Pennsylvania State Representative Chris Ross says the state has done to good of a job in encouraging the production of solar power. The Republican from Chester County says now there is too much of the renewable energy being produced in the state and not enough buyers. To remedy that Ross has introduced a series of bills that would force electric companies to buy more solar energy from Pennsylvania sources.
“It was probably an over complication to use two forms of stimulus at the same time. We disrupted the market place, now it’s time for us to stabilize that market place,” says Ross. In 2004 the state set the consumption mandates and in 2008 the state offered $80 million in funding for solar energy production projects.
Ross’s bill would speed up incremental steps included in the mandate that electric companies get .5% of their energy from solar by 2021. The bill also forces the electric companies to buy from Pennsylvania sources rather than out of state sources. “I see it as a correction for a distortion that unfortunately we ourselves created,” says Ross.
PennFuture President Jan Jarrett praises the bill. She says she hopes business will soon be able to sell their credits for a price that will encourage more solar production. The price of those credits dropped as supply outstripped demand.
Penn Power spokesperson Scott Surgeoner says he is in favor of using electricity produced from renewable sources but he says he wants to make sure it is done n a way that does not negatively impact the rates paid by Pennsylvania customers.
Ross’s solar jobs bill has 70 cosponsors.
Showing posts with label PennFuture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PennFuture. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Sierra Club Takes Stand on Mercury Pollution
Pittsburgh Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak teamed up with the Sierra Club to push for the Environmental Protection Agency regulating mercury pollution. Rudiak, and other council members and staff submitted hair samples as part of a nationwide program by the Sierra Club to raise awareness about the dangers of mercury. The element is a neurotoxin that can be detected in human hair.
Rudiak says coal-fired power plants are the main source. "They release things like mercury and arsenic into the air. And these pollutants actually rain down into our lakes and our streams. And they are eaten by fish, which consequently, we eat as well."
Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis, Executive Director of Women for a Healthy Environment, says mercury is know to pose health risks. "Mercury at high levels may damage the brain, kidneys and the nervous system. Mercury in the mother's body passes to the fetus via the placenta. According to the CDC and the EPA, at least one in twelve and as many as one in six American women have enough mercury in their bodies to possibly put a baby at risk."
The EPA is considering enacting tighter regulations for mercury and other air toxins. The Sierra Club and PennFuture will be sending a bus of people to Philadelphia on May 24th to for public testimony. The Sierra Club pressed the state to begin regulating mercury in 2006, but the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that it needed to be done nationally.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Conference in Pittsburgh Addresses Global Warming Efforts
A local advocacy group is hoping to build awareness and drum up support this weekend when it hosts its annual summit. The “Clean Energy for a Cool Pittsburgh” conference run by PennFuture kicks off Sunday at 1:00pm on the Duquesne University campus with a long list of speakers. Among them will be the former Secretary of the PA DEP, the head of a group called Fossil Free Fuel and US Congressman Mike Doyle.
PennFuture Vice President Heather Sage says the goal of the event is clear, “Helping people understand that changing how and what kind of energy we use is the single most important thing that we can do as citizens to combat global warming and to clean up air quality here in Pittsburgh.” Speakers will touch on a variety of topics including sustainable architecture, transportation solutions, and efforts underway at the federal level to bring about policy change.
Sage says they will be educating people and trying to get them involved. “PennFuture is an advocacy organization and we have a number of campaigns that we are running including the ‘Breath Easy, Stay Healthy’ campaign and our ‘Black and Gold City Goes Green’ campaign where we offer citizens lots of options to get involved both on the policy side and in more practical ways at home,” says Sage.
The conference is open to the public. It is free for students and PennFuture members and $10 for others. You can sign up at the PennFuture website.
PennFuture Vice President Heather Sage says the goal of the event is clear, “Helping people understand that changing how and what kind of energy we use is the single most important thing that we can do as citizens to combat global warming and to clean up air quality here in Pittsburgh.” Speakers will touch on a variety of topics including sustainable architecture, transportation solutions, and efforts underway at the federal level to bring about policy change.
