Now, 15 years later, Berks Nature has published updates to these data in the State of the Environment 15-Year Report for Berks County. The publication in tandem with the 15th Annual State of the Environment Breakfast offer a valuable opportunity for reflection in which we celebrate the inspiring work and collaboration already underway, address the environmental threats to our county that still require a real investment of effort and attention, and consider how we as a community can move forward towards a more sustainable future.
Pennsylvania Falls Short of Their Funding Commitment to the DRBC
(Harrisburg, PA) - July 11, 2022 - Governor Tom Wolf signed Pennsylvania’s 2023 budget into law on Friday, notably falling short of the Commonwealth’s commitment to fully fund the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC). Despite the Governor’s initial budget proposal to fully fund the DRBC with more than the $893,000 that the Commonwealth agreed to, negotiations cut funding to $217,000, the same level that Pennsylvania has been funding the Commission at since 2014.
PENNSYLVANIA STATE BUDGET INCLUDES HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN CLEAN WATER
(HARRISBURG, PA)—Today, Pennsylvania's General Assembly passed a new state budget that includes historic funding for the program formerly called Growing Greener, as well as the new Clean Streams Fund program. Collectively, these two programs will invest $696 million from the American Rescue Plan to protect and restore Pennsylvania's waterways.
Making the Case for Clean Water: PA's Growing Greener III & The Clean Streams Fund
By High Garst, State Policy Advocate, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed
Budget season in Harrisburg, PA is often marked by the busy hustle and bustle of the Capitol Building filled with advocates, lawmakers, citizens, and staff. Significant budget surplus in this year’s budget has left room to ensure funding of a number of projects in the state, but on June 8, people in Harrisburg turned their attention to the necessity of clean water funding in this year’s budget.
Pennsylvania Joins 11 Other States in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)
PA joins the other Basin states (NY,NJ,DE) and eight others in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI/”Reggie”). “Reggie” is a multi-state cap and investment program designed to reduce carbon emissions generated by fossil-fuel fired power plants. Under this program, power plants pay "allowances" for the amount of emissions they create, and the revenue generated from those allowances gets reinvested in local communities impacted by power generation.
CDRW Priorities: The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (also known as RGGI or “Reggie”) is a multi-state cap and invest program designed to reduce carbon emissions generated by fossil-fuel fired power plants. Member states include Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia. Currently, Pennsylvania is the only state in the Delaware River Basin that is not a member of RGGI.
Pennsylvania Shortchanges Delaware River Basin Commission Again in FY22 Budget
Governor Wolf signed the Commonwealth’s 2022 budget into law, providing less than 25% of Pennsylvania’s agreed upon contribution to the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC). This is concerning considering that more than 43% of Pennsylvanians reside in the Basin, and that the Commonwealth comprises more than 50% of the Basin’s land area.