Renew Growing Greener!
Growing Greener, started in 1999 under Governor Ridge and reinvigorated through a 2005 state referendum for a $625 million dollar bond issue, has been a hugely successful program. In the last four years, the program has saved 33,000 acres of farmland, 42,000 acres of natural areas, 234 municipal parks, 132 state parks and forests; helped prevent flooding through 400 watershed preservation projects; funded 100 drinking water protection projects; and restored 600 acres of abandoned coal minelands.
Growing Greener 2 ends in 2011. Furthermore, the Environmental Stewardship Fund, which also funds Growing Greener projects, is being used to pay debt service on the Growing Greener 2 bonds, rather than supporting vital local projects. Without action by the governor and state legislature, Growing Greener funds will be virtually depleted in just over a year. Total funds for the program will drop from $200 million in 2007-2008 to just $15 million after 2012. Probably the best way to replenish Growing Greener to provide the $200 million that is needed annually to address conservation of land and natural resources in Pennsylvania is the enactment of a natural gas severance tax. Pennsylvania is currently the only major natural gas-producing state that does not have such a tax on drillers. For more about the effort to fund Growing Greener, visit www.renewgrowinggreener.org.
Rep. Schroder Introduces Legislation for Regional Pipeline Control
In response to the recent public concern about the profusion of pipeline proposed and approved in Chester County, PA Rep. Curt Schroder (R-East Brandywine) introduced House Bill 1817 to permit regional control over the placement of natural gas pipelines in communities across Pennsylvania. Introduced in July, the bill calls for the establishment of a Mid-Atlantic Area Natural Gas Corridor Interstate Compact, as provided for in the federal Natural Gas Act of 1938. The compact would have the power to govern the siting of interstate natural gas pipelines within their area, replacing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which currently has exclusive authority. According to Representative Schroder the legislation would "level the playing field and provide a review process that will protect our communities, citizens and natural resources."