September 9, 2010
Dan Onorato Earns Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania Endorsement
Philadelphia – Today, Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania (CVPA), which works to turn environmental values into Pennsylvania priorities, announced its endorsement of Dan Onorato for Governor of Pennsylvania.
“Our next governor will be responsible for the health, safety and prosperity of millions of Pennsylvanians during a time of economic and environmental upheaval,” said CVPA Executive Director Josh McNeil. “We believe that Dan Onorato will make the right choices for Pennsylvania, harnessing the economic potential of clean energy while defending our air and water from corporate polluters.”
As companies flock to the Commonwealth to take advantage of this resource, the next Governor will control both the legislation that regulates the industry and the Departments that enforce those regulations. The rising number of recent gas well accidents and explosions highlight the need for careful government oversight to protect our land and drinking water. The two candidates for Governor differ greatly on this vital issue.
“The Marcellus Shale is major opportunity to create jobs in Pennsylvania – but it must be done right,” said Onorato. “Tom Corbett wants taxpayers to pick up the tab for protecting our water and the environment, while I want the drillers to pay for it. As Allegheny County Executive, I have protected the environment, cleaned up blighted land and emphasized our natural resources in improving the quality of life for our residents. That is exactly what I will do as Pennsylvania’s Governor.”
Pennsylvania is the largest major gas producing state that does not collect a severance tax from drillers for the right to take the Commonwealth’s natural resources. The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center calculates that the absence of a drilling tax has cost the Commonwealth more than $84.7 million in the last eleven months. The state legislature had planned to institute a severance tax by October 1, but the Philadelphia Inquirer reports today that Governor Rendell does not believe that legislators will pass the bill this session. This crucial step to protect Pennsylvania’s economic and environmental health will therefore be up to the next administration.
Dan Onorato has put forward a plan to fairly tax Marcellus Shale drillers in order to fully fund the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); to renew the successful Growing Greener conservation program; and to help municipalities deal with the impact of gas drilling to roads, water systems and other infrastructure. He has also put forward detailed plans to create jobs in the clean energy and energy efficiency sectors and to increase the amount of energy Pennsylvania generates with wind and solar energy.
Tom Corbett opposes a tax on the Marcellus Shale drillers. Reading through his policy paper on the subject, it is clear that Corbett has little interest in strengthening the DEP’s ability to protect our citizens. Instead, his priorities are to force the DEP to speed up its permitting process and forcing it to “adopt environmental regulations that are no more stringent than the federal government.” Mr. Corbett claims that environmental protection will be important to his administration, but these policies and the $372,000 that he’s accepted from the natural gas industry cast doubt on those claims.
Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania is a nonpartisan organization that advocates for sound environmental and conservation policies, works to elect environmentally friendly candidates to public office, and holds them to their promises. Utilizing techniques honed by the national League of Conservation Voters and its allies in 33 other states, CVPA brings a new level of accountability to the fight to protect Pennsylvania’s environment. CVPA endorses strong candidates with a history of environmental awareness and a clear plan for a cleaner future.
“The Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania are working hard to safeguard the Commonwealth’s environment, and I’m proud to have their support,” Onorato said. “Together, we can ensure a healthier, more sustainable future for all Pennsylvanians.”