Sage says they will be educating people and trying to get them involved. “PennFuture is an advocacy organization and we have a number of campaigns that we are running including the ‘Breath Easy, Stay Healthy’ campaign and our ‘Black and Gold City Goes Green’ campaign where we offer citizens lots of options to get involved both on the policy side and in more practical ways at home,” says Sage.
The conference is open to the public. It is free for students and PennFuture members and $10 for others. You can sign up at the PennFuture website.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
PennFuture to Dixon: Reform or Resign
The environmental watchdog group Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (Penn
Future) says Allegheny County Health Department Director Bruce Dixon should implement all of the recommendations in the December 2009 Environmental Air Quality Task Force report by March 1st or resign. “It’s not O.K. to look away, it’s not O.K. to pretend just because we can’t always see how bad our air pollution is, it’s still unhealthy and in fact it’s deadly,” says PennFuture Vice President Heather Sage.
County Executive Dan Onorato convened the Task Force in 2009 to “make recommendations to improve regional air quality, increase services to stakeholders, and identify operating efficiencies.” In its report, the Task Force called for county air regulations to be brought up to, and in some cases to exceed, state standards, develop timely standards for reviewing permit applications and appeals, and redesign the Health Department’s organizational chart to give the Air Bureau more autonomy. Sage says the backlog of permits has been reduced in the last year but many of the other recommendations have gone unheeded. “The professionals in the air quality division are doing their best but they are hampered by Dr. Dixon’s passive aggressive brand of micro management,” says Sage. She says the system has very little transparency, has no timetables and no “real” way to appeal pollution permits. “A timeline and a system to appeal permits must be developed. That does not mean simple going back to Dr. Dixon for review,” says Sage. Sage contends Dixon will at times sit on the appeals for years. It has been recommended by Sage that the appeals process be turned over to the State Environmental Hearing Board.
“The ball is clearly in Bruce Dixon’s court,” says Sage, “he can fix these problems by March 1st and regain his reputation as a guardian of public health, or we will ask him to resign.” PennFuture is calling for the Air Bureau to have more say over how it spends its money and how it handles its personnel. The group would also like to see the Task Force reconvened by the County Executive as had been proposed in the group’s 2009 report. Sage says if the Task Force were to be allowed to continue to do its job there may be some room for compromise in PennFuture’s demands.
ACHD Director Bruce Dixon has not responded to requests for comment.
Future) says Allegheny County Health Department Director Bruce Dixon should implement all of the recommendations in the December 2009 Environmental Air Quality Task Force report by March 1st or resign. “It’s not O.K. to look away, it’s not O.K. to pretend just because we can’t always see how bad our air pollution is, it’s still unhealthy and in fact it’s deadly,” says PennFuture Vice President Heather Sage.
County Executive Dan Onorato convened the Task Force in 2009 to “make recommendations to improve regional air quality, increase services to stakeholders, and identify operating efficiencies.” In its report, the Task Force called for county air regulations to be brought up to, and in some cases to exceed, state standards, develop timely standards for reviewing permit applications and appeals, and redesign the Health Department’s organizational chart to give the Air Bureau more autonomy. Sage says the backlog of permits has been reduced in the last year but many of the other recommendations have gone unheeded. “The professionals in the air quality division are doing their best but they are hampered by Dr. Dixon’s passive aggressive brand of micro management,” says Sage. She says the system has very little transparency, has no timetables and no “real” way to appeal pollution permits. “A timeline and a system to appeal permits must be developed. That does not mean simple going back to Dr. Dixon for review,” says Sage. Sage contends Dixon will at times sit on the appeals for years. It has been recommended by Sage that the appeals process be turned over to the State Environmental Hearing Board.
“The ball is clearly in Bruce Dixon’s court,” says Sage, “he can fix these problems by March 1st and regain his reputation as a guardian of public health, or we will ask him to resign.” PennFuture is calling for the Air Bureau to have more say over how it spends its money and how it handles its personnel. The group would also like to see the Task Force reconvened by the County Executive as had been proposed in the group’s 2009 report. Sage says if the Task Force were to be allowed to continue to do its job there may be some room for compromise in PennFuture’s demands.
