Contact: Anthony Campisi
Anthony@WalnutLaneStrategies.com
(732) 266-8221
PA budget makes important environmental moves; more action needed
Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania Executive Director Molly Parzen issued the following statement reacting to passage of the Pennsylvania state budget:
We are pleased that Governor Shapiro and the state legislature approved a budget that advances key environmental priorities. While there is more work left to do, the bipartisan deal forged in Harrisburg helps move Pennsylvania toward a clean energy future while also creating union jobs and protecting our rivers, streams and open space.
The budget continues Governor Shapiro’s track record of increasing funding for the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, giving both agencies additional resources as they seek to protect our public health and preserve open space across the Commonwealth.
But beyond these line items, the budget also delivers important environmental victories:
The budget invests $50 million in programs that will protect our rivers and streams from pollution. These investments in the Clean Streams Fund build off prior state budgets, which utilized federal recovery dollars, and are an important step toward bringing Pennsylvania into compliance with federal pollution standards.
The Solar for Schools Program, which is currently allocated $25 million, will help save schools across the commonwealth millions of dollars by leveraging federal funding through President Biden’s affordable clean energy law to help them install solar panels. CVPA and our allies in the state House and organized labor fought hard for this program, and this investment is a win for schools, families, workers and the environment.
The budget also includes $11 million for capping abandoned oil and gas wells to prevent them from leaking methane and polluting our rivers and streams. This funding will help us leverage federal dollars available thanks to President Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure law while creating union jobs.
It also sets aside money for a new Agriculture and Innovation Grant Program that will help strengthen Pennsylvania’s farms while encouraging the adoption of cutting edge practices that improve energy efficiency and water quality.
Finally, a new provision in the state tax code will prevent crypto-mining facilities, which are extremely energy intensive, from being able to take advantage of state tax credits that they could otherwise use to expand their wasteful operations.
However, we fought against an increase in the waste coal tax credit, a move that will increase taxpayer subsidies to one of the dirtiest forms of fossil fuels at a time when we must position Pennsylvania to be a leader in clean energy.
While there’s much work left to be done — particularly in delivering a long-term solution to fund transit and reinstating Whole-Home Repairs Funding — we’re pleased with the progress Governor Shapiro and the legislature have made during this budget season and look forward to advancing key environmental priorities in the fall legislative session.
###