(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.
New Jersey to Fully Fund Delaware River Basin Commission in 2022 Budget
Jersey WaterCheck: Connecting Communities with Water & Promoting Policy Change
Water infrastructure is essential to the health and well-being of our communities. Wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, in particular, critically impact watershed health, which subsequently affects the physical and mental health of communities that depend on and interact with that watershed. To track progress on improvements to such infrastructure, maintaining robust data and displaying it in a meaningful way is crucial. Jersey WaterCheck, a Jersey Water Works initiative, was created to highlight New Jersey’s water infrastructure needs and promote investment in related priorities. Members of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed may find this new tool useful in their protection of the Delaware River Basin and their advancement of policies that will bring the Coalition’s mission to fruition.
The Clean Water for Delaware Act: Back in 2021!
In January 2020, clean water advocates from across the state of Delaware were crowded into a small room, huddled around a podium where Governor Carney was preparing to make the announcement we had all been waiting years to hear. State Senate and House leadership were in attendance, as well as reporters, staffers, public officials, and a few of our dedicated Water Warriors and Clean Water Alliance members. You could feel the excited buzz of anticipation throughout the room. When Governor Carney declared his commitment to dedicating $50 million in his budget for clean water initiatives and his support for House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst’s enabling legislation, the Clean Water for Delaware Act, the crowd responded with gratitude and earnest applause.