ACHD Director Bruce Dixon has not responded to requests for comment.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Homeland Security Newsletter Said Anti-Drilling Protesters Could Be Threats
Governor Ed Rendell says he’s angry and embarrassed Pennsylvania’s Office of Homeland Security provided information about environmental protests to drilling companies.
But no administration officials will be fired or disciplined for the controversial security bulletin.
An Office of Homeland Security newsletter distributed in August classified anti-Marcellus Shale drilling protests as potential threats, warning “environmental activists and militants” may grow violent, as natural gas drilling expands in Pennsylvania.
Rendell says he’s “appalled” peaceful protesters were labeled security risks.
He’s letting the state’s contract with the private security firm who assembled the data expire – but says State Homeland Security Director James Powers won’t be disciplined.
"The easiest thing would have been to come in and fire someone. But I’ve always tried to make sure that before we do that, we get to all the facts. And again, the ultimate responsibility for all this stuff is mine. And I am deeply embarrassed, and I apologize to all the groups."
The document also provided information about gay rights and anti-tax protests, among other events.
Jan Jarrett, the president and CEO of environmental group PennFuture, says it was “inappropriate” for the state to monitor environmental protesters’ activities.
"And it was also the lumping of – the lumping of these people within the terrorist umbrella. When they’re peaceful citizens, ordinary Pennsylvanians, concerned about a very important issue in Pennsylvania. The farthest thing from terrorists you could possibly imagine. That’s offensive."
Jarrett says she’s satisfied with the governor’s apology. But members of other groups profiled by the report say they’re frustrated no state staffers were disciplined or fired.
Others said they want to know which officials decided to provide the reports to drilling and energy companies.
But no administration officials will be fired or disciplined for the controversial security bulletin.
An Office of Homeland Security newsletter distributed in August classified anti-Marcellus Shale drilling protests as potential threats, warning “environmental activists and militants” may grow violent, as natural gas drilling expands in Pennsylvania.
Rendell says he’s “appalled” peaceful protesters were labeled security risks.
He’s letting the state’s contract with the private security firm who assembled the data expire – but says State Homeland Security Director James Powers won’t be disciplined.
"The easiest thing would have been to come in and fire someone. But I’ve always tried to make sure that before we do that, we get to all the facts. And again, the ultimate responsibility for all this stuff is mine. And I am deeply embarrassed, and I apologize to all the groups."
The document also provided information about gay rights and anti-tax protests, among other events.
Jan Jarrett, the president and CEO of environmental group PennFuture, says it was “inappropriate” for the state to monitor environmental protesters’ activities.
"And it was also the lumping of – the lumping of these people within the terrorist umbrella. When they’re peaceful citizens, ordinary Pennsylvanians, concerned about a very important issue in Pennsylvania. The farthest thing from terrorists you could possibly imagine. That’s offensive."
Jarrett says she’s satisfied with the governor’s apology. But members of other groups profiled by the report say they’re frustrated no state staffers were disciplined or fired.
Others said they want to know which officials decided to provide the reports to drilling and energy companies.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
New Energy Bill Lacks Emissions Caps
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has introduced energy legislation that would give Americans financial incentives for weatherizing their homes and driving natural gas cars.
But the environmental group Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future says an important piece of clean energy policy is missing from the bill – making it more costly to use fossil fuels.
PennFuture Federal Policy Manager Joy Bergey says the Senate has failed yet again to pass a cap-and-trade carbon emissions bill, despite nearly a decade of work from environmental groups.
Bergey says PennFuture wants a price to be put on carbon emissions.
“We need to make fossil fuels gradually more expensive, but then we also need to provide them the right market signals so that we bring more renewable energy into the mix – wind, solar, biofuels – making them more competitive.”
Bergey says by not promoting renewable energy, the Senate has allowed other countries like China to take the lead in developing clean energy technology. Bergey says these technological advances will be desired globally and could have sparked the United States’ economy.
