While turnout for the May 17 election might not have been stellar, the overwhelming support of the $625 million Growing Greener bond issue was.

Over 60 percent of voters supported the new funding for environmental programs which carried in 47 counties across the state. Even in those counties where it was not approved, the margin of loss was relatively small.

“Voters made it absolutely clear that they want this investment to address some of the state’s most pressing environmental problems and help us win the race for new development and job creation,” Gov. Rendell said.

And the Governor added, “I applaud the Legislature for working to make sure this ballot initiative went before voters in the spring primary, and I look forward to working with members of the General Assembly to enact enabling legislation so we can get to work quickly to improve our quality of life here in Pennsylvania.”

Environmental groups from across the state raised more than $500,000 to fund a vote yes effort through the Pennsylvania Conservation Campaign designed to educate and turn out favorable voters. It was the largest initiative of its kind in state history.

“Our future was at stake in this vote, and we thank voters for coming to the rescue of Pennsylvania’s environment in a big way,” said Andrew McElwaine, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. “This unprecedented effort was necessary because of the short timeframe to educate voters on the issue—less than four weeks—and the real benefits this bond issue will have in cleaning up our rivers and streams, preserving our working farms and natural areas and reclaiming abandoned mine.”

The next step is to pass legislation to more specifically define how the bond proceeds will be spent, over what length of time and who will be eligible for funding.

“Given this overwhelming voter mandate, we need to push hard to have the first of this new funding become available starting as early as possible next fiscal year which begins July 1,” said McElwaine.

The ballot question approved by voters focused on funding watershed protection, abandoned mine reclamation, acid mine drainage remediation, farmland and open space preservation and “other environmental initiatives.”

Gov. Rendell’s original Growing Greener II bond initiative, as introduced in House Bill 2621 (George-D-Clearfield) in 2004, would have used a much larger bond-- $800 million—to fund these kinds of projects— parks, open space, farmland preservation and the improvement of facilities for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the Pennsylvania Game Commission, environmental cleanup and revitalization of communities.

Since Gov. Rendell’s original proposal, a $1 billion economic stimulus package was passed that helps fund brownfield remediation and water and sewer infrastructure for economic development projects, a $250 million bond issue was passed by voters last Spring to fund water and wastewater projects and the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority was reactivated with $10 million in state funding.

The House already approved House Bill 3 (Quigley-R-Montgomery) in February that lays out a proposal for spending an $800 million bond issue and it is now in the Senate.

House Bill 3 would primarily fund programs included in the original Growing Greener Program, plus provide some operation and maintenance funding for existing mine water treatment projects and funding for the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund that will run out of money June 30. (PaED 4/18/05)

For its part, the Senate passed Senate Bill 149 (M.White-R-Venango) to provide funding for the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund, the most urgent funding need, that the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported out last week. (PaED 5/16/05)

The Senate Republicans also proposed setting aside a portion of the new money authorized in the bond issue specifically for counties to spend for environmental purposes during discussions in April on House Bill 2 that put the $625 million bond issue question on the ballot and said the bond would be paid for from general state revenues.

But how to pay for the new spending will be an issue. Gov. Rendell joined Leadership in the Senate and House in saying they would not propose any tax or fee increases to payoff the bond issue.

All these actions have set the stage for the next step-- getting the new dollars overwhelmingly approved this week by voters to the communities, watershed and other groups and state agencies that can put them to good use.

NewsClips: Editorial: Don’t let Greener II bog down in politics

Editorial: Growing Greener II Spending- Listen to the People

Editorial: On Growing Greener, Spend it Like Taxpayers Wanted

State Voters Go Green

Legislators to Decide on Green Money

Growing Greener Wins Voter Support

Residents Vote Overwhelmingly to Keep PA Growing Greener

Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Growing Greener

Voters OK Open Space Spending

Growing Greener Gets Voter OK

5/20/2005