allegheny), the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee chairman, to schedule a vote through his committee for SB 799, which was introduced by Sen. Rich Alloway (R–Franklin).

“Pennsylvanians have a constitutional right to clean air, pure water, and conservation of our natural resources,” said Rep. Charlton, who expressed that scheduling the SB 799 vote would secure those continued rights for future generations. Rep. Charlton noted that Growing Greener has helped Pennsylvania’s communities in addressing critical environmental priorities, which include conserving land and water resources, restoring damaged waterways and lands, and creating prosperous and sustainable communities. Rep. Charlton urged the General Assembly to commit $50 million annually to help support these priority initiatives and leverage federal matching dollars that Pennsylvania currently does not receive. Rep. Charlton made note of HB 2485, the companion bill to SB 799, which has 109 sponsors in the House, including himself.

Larry Williamson, chairman of the Growing Greener Coalition, expressed the efforts his group has been making for almost a decade to achieve a fully funded Growing Greener III program. A fully funded program would cost $300 million annually to address the conservation, recreation, and preservation projects and programs needed throughout Pennsylvania, said Williamson. While a fully funded program may not be currently possible within the budget, added Williamson, the $50 million down payment for this year would offer immediate support to the coalition’s programs. “With the down payment, the General Assembly will take an important step in improving the quality of life of all Pennsylvanians, especially future generations,” said Williamson.

Sen. Tom Killion (R–Delaware) recognized that the budget would not be able to include the full $300 million needed to fully fund the Growing Greener III program, but encouraged others to offer bipartisan support to fund the $50 million down payment investment along with his bill, SB 705. “There’s no argument, no argument at all about the success of Growing Greener I and Growing Greener II. The problem is they’re out of funds,” added Sen. Killion.

Rep. Rob Matzie (D–Beaver) opened, “safeguarding our land, our water, and natural resources is essential to maintaining a healthy and thriving economy.” Rep. Matzie noted that his focus is on three main areas of importance to western Pennsylvania, which includes abandoned mine restoration, brownfield reclamation, and historical preservation. “Growing Greener has proved that a smart, commonsense investment in our environment can yield economic benefits and spur job growth”, said Rep. Matzie.

Sen. Tom McGarrigle (R–Delaware) pushed that “Growing Greener is one of the greatest success stories to come out of this General Assembly,” while noting the bipartisan commitment involved in creating a better environment and economy because of this program. Sen. McGarrigle discussed how there has been a decline in Growing Greener funding, even though the need for clean water, parks, trails, and other recreational opportunities continues to increase.

Rep. Hal English (R–Allegheny) highlighted that his support for Growing Greener III stems from his family’s love and appreciation for Pennsylvania’s outdoors and precious resources that they developed when they first moved to the Commonwealth in 1991. “We just need to preserve it, and we need to protect it, and we need to work and start by getting some funding to continue Growing Greener III,” added Rep. English.

 

By Derek Snyder (Pennsylvania Legislative Services)

John Dawes Op-Ed: Renew Conservation Commitment

Pennsylvania House leaders have an opportunity to honor and advance the constitutional right of Pennsylvanians to clean air, pure water and the conservation of our public resources by scheduling a vote on Senate Bill 799, which, if appropriately funded, would reinvigorate the state’s successful Growing Greener program.

In 1999, the General Assembly passed the first Growing Greener program. This and subsequent initiatives have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in projects to restore polluted waterways, protect water supplies, conserve productive farmland and open space important to communities, improve community and state parks and forests and trails and other advancements.

While these investments have been tremendously effective and successful, new challenges threaten Pennsylvania’s natural resources. SB 799, if coupled with new state funding commitments to Growing Greener, would address these challenges. A renewed Growing Greener would deliver real, tangible, and lasting benefits to all Pennsylvanians.

Growing Greener has and will continue to empower our communities to address critical environmental priorities in three key areas:

  •  Conserving land and water resources.
  • Restoring damaged waterways and land.
  • Creating prosperous and sustainable communities.

