Growing Greener Coalition: 93% Of Pennsylvanians Agree We Have A Moral Obligation To Take Care Of Our Environment - Let's Use American Rescue Plan Money To Do Just That

On June 8, the Growing Greener Coalition released an open letter to all members of the Senate and House and to Gov. Wolf urging them to use $500 million from the $7.3 billion Pennsylvania received under the federal American Rescue Plan for community-based water and green infrastructure projects.

Here's the text of that letter--

93 percent of Pennsylvanians agree—68 percent strongly—that “we have a moral obligation to take care of our environment.” 

Whether the focus is protecting waterways, wildlife and natural areas conservation, the importance of parks and open spaces, or preserving productive farms, an overwhelming majority of Pennsylvanians find these matters to be “very important.”

Support crosses party lines; for example, “protecting PA’s drinking water” is found to be very important by 75 percent of Republicans, 84 percent of Independents, and 92 percent of Democrats.

90 percent of likely voters agree that “protecting water quality and land in Pennsylvania is critical to keeping the state’s economy strong, even in a time of COVID”—67 percent feeling strongly about this.

COVID has triggered a boom in outdoor recreation that is clearly continuing beyond the peak of the crisis. 

This is borne out in polling that finds 91 percent of the public agreeing—60 percent strongly—that “it is more important than ever in a time of COVID to have parks, preserves, and other public spaces where we can safely enjoy the outdoors.”

Pennsylvanians care deeply about our natural resources. 

The American Rescue Plan provides a unique opportunity to boost investments in projects that Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly support, can be implemented now, and will continue to deliver value for decades to come. 

From nature-based solutions that prevent flooding and stream degradation (for example, riparian forest buffers on farms and wetland restoration), to rehabilitation of the parks and trails that underpin a large part of the Commonwealth’s tourism and outdoor recreation economies, American Rescue Plan dollars can make a huge difference.

The Growing Greener Coalition urges the General Assembly and Governor to direct at least $500 million (7 percent) of state government’s share of Rescue money to these investments. 

For more information, visit the Growing Greener Coalition website.

Related Articles:

-- PA Farm Bureau Calls On Senate, House To Pass And Fund Legislation To Support On-Farm Conservation Efforts To Improve Water Quality

-- WeConservePA: Water & Green Infrastructure - A Good Fit For PA American Rescue Plan Funding

-- WeConservePA Urges Groups To Work With County, Local Govts. To Invest Federal Rescue Funds For Watershed Restoration, Land Conservation, Park & Trail Improvement Projects

-- Growing Greener Coalition: American Rescue Plan For Water & Green Infrastructure

[Posted: June 8, 2021]  PA Environment Digest