Policy
We are champions for local, state and national public policies that protect and expand our environmental resources.
Pennsylvania has a long and storied history of polluting industries with deep pockets and powerful political influence making harmful and lasting changes to our water, air, and landscapes that future generations must pay to fix. Pennsylvania faces significant challenges that grow every year as oil and gas infrastructure expands, our waters become more polluted, and climate change becomes more severe. It’s important now more than ever to defend against renewed efforts to weaken our environmental protections.
REDUCE METHANE POLLUTION In January 2016, Governor Tom Wolf announced a plan to cut harmful methane pollution from the oil and gas industry. The fossil fuel industry is pushing back and advancing legislation (Senate Bill 1327) to ensure any methane standards are the least stringent, giving drillers free reign to increase local air pollution and impact public health.
Legislation
During an average two-year legislative session, the Pennsylvania General Assembly produces between 3000-4000 pieces of legislation. Of those, as many as 10 percent hold the potential to impact Pennsylvania’s environment. PennFuture tracks each of these bills, engaging with stakeholders and legislators to advance those that benefit the Commonwealth’s environment or defeat those that aim to damage it.
The bills listed below are those of the highest priority for PennFuture
PennFuture Legislative Contact
Archived items are not available at this time.
Archived items are not available at this time.
Regulation
Environmental regulation is a critical tool for reducing or eliminating environmental harm due to commercial and industrial activity. Pennsylvania’s existing regulations make up the foundation of environmental protection for our air, hundreds of thousands of acres of land, and miles of waterways. Yet, new pollution challenges often require new regulations to ensure public safety, health, and sustainability.
The regulations listed below are of the highest priority for PennFuture.
Archived items are not available at this time.
Archived items are not available at this time.
Take Action
Support PennFuture's Work
PennFuture is the leading environmental voice in Harrisburg, advocating for strong environmental protections and defending against policy rollbacks.
We need your help. Please support our work.
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Clean Energy
Pennsylvania already employs over 65,000 clean energy jobs. It’s poised to become a leader in the manufacture and installation of clean energy, but it requires state policy leadership rather than protective subsidies for fossil fuels.
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Water Pollution
Pennsylvania is home to thousands of miles of waterways too polluted to swim in or fish. Yet the Commonwealth continues to underinvest in programs to address water pollution and cleanup projects.
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Public Lands
Pennsylvania is home to one of the largest state park systems in the US – 121 parks and 283,000 acres of diverse wildlife and scenic beauty. This natural resource is under constant threat, whether from gas companies wanting to drill or from legislators wanting to open the land to commercial development.
Policy Resources
Letter: Clean Streams Funding 2023-2024
PennFuture opposes House Bill 1300 as currently written, which proposes to transfer $150 million in funding from the PA Game Commission to Clean Streams Fund. Learn More
How to Protect PA Communities and Environment from Distribution Center Development
PennFuture releases a model logistics-use zoning ordinance for Pennsylvania Municipalities to help manage the influx of large distribution centers. Learn More
Riparian Buffers: a Natural, Inexpensive, and Crucial Way to Protect and Improve Water Quality
An explanation on Riparian Buffers and their benefits to PA’s waters and communities. Learn More
Logistics Facilities are Coming. Is Your Municipality Ready?: PennFuture Releases Model Logistics Use Ordinance and Guidebook
Municipalities cannot ignore this new pattern of development and cannot ban distribution and fulfillment centers from within their borders. They must proactively plan for when distribution and fulfillment centers come to town by adopting updated zoning ordinances. Learn More
A Look at the 2018 Draft Integrated Water Quality Report
Pennsylvania is a water rich state with approximately 86,000 stream miles connecting more than 700,000 acres of lakes, bays, and wetlands. Protecting and monitoring such a high volume of the Commonwealth's waterways is a challenging but necessary task. Learn More
PennFuture Submits Comments Opposing the Dirty Water Rule, Engages More Than 1,400 Citizens to Do the Same
On Monday, April 15, PennFuture submitted public comments opposing the Trump Administration’s proposed revised definition of “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act. Learn More
New Definition of “Waters of the United States” Threatens Clean Water Act Protections
On February 14, 2019, the federal agencies tasked with regulating our nation’s waters under the Clean Water Act – the US Environmental Protection Agency and US Army Corps of Engineers – issued a new definition of “waters of the United States,” which will dramatically limit the protections of the Cle Learn More
Comments and Expert Testimony
We also provide comments and expert testimony before the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC), legislative committees, or other venues as appropriate.
Take Action: Become a Member
PennFuture depends on your support to enable us to fight on each of these fronts. Your tax-deductible membership provides real benefits.