Conservation Voters of PA, PennFuture release joint statement regarding Derek Chauvin verdict
Press Release •
PennFuture and Conservation Voters of PA applaud the jury’s decision today to convict Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd.
Josh McNeil: The American Jobs Plan will build a better future for us all
News Article • • by Josh McNeil at Trib Live
We are at a critical moment in our nation’s future. In Pittsburgh last week, President Biden laid out a plan to meet the scale of the twin climate change and jobs crises with his American Jobs Plan.
We need to get people back to work and build back our economy by investing trillions of dollars in the industries of the future — clean energy technologies and green infrastructure that create millions of new union jobs while curbing the pollution that threatens our air, land, and water. We don’t need to choose between responding to climate change and rebuilding our economy — and in fact, the work goes hand in hand.
‘Not just climate change’: An activist explains how Biden’s infrastructure plan improves the environment
News Article • • by John L. Micek at Pennsylvania Capital-Star
The $2 trillion infrastructure plan that President Joe Biden rolled out during a stop in Pittsburgh last week does more than just rebuild the nation’s crumbling network of roads and bridges, it also fast-tracks the nation’s pivot away from fossil fuels; builds up electric vehicle infrastructure, and provide tax breaks to encourage new, climate-friendly technology.
This down payment on environmental spending also calls for calls for $10 billion for a Civilian Climate Corps, $16 billion for capping abandoned wells and cleaning up abandoned mines, and a general commitment to “protect and, where necessary, restore nature-based infrastructure.” And if you’re guessing that it’s already drawing comparisons to the New Deal, you’d be correct.
As you might expect, environmental activists are welcoming this emphasis from the White House, where former Secretary of State John Kerry has been tapped to be a new climate czar. One of those advocates, Josh McNeil, the executive director of Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania, took a few minutes to talk about Biden’s sweeping plan and its implications for Pennsylvania. The bottom line: Jobs, jobs, and more jobs.
In Pennsylvania visit, Biden proposes $16 billion for plugging abandoned oil and gas wells
News Article • • by Christen Smith at Daily American
President Joe Biden’s massive infrastructure spending plan earmarks $16 billion to plug abandoned oil and gas wells across the country.
It’s a potential solution for an expensive and overwhelming problem for Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection. During House budget hearings last month, DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell told lawmakers the department spends an average of $17,000 plugging one abandoned well.
Leading PA environmental group hails Biden proposal to respond to climate emergency by creating millions of jobs
Press Release •
Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania Executive Director Josh McNeil issued the following statement in response to President Biden’s visit to Pittsburgh today, where the President unveiled a new proposal to respond to the growing climate emergency with game-changing investments in renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure.
CVPA lauds Wolf clean energy commitment
Press Release •
Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania Executive Director Josh McNeil has released the following statement lauding Governor Wolf’s announcement of a major new solar initiative that will produce nearly half of the state government’s electricity.
Pa. environmentalists hope for Trump-rule rollbacks under Biden
News Article • • by Chris Ullery at Bucks Courier Times
Pennsylvania environmental groups are optimistic of rolling back former President Donald Trump policy changes in the new Biden administration.
Organizations like PennEnvironment, PennFuture and Conservation Voters of PA praised executive orders by President Joe Biden last week while pointing to more policy changes they want to see sooner rather than later.
Press Release: Clean Power PA Coalition on the Conclusion of EQB Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Public Comment Period
Press Release • • by Clean Power Coalition at
Upon the closing of the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board’s (EQB) open public comment period on a proposal for Pennsylvania to link to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the Clean Power PA coalition made the following statement.
Can Biden’s climate plan spark cooperation in Pa.? Some see possible common ground in jobs, infrastructure
News Article • • by Rachel McDevitt at StateImpact
Climate change is one of the four major crises President-elect Joe Biden hopes to tackle after he’s sworn into office in January.
His goal is for the U.S. to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
In Pennsylvania, a high-polluting state with a history of coal and natural gas production, it’s fair to expect pushback on Biden’s plan from the Republican-controlled legislature and industry groups.
Opinion: Legislators should keep hands off conservation funds
News Article • • by Shannon Gority, PA executive director of the Chesapeake Bay at Gant Daily
As Pennsylvania legislators begin looking under the Commonwealth’s cushions for enough spare change to plug a state budget gap that could be higher than $4 billion, they should keep hands off of funds already dedicated to conservation and environmental programs.