Real Results For Pennsylvania's Environment
Protecting Pennsylavnia’s Appalachian Trail
A PennEnvironment-backed Appalachian Trail protection bill was signed into law by Gov. Ed Rendell in 2008. The new law helps to protect the 229 miles of trail in Pennsylvania from encroaching development and sprawl.
Passing a historic proposal for clean energy
Pennsylvania took an important step toward a new energy future in July 2008 by passing a $650 million alternative energy funding initiative—the largest increase in clean energy funding in state history.
Cracking down on illegal polluters
Our 2001 lawsuit against P.H. Glatfelter Co. forced the company to spend $30 million to upgrade its paper mill facilities near York, Pennsylvania. The company also paid a $2 million penalty, the largest settlement of its kind in state history.
Preserving open spaces
More family farms are being spared from encroaching development thanks to the 2005 passage of the $625 million Growing Greener II program. Along with a strong coalition of organizations, Penn-Environment championed the program, which also protects open spaces and restores polluted rivers and streams.
Bringing cleaner cars to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvanians will breathe air less polluted by carcinogens, smog and global warming pollution thanks to the 2006 Clean Vehicles Program. PennEnvironment played a critical role in gaining Pennsylvania’s approval of the program.
Reducing mercury contamination
Our lakes and ponds will be cleaner as 36 coal-fired power plants reduce their mercury pollution 90 percent by 2015 under an initiative backed by PennEnvironment, and implemented in 2006.
Implementing energy efficiency policies
After months of hard work, Pennsylvania now has one of the most comprehensive and aggressive plans to conserve energy use in the nation. The program will reduce global warming pollution while helping to protect Pennsylvanians from rising electricity costs.
Uncovering our worst water polluters
AK Steel, located north of Pittsburgh, reduced its pollution into Connoquenessing Creek by 30 million pounds per year, after a PennEnvironment report revealed that the facility had excessively high levels of water pollution.
Cleaning up toxic waste sites
From Philadelphia to Erie, people who live near some of Pennsylvania’s worst toxic waste sites had cause for concern in 2007—the state’s Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act was due to expire. Our staff and members helped convince state officials to continue the program and increase its funding.
Saving Pennsylvania’s open space funding
In 2007, lawmakers proposed budget cuts to open space, community recreational facilities, and local parks. After PennEnvironment helped to rally the public in opposition, legislators backed down and withdrew their proposal to gut open space funding.
