Contact: Anthony Campisi
Anthony@WalnutLaneStrategies.com
(732) 266-8221
CVPA commends Shapiro budget proposal to protect our environment, lower costs for working families
Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania Executive Director Molly Parzen has issued the following statement in response to Governor Shapiro’s budget address:
We are pleased that Governor Shapiro has laid out a strong environmental agenda for Pennsylvania this year — with a focus on lowering energy costs for working families by diversifying our electricity sources, creating union jobs and fighting climate change.
The governor’s proposal for increased funding for the state Department of Environmental Protection will protect Pennsylvanians’ air and water, and his push for increased investments in the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will ensure that more families have access to parks and open space.
At the same time, Shapiro is advocating for increased investment in programs that create union jobs and protect Pennsylvania's rivers and streams by continuing his successful campaign to cap abandoned and polluting oil and gas wells.
The Governor’s budget also proposes continued funding for the Solar for Schools program — legislation CVPA worked with our allies in organized labor to pass with a bipartisan majority last year. Additionally, the administration proposed more funding for the nationally recognized home repair programs, which will lower energy costs even as it helps seniors and working families stay in their homes.
We also stand with the governor in his efforts to secure critically needed funding for Pennsylvania’s public transit system. This funding will power Pennsylvania’s economy by reducing congestion and ensuring workers and families have access to public transit to get to work, visit families and attend important medical appointments.
Today’s announcement builds off the comprehensive energy policy Shapiro announced last week, which would improve the reliability of our electricity grid and create union jobs while expanding access to cheaper renewable energy.
We look forward to working with Governor Shapiro and the legislature to advance these commonsense proposals through the budget process. Harrisburg must be laser-focused on lowering costs for working families and local businesses by expanding access to energy-saving programs and giving Pennsylvanians the opportunity to choose cheaper and cleaner renewable energy.
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