PennFuture Blog

Our Perspectives on the Latest Issues

Featured Blog:

Renaming Erie’s “Summer of Soot and Sewage” to the Summer of Community Climate Solutions

by Jenny Tompkins, Campaign Manager for Clean Water Advocacy
Reflecting on Erie’s summer, I want to highlight four community activist-led efforts that provide hope and inspiration about our ability to affect change. Based on the examples set by these community advocates, I propose we rename this recent season to the “Summer of Community Climate Solutions.”

The State of Solar Development in PA: Solar Energy Benefits Remain Unrealized

by Rob Altenburg, Senior Director for Energy and Climate

How Humans are Breaking the Jet Stream and Changing the Weather

by Matthew Stepp, Vice President and Chief of Staff, PennFuture

Logistics Facilities are Coming. Is Your Municipality Ready?: PennFuture Releases Model Logistics Use Ordinance and Guidebook

by Brigitte Meyer, Staff Attorney

PennFuture Asks PA Supreme Court to Protect Pennsylvanians’ Groundwater and Environmental Rights

by Emma Bast, Staff Attorney
PennFuture and our allies wrote a “friend of the court” brief to ensure that the Supreme Court understands what is at stake here. Read more

New Amendment to Pennsylvania’s Watershed Implementation Plan Shows Progress in Meeting Clean Water Goals, but Legislature Still Must Act

by Renee Reber, Campaign Manager, Watershed Advocacy
Last week, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection released its long-anticipated amendment to the Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan. Read more
Climate | Community | Environment

Looking Ahead to the Best and Worst of 2022’s Legislative Proposals

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
Here is our roundup of the best - and the worst - of the bills expected to make their way through the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2022. Read more
Climate | Community | Energy | Environment

Goodbye 2021, Hello 2022

by Jacquelyn Bonomo, PennFuture President and CEO
This upcoming 2022 is as important a New Year as ever. We are working hard toward our mission and need all of you by our side doing the same. Read more
Climate | Community | Energy | Environment

PennFuture Meets with State Agencies About Asphalt-Plastic Mixture

by John Ukenye, Policy Analyst
On Dec. 9, PennFuture met with representatives from the Departments of Transportation, Conservation and Natural Resources, Environmental Protection, and General Services , Pennsylvania GreenGov Council, and engineering firm RK&K. Read more
Community | Energy | Environment

Renewable Natural Gas: Hope or Hype?

by Rob Altenburg, Senior Director for Energy and Climate
“Renewable natural gas” (RNG) sounds good, but does it live up to the hype as a green alternative to fracked gas or is it something like the mythical “clean coal?" Read more
Climate | Energy | Environment

Civilian Conservation Corps Gaining Momentum in Pennsylvania

by Jared Stonesifer, Director of Media Relations
The William Penn Foundation recently announced a $1.65 million Delaware River Climate Corps that would fund up to 200 jobs restoring landscapes, installing green stormwater infrastructure, and performing home weatherization throughout the Delaware River watershed. Read more
Climate | Community | Energy | Environment

PennFuture Appeals MS4 Permits Issued by Department of Environmental Protection

by Emma Bast, Staff Attorney
In Pennsylvania, stormwater is a leading cause of impairment of our Commonwealth’s waterways. Read more
Community | Environment

Living in the Blast Zone: Fracking's Bomb Trains

by Donna Kohut, Campaign Manager
The fracking industry is still thinking of new ways to threaten the health of our waterways and communities. Read more
Climate | Community | Energy | Environment

Breaking Down the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will truly transform Pennsylvania. Read more
Climate | Community | Energy | Environment

Philadelphia Energy Solutions Hearing Brings Environmental Justice to Forefront

by Adam Nagel, Campaign Manager
The case for environmental justice stood centerstage this week during a hearing on the ongoing remediation efforts at the former Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refinery complex. Read more
Climate | Community | Energy | Environment

Nigerian Princes: How the Fracked Gas Industry Killed Pennsylvania Coal and Raised Electricity Prices While Swimming in Taxpayer Subsidies

by Rob Altenburg, Senior Director for Energy and Climate
When the shale gas industry came to Pennsylvania, industry lobbyists were telling our legislators how profitable it would be. It turns out that wasn't the case. Read more
Climate | Community | Energy | Environment

PennFuture, Partners Appeal Air Installation Permit for Proposed Gas-Burning Plant in Elizabeth Township

by Angela Kilbert, Staff Attorney
If completed, this facility would be a major source of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and VOC emissions, and a minor source for particulate matter, PM10, PM2.5, sulfur dioxide, and hazardous air pollutants. Read more
Climate | Community | Energy | Environment

During Press Conference, State Senators Openly Choose Profits Over Pennsylvanians, Our Environment

by John Ukenye, Policy Analyst
On October 20, 2021, State Senators Camera Bartolotta, Gene Yaw, and Independent John Yudichak held a press conference at the Main Capitol Rotunda filled to the brim with falsehoods. Read more
Climate | Community | Energy | Environment

The Basics of Hydrogen

by Rob Altenburg, Senior Director for Energy and Climate
The topic of hydrogen can seem heavy and hard to digest. Read more
Climate | Energy | Environment

Connecting Pennsylvania with COP26

by Jacquelyn Bonomo, PennFuture President and CEO
The imperative for bold action on climate has never been greater. Read more
Climate | Community | Energy | Environment

DRBC Proposed Regulations Ban Discharge of Fracking Wastewater, Discourages Fracking-Related Interbasin Water Transfers

by Abigail M. Jones, Vice President of Legal and Policy
It appears that the DRBC is taking seriously its authority – and duty – to protect the Delaware watershed from the inherent harms of fracking. Read more
Climate | Community | Energy | Environment

Planting Trees and Fighting for Funding in the Keystone State

by Renee Reber, Campaign Manager, Watershed Advocacy
Gathering on a Plain Sect dairy farm in Lancaster County on October 13, a group of 20 volunteers planted approximately 600 trees as part of a two-acre buffer on a direct tributary to the Conestoga River. Read more
Climate | Community | Environment

Plastics Could Soon Overtake Coal as a Climate Killer, and Pennsylvania is Right in the Middle of It

by Jared Stonesifer, Director of Media Relations
A report released on Oct. 21 by Beyond Plastics predicted dire consequences as a result of our inability to stop consuming plastics. Specifically, the report’s authors claim that the domestic plastics industry’s contribution to climate change is on track to exceed that of coal-fired power in this co Read more
Climate | Community | Energy | Environment

DEP Should Revoke Permits for Troubled Mariner East Pipeline

by Emma Bast, Staff Attorney
On October 5, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced 48 criminal charges related to construction of the Mariner East pipeline project, including one felony count of failing to report pollution. Read more
Climate | Community | Energy | Environment

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