PennFuture Blog

Our Perspectives on the Latest Issues

Featured Blog:

PennFuture taking holistic view of improving water quality around Philadelphia

by Abigail M. Jones, Vice President of Legal and Policy
PennFuture is happy to be part of the push for better water quality over the past several decades, especially in the Philadelphia region of the Delaware River Watershed. Read more

Model shows participation in RGGI would reduce pollution by 180 million tons

by Rob Altenburg, Senior Director for Energy and Climate
The results show the plan marks a significant step toward reaching our carbon pollution goals by saving 180 million tons of carbon pollution while maintaining Pennsylvania's status as a significant energy generator and exporter. 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

Congratulations to the Delaware River!

by Emily Rinaldi Baldauff, Campaigns Director
The resurgence of the Delaware River has received well-deserved recognition. Beating out river basins all across the United States, the Delaware was named River of the Year for 2020 by national environmental group American Rivers. Read more

PennFuture, partners to celebrate PA Clean Water Week

by Renee Reber, Campaign Manager, Watershed Advocacy
PennFuture, in partnership with the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed and the Choose Clean Water Coalition, will highlight different rivers, streams and watersheds across Pennsylvania this week. Read more

Five Environmental Consequences of the Covid-19 Pandemic for Pennsylvania

by Matthew Stepp, Vice President and Chief of Staff, PennFuture
The environmental, economic, and social impacts of Covid-19 are profound and are reshaping how we work, recreate, and live our daily lives. 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

While We Wait on the Future to Happen

by Jacquelyn Bonomo, PennFuture President and CEO
PennFuture remains committed to serving as Pennsylvania's environmental watchdog, which means fighting back against a horrible piece of legislation known as House Bill 1100. Read more

Fighting for Our Future

by Jared Stonesifer, Director of Media Relations
On March 9, PennFuture and 34 other organizations from across Pennsylvania banded together to rally in Harrisburg against House Bill 1100. 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

PennFuture Petitions DRBC to Recognize Primary Contact Recreation on the Mainstem Delaware River

by Abigail M. Jones, Vice President of Legal and Policy
PennFuture and a coalition of organizations submitted a petition to the Delaware River Basin Commission to upgrade the regulatory status of a portion of the lower Delaware River. 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

First Glimpse: PennFuture analyzes draft of DEP's cap-and-invest program

by Rob Altenburg, Senior Director for Energy and Climate
Next week, the state DEP will present its first draft of a cap-and-invest program that could be implemented in Pennsylvania. Read more

National Gas Industry Plans to Spend Big to Advertise Mistruths in Western Pennsylvania

by Jared Stonesifer, Director of Media Relations
Western Pennsylvania is about to be center stage in a new million-dollar public relations campaign spearheaded by the fracked gas industry’s largest national lobbying group. Read more

The Dangers of Senate Bill 790, Part II

by Jared Stonesifer, Director of Media Relations
In the coming days, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is poised to vote on Senate Bill 790, a substantial rollback of environmental protections governing the conventional oil and gas industry in Pennsylvania. Read more

New rule attempts to tackle pollution from oil and gas wells

by Rob Altenburg, Senior Director for Energy and Climate
While an important step, the proposed rulemaking still has some hurdles in the regulatory process before becoming law, but the rule also has some significant shortfalls. Read more

The Dangers of Senate Bill 790

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
This bill aims to revive the conventional gas drilling industry, but at the expense of undoing years of regulations. Read more

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