Rep. Kate Harper helps announce Green PA Plan

House Republicans, led by the Montgomery County Delegation, this week announced its Green PA program, a 28-year, $2 billion proposal that if passed and approved by voters, will represent the single largest investment of its kind in environmental health in state history.

The proposal would ask voters to approve an $800 million bond issue this Spring to be spent over the next seven years on the original programs funded by the Ridge/Schweiker Growing Greener Program—watershed restoration, mine reclamation, State Park, State Forest and water and sewer projects.

In addition, $25 million a year would be earmarked for the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund and $10 million a year specifically for farmland preservation. Both funding streams would continue through 2033 in addition to the $800 million bond issue.

The proposal also sets aside funds through 2033 in an endowment account that will result in an estimated $179 million to be spent after the initial program has run its course.

The Green PA Plan would be funded by reallocating the $4.25 Growing Greener fee now collected on each ton of municipal waste disposed in Pennsylvania. The existing $2 per ton fee dedicated for recycling would not be changed under this proposal. No new fees would be imposed or existing fees increased.

"Green PA will allow this generation to hand to our children and grandchildren a cleaner, greener Pennsylvania, not the bill to pay for it," said Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery). "With this plan, the Commonwealth will invest an unprecedented $2 billion through the first third of the 21st century in land preservation, environmental clean up and restoration, and water resource and forest protection.”

In response, Gov. Rendell said, "Nearly one year after I unveiled my Growing Greener II proposal, I am pleased that House Republicans joined me in my commitment to improve the quality of life in Pennsylvania by boosting our effort on environmental clean-up and open space; preserving our farmland and cleaning up our rivers and streams. I am gratified that we now agree that an $800 million bond is an appropriate way to do this, and paying for the bond with waste fees makes sense. Today's announcement represents real progress, and should help us to move quickly in crafting a ballot question for voters' to consider in the May primary."

The proposal also addresses the top three priorities identified by members of the bipartisan Green Ribbon Commission last November —funding the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund, preserving open space and farmland and reclaiming abandoned mines.

"Green PA is a balanced approach that will allow us to do more for environmental health without placing a new burden on our middle class working families," said Green Ribbon co-Chair Rep. William Adolph (R-Delaware). "It proves that we can balance environmental protection and economic development while delivering a better quality of life for our families."

At the press conference, Rep. Adolph said he would be circulating the proposal to members of the Green Ribbon Commission for their review and comment.

The proposal does not address infrastructure funding needs for the PA Fish & Boat and Game Commissions.

More Details: The Green PA Program would divide the $800 million bond proceeds between three agencies—the departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources and the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority—using the same formula used now in the Growing Greener Program—

DEP - $50 million per year for watershed restoration, mine reclamation (minimum allocation $15 million), oil and gas well plugging, watershed specialists and innovative water and wastewater technologies (all the existing uses of the funds)—an increase from about $38 million annually now;

DCNR - $36 million for State Park, State Forest and open space preservation, with a $15 million minimum for open space preservation – an increase from about $27.5 million.

PennVEST - $28 million for water and wastewater grants – an increase from about $22 million.

The Green PA Program was developed by the state House Appropriations Committee with input from the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee led by the Montgomery County Delegation and Republican House members appointed by Majority Leader Samuel Smith (R-Jefferson) to the state Green Ribbon Commission.

At this week’s Green Ribbon Commission meeting, Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango) said the Senate was working on its own proposals that should be out in the near future. And in press accounts her office said they would like to see the issue of funding for the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund treated separately from any bond issue for other purposes.

A spokesperson for Sen. Brightbill (R-Lebanon) was quoted as saying they thought an $800 million bond issue might not be supported in the Seante.

NewsClip: House GOP Counters Rendell’s Environmental Plan

GOP Tries to Top Rendell Green Plan

New Green Proposal Hailed as “Godsend”

Green Plan Advancing

GOP Drafts Green Plan

1/28/2005