Bergey says although some Republican Senators claimed that a cap-and-trade system would be a “job-killer” for fossil fuel industries, investing in renewable energy also would have created jobs.
Bergey says while PennFuture is grateful for a push to give $5 billion to the Home Star home weatherization program and $3.8 billion in tax credits for natural gas cars, the group will continue to advocate a cap-and-trade carbon emissions policy.
Senator Reid’s bill also contains a provision from Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey that would require companies to publicize the chemicals they use in hydraulic fracturing, a process that helps drill natural gas wells. Environmentalists have expressed concern that the poisonous chemicals used in this process could leak into waterways.
But the environmental group Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future says an important piece of clean energy policy is missing from the bill – making it more costly to use fossil fuels.
PennFuture Federal Policy Manager Joy Bergey says the Senate has failed yet again to pass a cap-and-trade carbon emissions bill, despite nearly a decade of work from environmental groups.
Bergey says PennFuture wants a price to be put on carbon emissions.
“We need to make fossil fuels gradually more expensive, but then we also need to provide them the right market signals so that we bring more renewable energy into the mix – wind, solar, biofuels – making them more competitive.”
Bergey says by not promoting renewable energy, the Senate has allowed other countries like China to take the lead in developing clean energy technology. Bergey says these technological advances will be desired globally and could have sparked the United States’ economy.
Bergey says although some Republican Senators claimed that a cap-and-trade system would be a “job-killer” for fossil fuel industries, investing in renewable energy also would have created jobs.
Bergey says while PennFuture is grateful for a push to give $5 billion to the Home Star home weatherization program and $3.8 billion in tax credits for natural gas cars, the group will continue to advocate a cap-and-trade carbon emissions policy.
Senator Reid’s bill also contains a provision from Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey that would require companies to publicize the chemicals they use in hydraulic fracturing, a process that helps drill natural gas wells. Environmentalists have expressed concern that the poisonous chemicals used in this process could leak into waterways.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
PennFuture: DEP, DCNR Budget Cuts "Worrisome"
Governor Ed Rendell will be in Mechanicsburg later this morning to sign Pennsylvania's $28.05 billion budget for the fiscal year that started Thursday. Following that he will travel to Towanda, Bradford County to discuss the agreement to vote in October on a Marcellus Shale gas extraction tax. Leaders have just about agreed on taxing gas extraction but the percentage and how the revenues would be distributed among the state, host municipalities and environmental programs have not been resolved.
The budget includes cuts in funding for the Department of Agriculture, libraries and parks. A top environmental advocate says cuts to the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources are “worrisome.” PennFuture president Jan Jarrett says she’s more troubled by the nearly $10 million dollars trimmed from the DCNR budget than the $13.8 million eliminated from the DEP budget, since the latter agency receives significant support from the federal government.
Jarrett says she’s worried DCNR staffers won’t be able to adequately monitor natural gas drilling in the state forests, after a 30 percent reduction in Bureau of Forestry funding.
House Speaker Keith McCall says lawmakers will restore some of that environmental funding with revenue from a natural gas severance tax, but Jarrett is skeptical.
"What we have right now – we don’t have a severance tax. We’ve got a promise. First of all, the promise has got to be fulfilled on October 1. And secondly, the devil will be in the details, in terms of how much the state can expect from that – in the rate and the structure of the tax are going to be very important."
Governor Rendell says funding for DEP’s drilling inspectors remained untouched.
The budget includes cuts in funding for the Department of Agriculture, libraries and parks. A top environmental advocate says cuts to the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources are “worrisome.” PennFuture president Jan Jarrett says she’s more troubled by the nearly $10 million dollars trimmed from the DCNR budget than the $13.8 million eliminated from the DEP budget, since the latter agency receives significant support from the federal government.
Jarrett says she’s worried DCNR staffers won’t be able to adequately monitor natural gas drilling in the state forests, after a 30 percent reduction in Bureau of Forestry funding.
House Speaker Keith McCall says lawmakers will restore some of that environmental funding with revenue from a natural gas severance tax, but Jarrett is skeptical.
