Help Make Sure the PA Budget Prioritizes the Environment

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Help Make Sure the PA Budget Prioritizes the Environment

February kicked off Pennsylvania’s budget season, with Governor Shapiro announcing his Lightning Plan for energy and his proposed budget for the coming year. The Governor’s energy plan and budget will help plug abandoned oil and gas wells, support public transit, and boost energy efficiency and renewables, but will also support the use of fossil fuels and does not adequately address the health, environmental, and climate harms caused by the fossil fuel industry.

Tell your legislator that more funding needs to go towards environmental protection, clean energy, healthy homes, and public transit.

Use the form below to send your message.

Background Information

Underfunding of critical government entities responsible for protecting public health and the environment, such as the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), is limiting their ability to regulate polluting industries and ensure the wellbeing of Pennsylvanians. For example, instead of adding new staff, the DEP lost over 660 positions between 2002 and 2024 despite the boom of fracking and growth of other polluting industries. This has led to health complications, polluted air and water, and unanswered questions for impacted residents.

The DEP is just one department facing chronic underfunding – other departments and initiatives designed to protect people and the environment also face similar issues.

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PA House and Senate

Subject: Please prioritize funding for the environment

Message:

Please ensure adequate funding is allocated to agencies and efforts that promote healthy environments, public transit access, and clean energy development. Each year, the damage from our dependence on fossil fuels becomes clearer: more extreme weather events, worsened air quality, and rising energy costs. While Governor Shapiro has acted on these issues, such as in taking legal action against unprecedentedly-high energy costs, it is critical that the government acts aggressively to protect our air and water and tackle climate change. Pennsylvania’s budget must support the protection of our environment and spur the development of clean energy jobs and projects: - Adequately fund the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). The DEP, for example, has been chronically underfunded and programs such as the Oil and Gas Program, Clean Water Program, Bureau of Air Quality, Chesapeake Bay Program, and Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program need more funding to fill vacancies and ensure they are able to properly protect our health, land, water, and air. - Ensure public transportation agencies across the Commonwealth have funding to modernize while avoiding price hikes and service cuts. Public transit connects residents to employment opportunities and essential services, and helps avoid climate pollution from passenger vehicles. - Fund home upgrade and efficiency projects. Everyone should have access to housing that is safe to live in. Pennsylvania has some of the oldest housing stock in the United States, meaning homes can contain toxic materials and be extremely expensive to heat and cool. - Prioritize renewable energy projects, such as community solar, to expand access to clean energy resources. Community solar will allow more Pennsylvanians, especially those who cannot install solar on their own homes or businesses, to benefit from clean and affordable solar energy through subscribing to a community solar project. - Modernize the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA), ensuring it can operate effectively and beyond its original 50-year term. PEDA is the Commonwealth’s clean energy financing authority that is responsible for kick-starting clean energy projects. Updating PEDA’s enabling legislation will allow it to serve as a clean energy accelerator and job creator. Thank you.

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Help Make Sure the PA Budget Prioritizes the Environment

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