By Brian Scheid
In February 2007,
Gov. Ed Rendell said that within three months he would release a new
plan on how this state would address the growing threat of global
warming.
More than 16 months later, environmentalists are still waiting for Rendell to unveil that plan.
In the meantime, PennEnvironment, a statewide
environmental advocacy group, released a report of its own Wednesday
outlining several ways other cities, states and countries have combated
global warming pollution.
New Jersey, for example, has doubled the amount
of solar power it generates. Thanks to new energy efficiency policies
for buildings and appliances, California uses 20 percent less energy
per capita than it did 35 years ago. New policies and investments have
doubled the number of bicycles on city streets in Portland, Ore., and
the number of people who bike to work is eight times the national
average.
According to the report, Germany recycles 60
percent of its municipal waste, and more than 90 percent of Israeli
homes use solar-powered heaters.
There are some promising efforts in curbing
global warming pollution in Pennsylvania, like the arrival of Spanish
wind company Gamesa in Falls and a 20 percent increase in ridership on
a train between Harrisburg and Philadelphia, according to Nathan
Willcox, PennEnvironment's energy and clean air advocate.
However, Pennsylvania is “behind the curve” in addressing a problem that it has had a large part in creating, Willcox said.
Only Texas and California produce more global warming pollution than Pennsylvania, according to a recent report.
The state needs to take more steps to reduce global warming pollution, Willcox said.
“We need more of these solutions coming on line
in a hurry,” Willcox said. “If we are really serious about doing
something about global warming, these types of solutions must become
the norm instead of the exception.”
Chuck Ardo, a Rendell spokesman, said he was
unsure when Rendell planned to release his plan to address global
warming, but said the state already is “taking several step towards
environmental responsibility.”
