A dumb idea when times were better; a really really stupid idea now
This week's rejection by the federal government of the state's plan to toll I-80 to pay for bridge and road repairs and public transportation blows a $472 million dollar hole in our budget. Unless we find the money somewhere, bus schedules will probably be cut and fares raised and vital replacement or repair of hundreds of dangerous bridges and roads will be postponed. Governor Rendell has called for a special legislative session to fund the budget shortfall.
So with the red ink gushing, one would think that any agency dealing with transportation – and the citizens themselves – would work hard to save the money we have now, and prioritize projects in order of necessity and benefit to the citizens. But not, apparently, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) or that foolhardy band of supporters of the Mon-Fayette Toll Road boondoggle.
With the PTC freely admitting that there's no money – nada -- to build the Mon-Fayette and Southern Beltway toll roads, the PTC still continues to buy property and take it off the tax rolls, leaving houses and businesses prey to break-ins and vandalism. And the members of the Mon Valley Progress Council, the roads' biggest boosters? They are calling on the federal Fairy Godmother to leave the $4 billion needed under their pillows.
It's time kill this Transportation Zombie, once and for all. It's damaged our communities and economic development long enough.
Reloading our clean energy campaign
Representative Eugene DePasquale (D-York) will introduce the new Clean Energy and Green Jobs Bill the week of April 19 as House Bill 2405. The bill retains the core ideas of House Bill 80, and incorporates changes that improve it.
The bill would require Pennsylvania utilities to obtain 15 percent of their electricity from clean energy sources such as wind by 2024, including 3 percent from the sun. HB 2405 is vital to sustaining Pennsylvania's position as a growing clean energy powerhouse. A recent study shows that strengthening and extending our Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards law with the requirements in HB 2405 will create 130,000 job years and save Pennsylvania consumers between $1.9 and $4.6 billion.
Please ask your state representative to co-sponsor this important bill.
Whistleblowers needed
Citizens who observe suspicious activity related to natural gas and oil development can now call or e-mail a new "Eyes on Drilling" tip line established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. An example of suspicious activity would be illegal dumping. The toll-free phone number is 1-877-919-4EPA, and the e-mail address is eyesondrilling@epa.gov.
Emergencies, such as a spill or release of hazardous material, should be reported at once to one of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's regional incident response numbers.
Mixed bag for the Bay
This week the Chesapeake Bay Program released its Bay Barometer, the annual report assessing the progress made toward restoring the health of the Bay.
It was a mixed bag of news for the Bay. Water quality remains poor, stormwater pollution is increasing, significant habitat is degraded, and there is still a very low population of many fish and shellfish species. The program rates overall Bay health at only 45 percent of the goal, and over half of the streams sampled in the watershed are in poor condition.
The good news is that underwater bay grasses and bottom-dwelling species like clams and oysters have improved since last year. Blue crabs are at their highest level since 1993 and we are making some progress towards our restoration goals including nutrient reductions from sewage treatment plants.
The way to improve water quality and the health of the Bay is to improve our rivers and stream here at home. Clean water starts here. The Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act can help us get the job done. The bill pending in Congress would help us put the Bay on a pollution diet, hold polluters accountable, and provide the funds to get the job done.
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Gas well waste pit explodes
A wastewater pond at an Atlas Energy Marcellus drilling site exploded and burned last week. Residents could see flames at the Hopewell Township, Washington County site from seven miles away. According to the Pittsburgh NBC affiliate, WPXI, neighbors had been trying to contact state officials to report strong gas fumes but were unable to reach them for three days. In January, the Department of Environmental Protection fined Atlas Energy $85,000 for violations at 13 well sites for failing to control runoff and spills of hazardous substances.
Podcast of the Week: Fighting global warming by growing green jobs and saving energy – the details
This podcast features a webinar PennFuture hosted this week for Congressional staff members and clean energy businesses focused on how enacting new federal energy policies will save energy and create more good-paying, non-exportable jobs in Pennsylvania and nationally.
The webinar clearly shows why PennFuture supports a comprehensive, three-pillar approach to federal climate and energy policy, including a strong cap on heat-trapping pollution that is causing global warming; developing new renewable, clean energy production that will shift our economy away from dirty fuels; and requirements for energy conservation and efficiency that will help save consumers money and create a host of new great green jobs.
Joy Bergey, our federal programs manager, led the web conference, which featured Dr. Martin Kushler, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy; Peter Krajsa, AFC First Financial Corp.; Michael Perillo, Dynamic Solar, LLC; Paul Spiegel, Practical Energy Solutions; and Eric Thumma, Iberdrola Renewables. You can download any of the presentations from this Webinar at our Cool Pennsylvania pages.
Are you a PennFuture member? There's no time like the present to join. You'll get first notice on cool programs like this webinar, movies, panels, workshops and parties. Donate today at our secure website.
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