"What we have right now – we don’t have a severance tax. We’ve got a promise. First of all, the promise has got to be fulfilled on October 1. And secondly, the devil will be in the details, in terms of how much the state can expect from that – in the rate and the structure of the tax are going to be very important."
Governor Rendell says funding for DEP’s drilling inspectors remained untouched.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Drill Industry Lobbying For Tax Loopholes
Environmental advocates are warning against exemptions and loopholes in a proposed severance tax bill.
The budget touted by Governor Ed Rendell and House Democrats includes a tax on natural gas drilling.
None of the tax proposals currently in the House include an exemption for wells in their first three years of operation, but Representative Dave Levdansky, an Allegheny County Democrat, says the drilling industry is lobbying for one.
"Why do we need to give the gas drilling industry any more incentive than they already have to come to Pennsylvania and drill? They are here. And they are here for some very significant reasons that will not at all be impacted by granting them exclusions from the tax."
Governor Rendell has proposed transferring revenue from several environmental funds into the general fund, in order to trim Pennsylvania’s deficit.
PennFuture CEO Jan Jarrett says a severance tax would eliminate the need for such a move.
"If we can get a severance tax in place, there’s not the need to take these drastic cuts that we’re taking to very important environmental programs that benefit Pennsylvanians all over the state."
Jarrett says Rendell’s proposal would “eviscerate” environmental protection funds.
A new report from the left-leaning Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center claims a three year exemption means more than 40 percent of the gas yielded from an average well would go untaxed, since wells are typically more productive early on.
House leaders have tried to pass a severance tax twice in recent weeks, but both times, they pulled the measure due to a lack of support.
The budget touted by Governor Ed Rendell and House Democrats includes a tax on natural gas drilling.
None of the tax proposals currently in the House include an exemption for wells in their first three years of operation, but Representative Dave Levdansky, an Allegheny County Democrat, says the drilling industry is lobbying for one.
"Why do we need to give the gas drilling industry any more incentive than they already have to come to Pennsylvania and drill? They are here. And they are here for some very significant reasons that will not at all be impacted by granting them exclusions from the tax."
Governor Rendell has proposed transferring revenue from several environmental funds into the general fund, in order to trim Pennsylvania’s deficit.
PennFuture CEO Jan Jarrett says a severance tax would eliminate the need for such a move.
"If we can get a severance tax in place, there’s not the need to take these drastic cuts that we’re taking to very important environmental programs that benefit Pennsylvanians all over the state."
Jarrett says Rendell’s proposal would “eviscerate” environmental protection funds.
A new report from the left-leaning Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center claims a three year exemption means more than 40 percent of the gas yielded from an average well would go untaxed, since wells are typically more productive early on.
House leaders have tried to pass a severance tax twice in recent weeks, but both times, they pulled the measure due to a lack of support.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Regional Clean Air Campaign Announced
A group of local environmental organizations have announced a clean air initiative to make air in the Pittsburgh region cleaner. The groups involved include PennFuture, the Group Against Smog and Pollution and Clean Water Action. The initiative, called “Breathe Easy, Stay Healthy”, aims to first end Pittsburgh’s ranking as the city with the dirtiest air in the nation. Then ultimately, Joylette Portlock, a PennFuture Outreach Coordinator, says they want to meet federal health standards. She says as of now, the Pittsburgh region is below those standards in both the particulate matter and smog categories. Portlock says there are many health consequences to having dirty air, including higher rates of people with asthma, heart attacks and cancer.
Monday, September 14, 2009
PennFuture Unhappy With Proposed Budget
The public interest group Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future is unhappy with the proposed "compromise" budget that Pennsylvania has put forth. PennFuture is unhappy that the proposed budget includes a deal for natural gas drillers that does not require them to pay severance taxes. President and CEO of PennFuture Jan Jarrett says natural gas drillers pay severance taxes in every state they drill in except for New York. Jarrett says the proposed budget calls for leasing of land to the natural gas drillers which at current market values could result in over 200,000 acres being leased at $500 an acre. Jarrett says PennFuture is unhappy because natural gas drilling has a big environmental impact.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)