Mar 27 2014
The PennFuture Energy Center announced today the release of the Clean Energy Wins Policy Roadmap. The report will provide nonpartisan education to gubernatorial candidates, policymakers and the general public about the economic, job creation and environmental benefits of clean energy while identifying practical policies that can grow Pennsylvania's clean energy economy.
"We worked with stakeholders in the solar, wind and energy efficiency industries on a local, state and national level to create these policy recommendations," said Christina Simeone, director of the PennFuture Energy Center. "It's time for a meaningful conversation on energy in Pennsylvania, and that has to include truly clean energy resources and what they can do to grow the state's economy while safeguarding public health and protecting our air, land and water."
The Clean Energy Wins initiative was launched in January 2014 with a goal of developing the roadmap report and educating Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidates, policymakers, and the general public on the benefits of clean energy. The initiative is also working to identify clean energy voters throughout the Commonwealth. "Pennsylvania was once a leader in clean energy development but we have fallen behind," continued Simeone. "The roadmap report plots a course that will allow the state to regain its competitive advantage in renewable energy and energy efficiency as it unleashes its myriad benefits."
"All too often, the energy conversation in Pennsylvania is co-opted by fossil fuel interests including natural gas and coal," said Cindy Dunn, president and chief executive officer of PennFuture. "The 'energy independence' argument falls short when our leaders are looking to export natural gas, and our air and water continue to be negatively impacted by fossil fuel extraction, posing ever greater risks to public health. Renewable energy and energy efficiency must have a seat at the table, and a majority of our citizens agree."
The full report is available at http://cleanenergywins.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/CleanEnergyWins_PolicyRoadmap.pdf. It will be discussed at a series of virtual briefings over the next week; interested parties can register at http://cleanenergywins.org/media-outreach-and-events/events/. Events throughout the state with renewable energy businesses, policymakers and clean energy voters will be scheduled over the course of the year.
PennFuture is a statewide public interest membership organization founded in 1998 with offices in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre. The organization's activities include litigating cases before regulatory bodies and in local, state, and federal courts; advocating and advancing legislative action on a state and federal level; public education; and assisting citizens in public advocacy.
The Philadelphia Inquirer called PennFuture the "state's leading environmental advocacy organization;" the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette named the organization "one of the 10 most influential groups on the issue of natural gas drilling;" and StateImpact Pennsylvania, an online collaboration of NPR stations across the state, called PennFuture "the commonwealth's main environmental advocate."
Source: http://pennfuture.org/