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Top Priority Campaign

Renew Growing Greener

Pennsylvania is defined by our natural, historical and cultural landscapes. Yet, from the waterfalls of the Poconos, to the family farms in Amish country, to the historic sites of Valley Forge and Gettysburg, we’ve seen too many of our beloved landscapes threatened by or lost to reckless overdevelopment.

Now the state’s most successful land and water conservation program—aptly named ‘Growing Greener’—is out of money and set to expire. If we don’t act quickly, we will lose this critical program, and along with it more of our precious landscapes.

PennEnvironment is working to save this essential program—because when we lose our family farms and other open spaces, we lose a part of what makes Pennsylvania great.

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PennEnvironment's Lobby Day

For PennEnvironment's annual lobby day, we teamed up with other organizations to bring over 50 Pennsylvanians to Harrisburg to lobby their legislators protecting our rivers and forests from gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale, promoting green buildings, and other critical environmental legislation.

Latest News

New Report: Lake Erie & Jersey Shore Beach Closings Dropped in 2009; Delaware Beach Closings up 800% 7/28/2010

As millions of Americans flock to beaches around the country, PennEnvironment reported that beach closings and advisories due to pollution decreased last year at Lake Erie and the Jersey shore but increased 800% in Delaware, according to a new report.

Protect Our Great Waters: A Call to Action 6/24/2010

Today, PennEnvironment is releasing Protect Our Great Waters, a new report that outlines the regional, environmental, and economic significance of eight of America’s most treasured waterways, including two waterways connected to Pennsylvania – Lake Erie and the Chesapeake Bay.

Our Latest Reports

Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches 7/28/2010

In 2009, beach closings and advisories hit their sixth-highest level in the 20 years the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has been tracking them.

Our Great Waters 6/24/2010

Lake Erie and the Chesapeake Bay are two of America's great waterways, both with connections to Pennsylvania. Unfortunately pollution continues to put both of these waters at risk.

In the News

1,200 Hear Marcellus Shale debate: EPA hearing in Southpointe one of four nationwide - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - 7/23/2010

Concerns about the risk of water contamination and public health problems from Marcellus Shale drilling dominated a sometimes loud U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hearing in Southpointe attended by 1,200 people Thursday night.

Debate sharp on gas wells, water - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - 7/23/2010

Gas industry officials and environmentalists spoke out Thursday night about the Environmental Protection Agency's plans to study the impact of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water supplies.

History Goes Solar - Philadelphia Inquirer - 7/15/2010

It's wonderful to see historic buildings across Philadelphia adopting green energy and becoming certified as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).