More than $300 million in annual Growing Greener project investments have been identified as needed to address Pennsylvania’s needs for environmental restoration and conservation. Although this number may not be attainable now, the General Assembly could make a reasonable down payment by committing $50 million more to Growing Greener annually — less than $4 for every resident of the commonwealth.

In making this down payment, the General Assembly would also leverage federal matching dollars, which Pennsylvania otherwise would miss out on.

The bill passed the Senate by a 47-2 vote at the end of January and now sits in the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee chaired by Rep. John Maher. A companion to SB 799 in the General Assembly’s lower chamber has 109 sponsors representing more than one-half of the body’s 203 members.

Maher enjoys complete discretion over what legislation his committee considers. We hope that he and House Speaker Mike Turzai recognize the tremendous good that Growing Greener has done for Pennsylvania. They can lead the General Assembly in injecting new life into Growing Greener and do their part to uphold our state constitution, which affirms that Pennsylvania’s public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come.

***

This op-ed was published in The Times–Tribune on June 14. View it here.

John Dawes Op-Ed: Renew Conservation Commitment

By R. John Dawes

Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds Executive Director

Pennsylvania House leaders have an opportunity to honor and advance the constitutional right of Pennsylvanians to clean air, pure water and the conservation of our public resources by scheduling a vote on Senate Bill 799, which, if appropriately funded, would reinvigorate the state’s successful Growing Greener program.

In 1999, the General Assembly passed the first Growing Greener program. This and subsequent initiatives have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in projects to restore polluted waterways, protect water supplies, conserve productive farmland and open space important to communities, improve community and state parks and forests and trails and other advancements.

While these investments have been tremendously effective and successful, new challenges threaten Pennsylvania’s natural resources. SB 799, if coupled with new state funding commitments to Growing Greener, would address these challenges. A renewed Growing Greener would deliver real, tangible, and lasting benefits to all Pennsylvanians.

Growing Greener has and will continue to empower our communities to address critical environmental priorities in three key areas:

  •  Conserving land and water resources.
  • Restoring damaged waterways and land.
  • Creating prosperous and sustainable communities.

More than $300 million in annual Growing Greener project investments have been identified as needed to address Pennsylvania’s needs for environmental restoration and conservation. Although this number may not be attainable now, the General Assembly could make a reasonable down payment by committing $50 million more to Growing Greener annually — less than $4 for every resident of the commonwealth.

In making this down payment, the General Assembly would also leverage federal matching dollars, which Pennsylvania otherwise would miss out on.

The bill passed the Senate by a 47-2 vote at the end of January and now sits in the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee chaired by Rep. John Maher. A companion to SB 799 in the General Assembly’s lower chamber has 109 sponsors representing more than one-half of the body’s 203 members.

Maher enjoys complete discretion over what legislation his committee considers. We hope that he and House Speaker Mike Turzai recognize the tremendous good that Growing Greener has done for Pennsylvania. They can lead the General Assembly in injecting new life into Growing Greener and do their part to uphold our state constitution, which affirms that Pennsylvania’s public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come.

***

This op-ed was published in The Times–Tribune on June 14. View it here.

Growing Greener Coalition Receives Bipartisan Support from Legislators

By Derek Snyder (Pennsylvania Legislative Services)

Several state senators and representatives held a press conference this morning alongside the Growing Greener Coalition to support a $50 million funding investment into the Growing Greener III program.

Rep. Alex Charlton (R–Delaware) began by issuing his support for Growing Greener III and urging Rep. John Maher (R–Allegheny), the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee chairman, to schedule a vote through his committee for SB 799, which was introduced by Sen. Rich Alloway (R–Franklin).

