PennFuture Lauds Kathleen McGinty as Trailblazer for Pennsylvania’s Environment and Economy

PennFuture Lauds Kathleen McGinty as Trailblazer for Pennsylvania’s Environment and Economy

Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (PennFuture) heralded Secretary of Environmental Protection Kathleen McGinty as a trailblazer for Pennsylvania’s environment and economy and a truly transformative leader. PennFuture’s comments came as McGinty announced her intention to leave office on July 18, 2008.

“Secretary McGinty has created a record of unparalleled achievement for the Keystone State’s environment and economy,” said John Hanger, president and CEO of PennFuture. “Under her leadership, our state created the largest ever bond issue in the state’s history, Growing Greener II, with $625 million for environmental cleanup. Her Energy Harvest grant program created the funds necessary to jumpstart Pennsylvania’s participation in the 21st Century green energy economy. And thanks to her advocacy, Pennsylvania now leads the nation in state purchasing of renewable energy, now buying nearly 30 percent of our electricity from green energy sources, with a commitment to go even higher.

“Katie hit Pennsylvania like a whirlwind, working with government, the private sector, public interest organizations and everyone in between to promote and improve Pennsylvania’s environment and economy,” continued Hanger. “Thanks to her, Pennsylvania now has a solid plan to combat warming. She helped convince global green energy companies Gamesa, Iberdrola and Conergy to locate here in Pennsylvania, bringing millions in investments and thousands of great paying green jobs. Recognizing the need for strong regulation to protect the health of Pennsylvania’s babies, McGinty championed the rule that will result in a 90 percent reduction of toxic mercury pollution from our state’s coal-fired power plants. She also led the fight for a new rule to guarantee that Commonwealth residents would have access to the very cleanest new cars available anywhere. And just this legislative session, she fought and won the $650 million clean energy fund, and legislation to support homegrown cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel.

“The saying goes, ‘The cock crows, but the hen delivers,’” continued Hanger. “And as the first woman ever appointed secretary of environmental protection, McGinty delivered – big time. Thanks to her insistence that environmental laws must be obeyed by enforcing those laws, and to her vision of bringing Pennsylvania into the dynamic green economy, Pennsylvania is a cleaner and brighter place to live, work and play. She has our undying thanks for her amazing public service, and we hope she will return to public service in the not too distant future.”

PennFuture is a statewide public interest membership organization, founded in 1998. Working from the premise that “Every environmental victory grows the economy,” PennFuture has successfully advocated for landmark environmental legislation, including passage of the largest ever environmental funding bond, passage of the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act, adoption of the Clean Vehicles Program and adoption of a regulation that protects Pennsylvania’s babies by restricting mercury pollution from coal fired power plants. PennFuture has staff throughout the state, in Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, West Chester and Scranton. The Philadelphia Inquirer called PennFuture the “state’s leading environmental advocacy organization.”

Contact:

Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future Jeanne K. Clark, 412-258-6683 or 412-736-6092

info@pennfuture.org

Source: Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future

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