As the new legislative session begins in Harrisburg, it will be hard to out-do all of the incredible victories we had for Pennsylvania’s environment and public health over the course of the previous two-year session.

In the 2005-2006 session, we worked together to pass Growing Greener II, one of the state’s largest conservation funding initiatives. This program will direct $625 million towards the preservation of our threatened family farms and open space, and help restore Pennsylvania’s polluted waterways.

We also joined forces to implement the Clean Vehicles Program, which will bring cleaner cars to Pennsylvania and reduce the air pollution that triggers asthma and causes global warming. And together we were able to help the Department of Environmental Protection pass regulations to reduce mercury pollution from the state’s coal-fired power plants by 90 percent.

Even when the special interest lobbyists and a handful of their political allies in the state Capitol tried to kill these proposals, a vigilant and vocal electorate sent a clear message that voters from all walks of life support stronger environmental and public health protections.

It will be hard to produce such an impressive list of accomplishments in 2007-2008. But I am confident that we can achieve even greater victories in the new session if we put our minds to it and work together.

Over the course of the next two years, PennEnvironment looks forward to working with you to promote smarter energy policies that will promote clean, renewable energy and energy independence.

We are excited to work with our members to convince elected officials to tackle the issue of global warming—potentially the most profound and pressing environmental challenge of our lifetime. We also look forward to implementing policies that will go further to protect our endangered open space and farmland from encroaching development.

I am confident that we can accomplish these goals because the vast majority of Pennsylvanians agree that smart environmental policies are good for our natural heritage, our health, our economy and our quality of life—for now and for future generations.

As we have learned through the victories of the past two years, engaging in the democratic process and voicing our support for strong environmental protections helps ensure that our elected officials respond positively, with bipartisan support.

Thank you for helping PennEnvironment deliver so many concrete accomplishments for our environment and our health.

With your ongoing support and involvement we will continue to achieve a legacy that promotes the highest quality of life, a healthy planet and the protection of Pennsylvania’s rich natural heritage.

David Masur
PennEnvironment Director