“Pennsylvanians have a constitutional right to clean air, pure water, and conservation of our natural resources,” said Rep. Charlton, who expressed that scheduling the SB 799 vote would secure those continued rights for future generations. Rep. Charlton noted that Growing Greener has helped Pennsylvania’s communities in addressing critical environmental priorities, which include conserving land and water resources, restoring damaged waterways and lands, and creating prosperous and sustainable communities. Rep. Charlton urged the General Assembly to commit $50 million annually to help support these priority initiatives and leverage federal matching dollars that Pennsylvania currently does not receive. Rep. Charlton made note of HB 2485, the companion bill to SB 799, which has 109 sponsors in the House, including himself.

Larry Williamson, chairman of the Growing Greener Coalition, expressed the efforts his group has been making for almost a decade to achieve a fully funded Growing Greener III program. A fully funded program would cost $300 million annually to address the conservation, recreation, and preservation projects and programs needed throughout Pennsylvania, said Williamson. While a fully funded program may not be currently possible within the budget, added Williamson, the $50 million down payment for this year would offer immediate support to the coalition’s programs. “With the down payment, the General Assembly will take an important step in improving the quality of life of all Pennsylvanians, especially future generations,” said Williamson.

Sen. Tom Killion (R–Delaware) recognized that the budget would not be able to include the full $300 million needed to fully fund the Growing Greener III program, but encouraged others to offer bipartisan support to fund the $50 million down payment investment along with his bill, SB 705. “There’s no argument, no argument at all about the success of Growing Greener I and Growing Greener II. The problem is they’re out of funds,” added Sen. Killion.

Rep. Rob Matzie (D–Beaver) opened, “safeguarding our land, our water, and natural resources is essential to maintaining a healthy and thriving economy.” Rep. Matzie noted that his focus is on three main areas of importance to western Pennsylvania, which includes abandoned mine restoration, brownfield reclamation, and historical preservation. “Growing Greener has proved that a smart, commonsense investment in our environment can yield economic benefits and spur job growth”, said Rep. Matzie.

Sen. Tom McGarrigle (R–Delaware) pushed that “Growing Greener is one of the greatest success stories to come out of this General Assembly,” while noting the bipartisan commitment involved in creating a better environment and economy because of this program. Sen. McGarrigle discussed how there has been a decline in Growing Greener funding, even though the need for clean water, parks, trails, and other recreational opportunities continues to increase.

Rep. Hal English (R–Allegheny) highlighted that his support for Growing Greener III stems from his family’s love and appreciation for Pennsylvania’s outdoors and precious resources that they developed when they first moved to the Commonwealth in 1991. “We just need to preserve it, and we need to protect it, and we need to work and start by getting some funding to continue Growing Greener III,” added Rep. English.

Legislators Call on House Leaders to Move Growing Greener III Legislation

Rep. Alex Charlton (R-Delaware), accompanied by a bipartisan group of fellow legislators, called on House Environmental Resources and Energy Chairman John Maher (R-Allegheny) to schedule a vote on legislation that would reinvigorate Pennsylvania’s Growing Greener program at a Capitol press conference earlier today.

“This legislation, if coupled with new state funding commitments for Growing Greener, would deliver real, tangible, and lasting benefits to all Pennsylvanians,” said Charlton. “It would empower our communities to address critical environmental priorities such as conserving land, protecting water resources, restoring damaged waterways and providing for healthier, prosperous and sustainable communities.”

The framework for Growing Greener III exists in two pieces of legislation, Senate Bill 799, which passed the Senate by a 47-2 vote in January and House Bill 2485.

Larry Williamson of the Growing Greener Coalition who joined the legislators today, said, “The Growing Greener Coalition has been working for close to a decade on a fully-funded Growing Greener III program. I guess patience is a virtue. We believe that a $50 million down payment will provide immediate support to green infrastructure.”

“Growing Greener is one of the greatest success stories to come out of the General Assembly,” stated Senator Tom McGarrigle (R-Delaware and Chester). “It marked an unprecedented, bipartisan commitment to funding vital environmental protections in a fiscally responsible manner.”

