PennFuture Blog

Our Perspectives on the Latest Issues

Environment

Fracking Banned in Delaware River Basin

by Jessica O'Neill, Senior Attorney
On Feb. 25, the Delaware River Basin Commission banned fracking in the basin, a move widely celebrated by those who cherish clean water and environmental protections. Read more

A Breath of Fresh Air: Two Steps (and Hopefully More) Forward on Environmental Justice and Water Protection

by Jessica O'Neill, Senior Attorney
In the fourth post in our ongoing series, Senior Attorney Jessica O'Neill examines potential environmental justice and clean water protections under the Biden administration. Read more

A Breath of Fresh Air: Reason for Optimism for Lake Erie

by Sarah Bennett, Campaign Manager for Clean Water Advocacy
Great Lakes communities have reason for optimism under the new Biden administration. Read more

PennFuture joins with the Philadelphia Coalition for Affordable Communities

by Lena Smith
PennFuture is proud to stand among the members of this new coalition in seeking community-led solutions to Philadelphia’s affordability and land justice challenges. Read more

A Breath of Fresh Air

by Jared Stonesifer, Director of Media Relations
President Biden's administration is a breath of fresh air, but time will tell as to its true impact on the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the climate we all rely on for survival. Read more

In the Midst of a Democracy Emergency

by Jacquelyn Bonomo, PennFuture President and CEO, Matthew Stepp, Vice President and Chief of Staff, PennFuture
While PennFuture remains a beacon for environmental leadership and protection in Pennsylvania, we would not be true to our mission if we didn’t stand up and emphatically oppose efforts to undercut the democracy we require to ensure clean air, clean water and abundant green spaces. Read more

The Growing Danger of Pipelines Our Safety Regulations Overlook

by Emily Persico, Policy Analyst
Regulating gathering pipelines is not the only action necessary to modernize our outdated pipeline safety regulations, but it’s an important first step. Read more

Recycling is Exacerbating the Plastic Waste Crisis

by Emily Persico, Policy Analyst
Advanced recycling builds upon a decades-long crusade by the oil and gas industry to undermine the effectiveness of recycling. Read more

2019-2020 Legislative Wrap-Up & 2021 Preview: Where Does the PA General Assembly Stand on Our Environment?

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
While advancing proactive, offensive, good environmental legislation remains a challenge in Harrisburg, PennFuture and partners killed, blocked, and bottled-up a host of anti-environmental and pro-fossil fuel bills and policies in the recent previous legislative session. Read more

More Challenges Knocking on Dimock’s Door

by Emily Persico, Policy Analyst
News reports suggest Dimock may serve as the location for Eastern Pennsylvania’s first deep injection fracking well. Read more

PennFuture Releases Blueprint to Protect Pennsylvania's Lake Erie Watershed

by Sarah Bennett, Campaign Manager for Clean Water Advocacy
On Dec. 3, PennFuture and 12 partner organizations released a 50-page document aimed at protecting Pennsylvania's Lake Erie watershed for decades to come. Read more

Building the United States' Green Economy Future through Appalachia

by Jacquelyn Bonomo, PennFuture President and CEO
Our climate justice and clean energy future must begin here in Appalachia, whose people, land and water have paid a dear price for powering the nation and world for almost two hundred years. Read more

PA General Assembly Wraps Up Annual Budget, Punts on Stimulus

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
Last week, the Pennsylvania General Assembly hammered out the final pieces of this year’s state budget, which began in late May when the Legislature passed a five-month stopgap budget package. Read more

Confronting Reality: Pennsylvania Leaders Refuse to Acknowledge State of Petrochemical Industry

by Emily Persico, Policy Analyst
Even Texas is willing to admit something that many Pennsylvania leaders continue to deny: the shale gas and petrochemical industry is dying. Read more

An Election Day Wish

by Jacquelyn Bonomo, PennFuture President and CEO
In her monthly blog, PennFuture President and CEO Jacquelyn Bonomo writes about Election Day finally arriving, and what this election means for our environment and democracy. Read more

Green and Complete Streets Programs are Good for Communities and the Environment

by Lena Smith
PennFuture is recommending investments in green and complete streets to address decades of neglect including the environmental injustices of the urban heat island effect, unequal access to green space, and stormwater pollution. Read more

Setting the Record Straight About Fracking in Pennsylvania

by Emily Persico, Policy Analyst
With so much media attention dedicated to it, it should come as no surprise that some basic facts about fracking have been misrepresented, misconstrued or, in same cases, completely fabricated. Read more

Clean Water Advocacy Forges Ahead Despite Pandemic

by Renee Reber, Campaign Manager, Watershed Advocacy
The COVID-19 pandemic has left its impact on all of us and continues to raise uncertainty at every corner, including in our clean water advocacy. Read more

Toxic Fracking Waste Becomes Mounting Problem for Downstream Communities

by Abigail M. Jones, Vice President of Legal and Policy
We know the dangers of fracking operations, but what many might not realize is that the fracking industry is allowed to dispose of its wastes in landfills across Pennsylvania. Read more

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