When Green is a Primary Color

Today is Pennsylvania's primary election day and Commonwealth voters are being asked to decide an important referendum by ballot vote: "Do you favor authorizing the Commonwealth to borrow up to $625,000,000 for the maintenance and protection of the environment, open space and farmland preservation, watershed protection, abandoned mine reclamation, acid mine drainage remediation and other environmental initiatives?" 

Vote by vote, each "YES" ballot cast for Pennsylvania's environment becomes a collective protective leap for the lands and waters upon which you, our citizens and future generations depend. Your "YES" vote shapes a healthy future, builds an environmental legacy that can become the envy of the nation, and casts a powerful voice in favor of a cleaner, healthier environment for your future and that of your fellow citizens.

A "YES" vote proclaims protection for our lands and waters and restores resilience to the vast landscape that sustains us all.  It gives our elected state officials the support to invest their time, to work hard for the environment, to make the necessary sacrifices, and to exercise prudent financial investments. This is hard work because the needs are vast; time to undo nearly 200 years of damage; sacrifice because good things require it; and financial prudence to make long-lasting investment that correct missteps we took on our path to prosperity. 

A "YES" vote helps us correct past oversights and mistakes.  It will help us reduce and eliminate the impacts of acid mine drainage and other sources of stream pollution.  It helps us restore streams and rivers, protect water supplies and provide recreational opportunities for millions of Pennsylvanians. It helps citizens and communities slow the loss of working forests and farmlands.

Consider that open space and farmland in Pennsylvania is being consumed by sprawl at an alarming rate - nearly 300 football fields are lost each day. While Pennsylvania's ten largest urban areas grew in population by 13 percent in 30 years, the amount of land paved and developed grew by 80 percent. 

Consider that severely polluted water from abandoned coal mines is Pennsylvania's number one source of water pollution - more than 2,400 miles of streams are sterile and unusable. Voting "YES" will help the Commonwealth, its citizens and communities restore part of the 250,000 acres of abandoned mines that need to be reclaimed in 45 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. The solutions to many of these issues are complex and many resources will be needed to implement meaningful, sustainable solutions.

Voting YES on the May 17 referendum provides critical funding to conserve our resources, protect or restore our environment, and revitalize our communities.  Voting YES means that you recognize the strong connection between preserving our important natural resources, Pennsylvania's future and a new economic prosperity. And remember, Pennsylvania can do this without increasing any taxes or fees.  

Join us on May 17 in voting "YES" to ensure that today's citizens and future generations will enjoy the benefits of Pennsylvania's green spaces, clean water and natural beauty.

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