Statement from CVPA staff and board: We stand among those fighting for racial justice
Press Release •
Our commitment to clean air and water comes from our desire for all Pennsylvanians to be healthy and safe.
Yet marginalized communities, including far too many of our Black and Latinx neighbors, not only face the threat of pollution that sickens their communities at a far higher rate than our white neighbors, but also face the daily threat of unjust institutional racism and harassment, violence, and murder at the hands of the police.
Conservation Voters of PA highlights three endorsed Pittsburgh state House candidates
News Article • • by Ryan Deto at Pittsburgh City Paper
Environmental policy is an area where state legislators have considerable sway. With an EPA controlled by President Donald Trump that is set on rolling back regulations, a lot of environmental protections in Pennsylvania currently fall to elected officials in Harrisburg.
With that in mind, statewide environmental group Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania (CVPA) has endorsed three Democratic candidates for state House seats in Allegheny County. Not only do legislators from the area vote on important environmental bills in Harrisburg, the Pittsburgh area is on the front line of air pollution and faces significant environmental impacts from the fracking industry, which has a large footprint in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
'Climate change is real,' Rep. Shusterman tells local residents
News Article •
State Rep. Melissa Shusterman Thursday joined PennEnvironment, Conservation Voters of PA, and other local groups for a “Climate on Tap” event at Crowded Castle Brewing Company in Phoenixville.
Over 50 constituents from the Phoenixville and Tredyffrin areas came out to discuss local climate change impacts, how to promote clean energy solutions, and to call on Pennsylvania and the nation to transition to 100 percent renewable energy as quickly as possible to combat climate change.
Chester County, other suburbs can lead way on environmental issues
News Article • • by Josh McNeil at The Philadelphia Inquirer
This month, dozens of newly elected officials took the oath of office in Southeast Pennsylvania, capping off a profound shift toward pro-environmental protection in places like Chester, Delaware, and Bucks counties. New faces include Josh Maxwell and Marian Moskowitz on the county board of commissioners, as well as 15 other candidates endorsed by my group, the Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania, to municipal office and several other candidates to county judgeships.
Major Investment by Leading Environmental Group Leads to Historic Success in Key Southeast PA County
Press Release •
Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania helped support historic victories in Chester County this election cycle, making an investment of more than $250,000 to propel a slate of environmental champions to municipal, judicial, and county offices.
Rep. Friel Otten seeks second term in 155th state House District
News Article • • by Daily Local at Daily Local
State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten will seek a second term to represent the 155th Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2020.
In 2018, Otten bested three-term incumbent Republican Becky Corbin by 9 percentage points to return the seat to the Democrats for the first time in 28 years.
Conservation Voters Issues Statement on Plan to Join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Today
Press Release •
“For centuries, Pennsylvania has been among the world’s worst carbon polluters, but today Governor Wolf took a vital step towards a better future,” said CVPA Executive Director Josh McNeil.
Statement from Josh McNeil of Conservation Voters of PA on House Vote for Cracker Plant Investment
Press Release •
In response to the State House passage of HB 1100, part I of Speaker Mike Turzai’s so-called “Energize PA” agenda which will create billions of dollars in tax breaks for the natural gas industry and financially subsidize the development of new petrochemical plants across the state, Conservation Voters of PA released the following statement from Executive Director Josh McNeil.
Conservation Voters of PA and Maryland League of Conservation Voters Urge Full Funding of Plan to Restore Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Press Release •
Today, in response to recent Baltimore Sun and PennLive articles, Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania (CVPA) and the Maryland League of Conservation Voters (MDLCV) called for Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, the Pennsylvania General Assembly, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, and the Maryland General Assembly to deliver funds and action for a multi-state plan to restore the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Both CVPA and MDLCV have long supported the multi-state effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay and urge both states to avoid legal action through fully funding those efforts.
Advocates criticize shifting $10M from Pa. environmental fund
News Article • • by Marie Cusick at Penn Live
A coalition of sixteen environmental groups sent an open letter to Gov. Tom Wolf and legislators Tuesday decrying the transfer of approximately $10 million out of Pennsylvania's Environmental Stewardship Fund in this year's state budget.
The fund was established nearly two decades ago to support environmental programs, including flooding and storm water management, Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts, and farmland preservation.