Pennfuture was founded in 1998, with the mission to work to "create a just future where nature, communities and the economy thrive. We enforce environmental laws and advocate for the transformation of public policy, public opinion and the marketplace to restore and protect the environment and safeguard public health. PennFuture advances effective solutions for the problems of pollution, sprawl and global warming; mobilizes citizens; crafts compelling communications; and provides excellent legal services and policy analysis." In February 2008, Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future announced that Teresa Heinz, Chair of The Heinz Endowments, Rebecca Rimel, President of The Pew Charitable Trusts, and Nobel Peace Prize winnerAl Gore would speak at the organization's 10th Anniversary Gala in Philadelphia. In July 2015, Larry Schweiger assumed the role of president and CEO of PennFuture. He replaced former president and CEO, Cindy Dunn.
Issue stances
Some of the policies endorsed by Pennfuture include clean energy, air quality, and water quality, and mining. According to Pennfuture, "air pollution is shortening lives, contaminating fish, killing streams and forests, and inexorably warming the global climate. Watersheds are thoughtlessly being undermined and paved over, and good water quality is becoming a rare commodity. Thousands of acres of land are defiled by past coal mining, and communities, streams, and families still suffer from destructive mining techniques." To achieve success in their mission, the organization is "working to replace old outdated dirty sources of power with clean renewable Pennsylvania-made electricity, fighting factory farm pollution, helping to stop damage from mining, protecting watersheds from sprawl and pollution, reducing global warming pollution, watchdogging state government, and providing $2 million per year of free legal services to protect the environment."
Climate Change
PennFuture continually advocates for action on climate change. In order to reduce heat-trapping gases to the necessary level, we propose the following actions:
Implement the Pennsylvania Climate Action Plan that was submitted to the General Assembly in December 2009 by prioritizing the recommendations of the plan by first applying those with the greatest emission reduction potential and with the least cost.
Increase the amount of clean, renewable energy required in the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards from 8 percent to 15 percent with a separate requirement that will boost the amount of solar energy from 0.5 percent to 3 percent, which will also create thousands of jobs.
Continue Pennsylvania participation in the creation of a regional Low-Carbon Fuel Standard that will reduce global warming, shrink our reliance on foreign oil, and use market-mechanisms to transition to more sustainable fuels.
Extend provisions of Energy Savings legislation, Act 129 beyond 2013. The current legislation requires electric utilities to reduce their overall electricity load by 1 percent by 2011 and by 3 percent by 2013, and reduce peak demand by 4.5 percent by 2013.
Additional Accomplishments
Passage of the $625 million Growing Greener Bond in 2005; Enactment of the state's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard mandates; and Enactment of state rules to cut mercury pollution and ease the purchase of "clean" cars. Add to these successes frequent campaigns to contact legislators about specific legislation, hosting "Lobbying Days" in the Capitol, and providing pre-written letters for its grassroots activists to send to lawmakers. PennFuture has received more than $900,000 from alternative energy companies during the past five years, much of which the eco-activist group has used to lobby for tax breaks, subsidies and mandates for the wind and solar industries. Foundations led by the Heinz and Haas families have donated generously.
Press
15 April 2015 Environmental Group Estimates State's Fossil-Fuel Subsidies
1 April 2015 PennFuture commends proposal to ‘reinvigorate clean energy investments
29 January 2015 Wolf bans new gas drilling leases on public land as promised
16 January 2015 John Quigley: 'There's a real opportunity to get right'
15 January 2015 PennFuture calls for state-specific methane regulations
16 December 2014 Wolf names more members to transition team
20 November 2014 PennFuture Appeal Settlement Improves DEP Stormwater Management Program
21 August 2014 PennFuture Files Second Appeal Over Anadarko Permit in Lycoming County
18 August 2014 Environmentalist group says health registry needed
31 July 2014 Pittsburgh Hosts Hearing on EPA’s New Greenhouse Gas Proposals
24 July 2014 Audit blasts DEP's handling of gas-well industry
25 March 2014 Switching on: Installing LED streetlights to save Pennsylvania taxpayers money
20 November 2013 PennFuture Asks Pennsylvania House Committee To End The Dirty Diesel Loophole
4 October 2013 PennFuture seeks to ensure clean water and restore migrating fish to local streams
13 February 2013 Obama must act on climate change
5 March 2012 PennFuture appoints George Jugovic, Jr. President and CEO, replacing Jan Jarrett
9 July 2010 PennFuture: Harrisburg's Lobbying Launderers
21 December 2011 PennFuture returns more than $138,000 to Pennsylvania because of contract violations
22 January 2009 PennFuture offers opportunity for citizen input on global warming plan - Ideas to be shared with Pennsylvania’s Climate Change Advisory Committee
