PA Governor Rendell Announces $154 Million Investment in 415 Growing Greener II Projects |
HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G.
Rendell announced today that Pennsylvania will be better able to maintain
and protect its environment and open space, preserve farmland, protect
watersheds, reclaim abandoned mines, remediate acid mine drainage and
invest in other environmental initiatives now that $154 million has been
awarded for 415 projects across the commonwealth for the second year of his
pioneering Growing Greener II initiative.
The Governor said that as part of his effort to ensure transparent
government, a detailed list of the projects is available online at
http://www.growinggreener2.com.
"We are using the Internet as a valuable tool to showcase how state
funding is being invested to create a better Pennsylvania for everyone,"
Governor Rendell said. "I want people to easily be able to see that we are
now funding projects that will preserve farmland, plug leaking oil wells,
reclaim abandoned mines, and improve state parks. The project list may also
provide new ideas for potential applicants."
Growing Greener II projects are funded through the departments of
Environmental Protection, Conservation and Natural Resources, Agriculture,
and Community and Economic Development; as well as the Fish and Boat and
Game commissions.
Statewide, $80 million will be used to purchase agricultural
conservation easements through Pennsylvania's nation-leading farmland
preservation program. The funds will permanently protect 38,000 acres of
productive farmland. To date, $39.4 million has been spent to preserve more
than 14,800 acres on 142 farms.
Included in the hundreds of projects financed by this initiative is a
$1.35 million grant to eliminate dangerous cliffs and spoil piles at the
former Kelley Estate mine in West Keating Township, Clinton County. The
130-acre project also will restore habitat for elk and other wildlife,
transforming a portion of the "Pennsylvania Wilds" into a vast mountain
meadow.
On the local level, the funds have been used to help community parks,
like the Eco-Innovation Park in Allegheny County, which will use $250,000
of Growing Greener II money, in cooperation with the Phipps Conservatory
and Botanical Gardens, to fund things like new trails, ADA access, a rain
garden and a green roof demonstration area, which will show how buildings
can be heated or cooled without using large amounts of energy.
Other projects that are scheduled to receive money include new or
innovative drinking water/wastewater treatment systems, dam improvements,
open space acquisitions, repairs and upgrades to fish hatcheries, wildlife
habitat development, acid mine drainage abatement, brown fields
remediation, industrial site revitalization, community parks and recreation
centers and watershed protection.
"The huge scope of these projects shows that the Growing Greener II
funds are truly being used to sustain Pennsylvania's environment in a broad
range of ways, like giving citizens a safe place for outdoor recreation and
allowing us to support Pennsylvania's farming heritage by preserving
farmlands," the Governor said.
Growing Greener II is a voter-approved plan that invests $625 million
in six years to clean up rivers and streams; protect natural areas, open
spaces and working farms; and shore up key programs to improve the quality
of life and revitalize communities across the commonwealth. Growing Greener
II allocates $90 million for counties to use to designate eligible
environmental projects, as well. The law creating Growing Greener II also
calls for an annual update of all the projects funded as part of the
project.
The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public
education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing
economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out
more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly
newsletter, visit his Web site at: http://www.governor.state.pa.us.
CONTACT:
Doug Rohanna
717-783-1116
Michael Smith (DEP)
717-787-1323
SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor
back to topRelated links:
CONTACT:
Doug Rohanna of the Pennsylvania Office of
the Governor, +1-717-783-1116, orMichael Smith of DEP,
+1-717-787-1323
