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HOW YOU
CAN HELP

LEGISLATIVE TOOLKIT: JOIN THE FIGHT FOR PA CONSERVATION

With issues like the severance tax, budget cuts, and Growing Greener coming to the legislative floor, now is the time for those with any stake in conservation funding to let their elected officials know what's important. The gubernatorial race is in full swing, and the elected candidate will make important political appointments at DEP and DCNR that will have broad impacts on the conservation community for the coming years. GreenSpace Alliance has assembled a toolkit of information to help individuals and organizations direct their energies and make their voices heard.


Get Active Checklist
Individuals and organizations can help the fight to Renew Growing Greener in several ways: 

  1. Sign the petition being collected by the Renew Growing Greener Coalition. Have your friends and colleagues sign it too. Then send it back via email or snail mail:  Attn: Donna Pitz, GreenSpace Alliance, 1315 Walnut Street, Suite 532 Philadelphia, PA 19107 or dpitz@greenspacealliance.org.
     
  2. Contact your state senator and representative. Call, write, and/or email them. Tell them you support a severance tax on natural gas extraction, with a significant part of its funds designated for conservation and land preservation efforts to offset detrimental effects. Tell them about your favorite places that have benefited from Growing Greener funding. 
         

  3. While you're at it, go straight to the top! Contact the Governor's office. 

  4. Craft an effective op-ed or letter to the editor with our handy set of instructions and sample text - then submit it to your local or regional newspapers and magazines. For help selecting an appropriate news outlet, contact Donna Pitz at dpitz@greenspacealliance.org.

  5. If you represent an organization with an interest in conservation funding, add a link on your homepage to the Renew Growing Greener Coalition site (www.renewgrowinggreener.org). Then customize this sample article and include it in your next newsletter or email blast. If you want to provide further assistance, fill out this survey and return it to dpitz@greenspacealliance.org.

  6. If you represent a municipality, you may want to consider using this sample municipal resolution to show your support for Growing Greener.

Growing Greener
Growing Greener has funded a multitide of successful conservation and recreation projects across Pennsylvania, but now this important program is almost out of funds. Read below to learn about its history and past successes, as well as some ideas for its future.

  • Natural Gas Severance Tax
    Severance tax details, including timeframe, amount, and allocation, will likely be decided in the weeks leading up to the October election. These decisions will affect all of Pennsylvania, not just those areas overlaying natural gas. It's important for everyone to stay informed on this issue, and let your legislators know what you think.

  • Drilling Has Consequences by the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association
  • Severance Tax Report by the PA Budget and Policy Center

     

    Helpful Links
    These websites maintain trustworthy, up-to-date information on conservation funding and policy and Pennsylvania:

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