“Growing Greener is a critically important program that has a successful track record of preserving Pennsylvania’s natural resources,” said Senator Tom Killion (R-Delaware and Chester). “Growing Greener III will continue to protect our land and waterways. This legislation is the first step in renewing our commitment to the environment and enhancing the quality of life for Pennsylvania’s families.”

“I echo the sentiments of my colleagues, Senators McGarrigle and Killion,” declared Senator Rich Alloway (R-Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and York), sponsor of Senate Bill 799. “It is long overdue to modernize Pennsylvania’s wildly successful Growing Greener program. SB 799 is a great first step to implementing a 21st century Growing Greener program as well as a public- private partnership to address PA’s growing responsibilities to the Chesapeake Bay.”

“The Growing Greener Program has a significant environmental and economic impact across Pennsylvania,” said Senator John Yudichak (D- Carbon and Luzerne) and the Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. “The program has helped forge public-private partnerships between the Earth Conservancy and Northpoint Development leading to the reclamation of thousands of acres of abandon mine land and the creation of more than three thousand jobs in the South Valley corridor of Luzerne County.”

“Safeguarding our land, our water and natural resources is essential to maintaining a healthy, thriving economy,” noted Rep. Rob Matzie (D-Allegheny and Beaver). “Exciting, large scale manufacturing development is happening in Beaver County and southwest Pennsylvania as we speak. Reclaimed brownfields are a big part of the reason why.”

Noted Rep. Hal English (R-Allegheny), prime sponsor of House Bill 2485, “I look forward to funding Growing Greener III to renew our commitment to help us protect our wonderful and abundant natural resources today and for future generations.”

Senate Passes GGIII Framework Legislation

For Immediate Release:  January 31, 2018
Contacts: Andrew Heath, Growing Greener Coalition, (717) 824-2281

COALITION APPLAUDS SENATE’S PASSAGE OF GROWING GREENER III
FRAMEWORK LEGISLATION 

(HARRISBURG, PA) The Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition, the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and preservation organizations in the Commonwealth, today expressed its appreciation to the Pennsylvania Senate for passing the Growing Greener III framework legislation originally introduced by Senator Tom Killion (R-Delaware) by an overwhelming vote of 47 to 2.

“Today is a great day for the Growing Greener program, the communities and non-profits which it supports, and Pennsylvania as a whole,” said Andrew Heath, executive director of the Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition. “The Coalition applauds Senator Tom Killion for offering an amendment to Senate Bill 799 that included the Growing Greener III framework language. This represents a positive step in achieving a viable Growing Greener III program, and we are encouraged that the Senate understands how important the Growing Greener III program is in tackling the ever-increasing unmet needs facing communities throughout the state.”

Established in 1999, the state’s Growing Greener program has funded hundreds of local parks and trail projects, conserved more than 80,000 acres of threatened open space, and restored hundreds of miles of streams and waterways. The program has also protected more than 78,000 acres of farmland, restored more than 1,600 acres of abandoned mine land, and helped reduce flooding and water pollution through 400 watershed protection projects and more than 100 drinking and wastewater treatment improvements.

The Growing Greener III framework legislation enhances the state’s current Growing Greener program by adding agencies and additional programs to the already existing authorizations to better address the present-day needs facing the Commonwealth.

The framework legislation also reflects the urgent need to address water quality issues in the Chesapeake Bay by requiring certain state agencies to allocate a percentage of its Growing Greener Environmental Stewardship Funds for projects in Susquehanna River watershed. Once fully-funded, the Growing Greener III program will be the largest investment ever made by the Commonwealth to meet its commitment to improving the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay.

The Coalition has identified more than $300+ million in annual needs to ensure Pennsylvanians continue to have access to clean water, locally grown food, and parks, trails and other recreational opportunities.

“We acknowledge that this is a process, and the Coalition is committed to working with the General Assembly and the Governor to ensure that additional funding needed for the program can be achieved this year,” said Heath.

The legislation now moves to the House.