PennFuture joined Clean Air Council, Mountain Watershed Association, and Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services in filing an amicus brief in Commonwealth Court to support Rockhill Township's position that the Environmental Hearing Board (Board) erred as a matter of law in misconstruing precedent of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in concluding the Board lacked jurisdiction over the appeal. This error has broad and likely unintended implications in federalizing control over state regulatory decisions and the de novo review framework for appeal of Departmental decisions.
Earthjustice filed a complaint on behalf of Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future, Gasp, Louisiana Bucket Brigade, and Sierra Club, sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for improperly regulating coke ovens – producers of known carcinogens – thus failing to protect communities throughout the country. Over a decade ago, EPA found that carcinogenic emissions from coke ovens destroy air quality and cause devastating health complications, yet plaintiffs in the case argue the agency failed to act to protect nearby communities from this threat.
Charlestown Township and French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust, Inc.sought review of a prior decision regarding the implemenation of a conservation easement held by French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust, Inc. on property now owned by the Naylors. Representing the Pennsylvania Land Trust Alliance (PALTA), PennFuture submitted an amicus brief in support of Charlestown Township and French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust, Inc.
Introduced: Sen. John Blake (D)
Creates the Penn-STAR Program, the Commonwealth's first Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program. This would allow municipalities to voluntarily create a C-PACE program and float a bond to cover the upfront cost of commercial building owners retrofitting properties for energy efficiency and renewable energy. Owners would pay back the loan through their property tax bill.
More Information:
Letter of Support (February 2017)
Introduced: Sen. Thomas McGarrigle (R)
Eliminates DEP from regulating transportation of leachate from a landfill to an off-site facility.
In a major win for the environment, Dominion Energy Inc. and Duke Energy Corp. announced Sunday that they will not be moving forward with their Atlantic Coast fracked gas pipeline.
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Over the course of our 22-year history, PennFuture has achieved significant and meaningful legal victories and, just this week, we received word that two cases had been resolved in our favor.
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As PennFuture looks forward, we recognize that we need to be more involved with cultivating the legal talent that will continue to support our mission.
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PennFuture opened a new office in Erie because we are passionate about clean water for all Pennsylvanians. Read our Op Ed published on June 10 for more info!
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On June 1, PennFuture released a statement in reaction to the nationwide protests and peaceful unrest in the wake of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
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PennFuture—as an advocate for the health and protection of our communities—issued the following statement in reaction to Gov. Wolf's plan to reopen Pennsylvania
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