PennFuture Blog

Our Perspectives on the Latest Issues

Climate

Despite roadblocks from Legislature, RGGI rulemaking process advances

by Rob Altenburg, Senior Director for Energy and Climate
On Sept. 15, the Environmental Quality Board advanced for public comment Pennsylvania's cap-and-invest carbon reduction rule. Read more

Pennsylvania's Unions Must Look to the Future

by Jacquelyn Bonomo, PennFuture President and CEO
In her monthly blog, PennFuture President and CEO Jacquelyn Bonomo writes about labor unions in Pennsylvania being on the wrong side of clean energy and climate change. Read more

REFUTED: CNX’s Eight Irrefutable Energy Truths Expose Industry Desperation

by Emily Persico, Policy Analyst
Last week, the president and CEO of one of the largest fracked gas companies in western Pennsylvania authored a dishonest opinion piece that spoke to the desperation of the fossil fuel industry. Read more

Senate Bill 15: A New Direction for Pennsylvania

by Rob Altenburg, Senior Director for Energy and Climate
Sen. Costa and a number of co-sponsors have just introduced “The Energy Transition and Recovery Act” that, if passed, would help guide the Commonwealth through the coming energy transition and support our workers and communities as we cut carbon emissions and other harmful pollution. Read more

A New Coalition for a Better Future

by Jacquelyn Bonomo, PennFuture President and CEO
In her monthly blog, PennFuture President and CEO Jacquelyn Bonomo writes about the need for a new coalition of Pennsylvanians that will fight for family sustaining jobs that protect and improve our environment. Read more

LNG in PA Blog Series #1: What is Liquefied Natural Gas?

by Megan Rulli, Legal Intern
In this first of several blog posts, PennFuture legal intern Megan Rulli explains what Liquefied Natural Gas is and what it means for Pennsylvania. Read more

Fracked Gas, Petrochemical Industries Continue to Overpromise and Underdeliver for Pennsylvanians

by Jared Stonesifer, Director of Media Relations
Time and again we’ve been shown the true nature of the fracked gas and petrochemical industries, both financially and environmentally. It’s time we start listening. Read more

COVID-19: A Green Recovery

by Timothy Wolff, Legal Intern
We are afforded an opportunity to move Pennsylvania forward while promoting economic revitalization, protecting those with increased susceptibility to COVID-19, reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, and bringing our energy infrastructure into the 21st century. Read more

Pennsylvania’s House Environmental Committee Approves Bill Removing DEP’s Authority to Enact Carbon Reduction Program

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
PennFuture is adamantly opposed to HB 2025 and frustrated with the legislators who voted to advance the bill to the full House floor for consideration. Read more

Trump Administration Rolls Back Air Protections from Fossil Fuel Plants

by Abigail M. Jones, Vice President of Legal and Policy
Recently, the United States Environmental Protection Agency rolled back protections under the federal Mercury Air Toxics Standards regulations for both coal refuse plants and oil-and gas-fired plants. Read more

Pennsylvania General Assembly Punts on State Budget, Passes Stopgap Measure with Level Funding for Environmental and Conservation Priorities

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
The Pennsylvania General Assembly has passed a five-month stopgap budget package to fund most of the state government through November 2020. Here is our analysis of what's in this short-term budget. Read more

It’s Time to Move the RGGI Rulemaking Process Forward

by Rob Altenburg, Senior Director for Energy and Climate
On May 19th, the DEP is going to make a presentation to the Citizens Advisory Council and ask them to recommend that the RGGI rules be sent to the Environmental Quality Board for consideration. Read more

Updated Climate Change Assessment Reveals Future Pennsylvania Water Troubles

by Renee Reber, Campaign Manager, Watershed Advocacy
Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection last week released the state’s third Climate Change Impacts Assessment, and the update tells us of a warmer future with more rain, floods and landslides than ever experienced in Pennsylvania history. Read more

Earth Day 2070

by Jacquelyn Bonomo, PennFuture President and CEO
PennFuture President and CEO Jacquelyn Bonomo writes about her hopes for the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and for many Earth Days yet to come. Read more

Philly Can Achieve a Green New Deal through Green Stormwater Infrastructure

by Lena Smith
As Philadelphia City Council’s environmental leaders discuss what a Green New Deal means for the city, their legislative agendas must focus on addressing current barriers to implementing the Green City Clean Waters program. Read more

DEP is Asking Us to Pick Up the Bill for Waste Coal...Again

by Rob Altenburg, Senior Director for Energy and Climate
In creating a cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon emissions in Pennsylvania, the state DEP should rethink its policy on waste coal. Read more

After Stormy Decade, Philly Needs Green Stormwater Solutions to Prepare for Climate Change

by Lena Smith
PennFuture is working to raise awareness of how the climate crisis affects Philadelphia's aging infrastructure. Read more

Why Does Pennsylvania Insist on Offering Subsidies to Fracked Gas and Petrochemicals? The Industries Would Collapse Without Them

by Jared Stonesifer, Director of Media Relations
Harrisburg policymakers are, again, debating whether to give more taxpayer-funded handouts to the fracking and petrochemical industries. Read more

What is the Transportation and Climate Initiative?

by Rob Altenburg, Senior Director for Energy and Climate
Pennsylvania and other Northeast and Mid Atlantic states are exploring a cap-and-invest approach to address transportation-related carbon pollution Read more

Fallacy, Fiction, and Falsehoods: Debunking RGGI Myths Part 1

by Rob Altenburg, Senior Director for Energy and Climate
Facing the prospect of actually having to pay for their pollution rather than being allowed to dump it in the air for free, polluters and their friends are mobilizing to oppose RGGI with fallacies and mistruths. Read more

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