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Time is short on energy, climate-change legislation

brad — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:19:32 -0400

Op-Ed Published by The Harrisburg Patriot-News

By John Walliser, Vice President for Legal and Governmental Affairs, Pennsylvania Environmental Council

After a flurry of action on legislation and considerable debate, we have seen serious progress over the past few months toward the adoption of renewable-energy strategies and climate-change legislation in Pennsylvania by the Senate and House.

But now it's time to take final action and get workable plans to the governor's desk.

PEC Supports Organic Farming Legislation

john — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:21:37 -0400

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council supports House Bill 2347 (PN3401), introduced by Representative Kessler (Berks County). This legislation would advance locally-driven, organic agriculture in Pennsylvania; and further help address water quality and carbon sequestration opportunities.

PEC Urges Passage of Energy and Climate Legislation

john — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:11:46 -0400

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council and the Pennsylvania Chapter of The Nature Conservancy today urged the General Assembly to quickly pass comprehensive alternative energy and energy conservation legislation, along with climate change legislation that has received overwhelming bipartisan support. A copy of the letter is included, below.

PEC Urges Help for Cleaning Up Chesapeake Bay

brad — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 10:03:02 -0500

Testimony presented today by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council before the Senate Republican Policy Committee urging help for cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay follows. Our news release on the testimony is also available.

Nutrient Trading Testimony

February 21, 2008

Pennsylvania Environmental Council

Pennsylvania Treasurer Announces Investment Decisions to Address Environmental Considerations

john — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:38:47 -0500

HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With a ring of a bell, Pennsylvania Treasurer Robin L. Wiessmann helped open the trading day at the Philadelphia Stock Exchange and a new chapter of investing for the Commonwealth's funds. Treasurer Wiessmann announced that she has invested $15 million in publicly traded funds that hold stocks of companies that provide solutions for environmental problems or operate in a responsible manner with respect to the environment.

PEC Supports House Bill 2200

john — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 09:33:14 -0500

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council strongly supports House Bill 2200 (Rep. George), which provides cost-effective opportunities to reduce energy use and demand - saving Pennsylvanians money and reducing our emissions of greenhouse gases.

PEC Supports House Bill 1705

john — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 08:37:47 -0500

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council strongly supports House Bill 1705 (sponsored by Representative Pat Harkins, Erie), which would adopt the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact in Pennsylvania. The Compact will provide significant protection against large transfers of water out of the Great Lakes Basin, and encourages water conservation efforts in the Great Lakes states.

PEC Stormwater Listening Session Report

john — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:50:54 -0500

In 2007 the Pennsylvania Environmental Council held listening sessions across the state on the challenging issue of stormwater management. Each listening session featured an open dialog between municipal officials, engineers, developers, agency representatives, and other community interests.

This Report summarizes the findings of those listening sessions. PEC is now working to identify policy and programmatic opportunities to implement recommendations of the Report.

For more information, please contact Davitt Woodwell at 412-481-9400.

PEC Urges Caution on Drilling Legislation

john — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 09:49:51 -0500

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council has sent a letter to the Senate and House Environmental Resources & Energy Committees, urging them to oppose legislation -- Senate Bill 1127 and Special Session House Bill 32, respectively -- that would expedite gas and oil drilling on state-owned land. This legislation runs counter to resource-protection recommendations developed by the Joint Conservation Committee in 2006.

PEC Applauds Efficiency Gains in Federal Energy Bill

john — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 10:24:53 -0500

Brian Hill, President and CEO of PEC, was quoted in a December 21, 2007 Harrisburg Patriot News article on the new federal energy bill, which includes new fuel and energy efficiency standards. The article follows.

Platts calls fuel-efficiency law a 'great win' for country

BY BRETT LIEBERMAN, Of Our Washington Bureau

PEC Applauds Signing of Brownfields Law

john — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:45:42 -0500

Brian Hill, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, issued this statement in response to Governor Rendell signing House Bill 43 into law as Act 68. The bill was sponsored by Representative Carole Rubley (R-Chester/Montgomery), which establishes uniform environmental covenants in Pennsylvania to facilitate remediation and prevent the misuse of contaminated properties.

