More than 100 advocacy groups say Gov. Josh Shapiro’s new 10-year economic development plan is not sustainable.
In a letter sent this week, environmental advocates, religious organizations and community groups say Shapiro’s “fossil fuels-first all-of-the-above energy strategy” does not move at the speed of climate change.
“While we respect your efforts in this significant undertaking, the proposed plan will worsen Pennsylvania’s economic position by linking it to the fossil fuel-driven boom-and-bust economic cycles of the past. Instead, we urge you to return to your campaign platform of forging a new path towards a clean and sustainable economy that supports workers and protects the climate,” the letter reads.
Shapiro’s plan names energy as one of five key industries. It lists oil and gas extraction, pipeline transportation, and petroleum and coal product manufacturing as strengths the state can build on.
Shapiro says the state can take advantage of federal programs to “spur low carbon growth” but doesn’t offer specific goals for renewable energy.
PennFuture CEO Patrick McDonnell, a former Department of Environmental Protection Secretary under Gov. Tom Wolf, said the administration needs to recognize that economic policy is environmental policy.
He noted energy-rich Pennsylvania is one of the highest polluting states in the country.
“You know, the old saying; when you’re in a hole, step one: stop digging. We need to stop digging here. We need to really, really get ourselves out of this hole, starting to reverse,” McDonnell said.
The letter, spearheaded by PennFuture and Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania, calls on the governor to prioritize industries such as renewable energy, battery storage, electric vehicles, and energy efficiency.
It says Pennsylvania could fall behind other states if it does not look to attract sustainable businesses.
It notes that last year, battery manufacturer Form Energy, which has offices in Washington County, chose to build a new $760 million plant at the site of an old steel mill in Weirton, West Virginia rather than expanding its operations in Pennsylvania.
“The Gets It Done plan should have a clear strategy to rectify this problem and attract more sustainable businesses in order for Pennsylvania to become an energy powerhouse of the future. Regrettably, this plan’s primary focus on the fossil fuel industry diverts attention and resources away from proactively attracting these businesses and building the renewable energy infrastructure necessary to facilitate their success,” the letter states.
McDonnell said industries that get state investments now will be expected to last for decades.
“We need to think about what’s the business, what’s the industry we want to encourage, that we want to incubate here in the commonwealth, that we know is going to be here for the long term,” McDonnell said.
The letter also calls for Shapiro to lay out a plan to meet his own goal of getting 30% of the state’s electricity from renewables by 2030.
Answering questions at an event in Philadelphia Thursday, Shapiro disagreed with the characterization of his plan.
“I think we can be the clean energy capital of the United States, maybe even the world,” Shapiro said, noting that the state was chosen to be part of two federal hydrogen hubs.
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