PEC Comments on Federal Energy Bill

john — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:36:35 -0500

Brian Hill, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, issued this statement in response to the final adoption and signing of the federal energy bill today that includes a mandate for the use of biofuels in transportation, increases fuel efficiency standards for vehicles, sets energy efficiency standards for appliances, offers tax incentives for purchasing hybrid vehicles and encourages green building construction:

Report Targets Pennsylvania's Emissions

john — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 10:23:08 -0500

Brian Hill, President and CEO of PEC, is quoted in a Post-Gazette article on a new national greenhouse gas emissions report issued by the National Environmental Trust.

Defining Climate Change: It is the issue of our time

john — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 11:18:33 -0500

Opinion article written by Brian Hill (President and CEO, PEC) and Nancy Cole (Director of Climate Outreach, Union of Concerned Scientists); published by the Pocono Record.

December 15, 2007

The debate is over — science has spoken. Our planet is warming up and human activity is a major reason.

PEC Climate Change Roadmap Featured at Annual Meeting

john — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:42:27 -0500

Thanks to the Pennsylvania Environmental Digest, you can now view videos and interviews from PEC's 38th Annual Meeting and the special presentation on Climate Change and state policy.

Video of Brian Hill, President and CEO of PEC.

PEC Presents Climate Change Roadmap to Joint Conservation Committee

john — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:38:22 -0500

On Monday, October 15th Brian Hill (President and CEO of PEC) and Kathy Greely (PEC Project Director for the Commonwealth Community Energy Project) presented the PEC Climate Change Roadmap to the Joint Conservation Committee of the General Assembly, as well as an overview of the energy efficiency & conservation projects PEC is engaged in in the northwestern part of the state.

The presentation has aired several times on the Pennsylvania Cable Network.

PEC Partnership Project Viewed by Joint Conservation Committee

john — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:22:24 -0500

In early November Brian Hill (President and CEO of PEC) led a tour of the Joint Conservation Committee near Hegins, Pennslyvania to showcase a demons

PEC Releases Climate Change Roadmap for Pennsylvania

john — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 10:55:53 -0500

Read the Climate Change Roadmap Report Here

PEC Letter on Special Session Senate Bill 1

john — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 10:32:14 -0500

Senator Mary Jo White, Republican Chair
Senator Ray Musto, Democratic Chair
Senate Special Session Committee on Energy Policies

Re: Remarks on Special Session Senate Bill 1 (P.N. 8)

Dear Senators White and Musto:

PEC Applauds Committee Approval of Great Lakes Compact

john — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 10:26:52 -0500

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) today commended the state House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for unanimously passing House Bill 1705 (introduced by Representative Patrick Harkins, D-Erie), which would ratify the Great Lakes-St.

PEC Lauds Action on Hazardous Sites Program

john — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 10:25:00 -0500

Action in the final days of the General Assembly's legislative session enables dozens of communities to breathe a little easier knowing that the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund will not be bankrupt in the new year.

“This went down to the wire, but we're pleased that the House and Senate came to an agreement that enabled this critical legislation to be sent to the Governor's desk for his signature," said Brian Hill, President of PEC.

Furloughs Coming for the Hazardous Sites Clean-up Program

brad — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:46:17 -0500

HARRISBURG, PA – The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) today expressed concern that, despite some movement in the General Assembly to fund the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund, no final legislation is in place and plans to lay off program staff are continuing. Brian Hill, President of PEC, said, “We welcome these efforts, but there is still much to do to secure meaningful, long-term funding for this critical Program – and

PEC Supports Senate Bill 266 & House Bill 110

admin — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 14:59:08 -0500

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council supports companion legislation – Senate Bill 266 (sponsored by Senator Erickson) and House Bill 110 (sponsored by Representative Vitali). We urge you to contact your respective state Senators and Representatives in support of this important legislation.