Pennsylvania’s commitment to environmental protection is enshrined in our state’s constitution, and while those words existed on paper, the past two years have demonstrated how a pro-environment majority in the state House of Representatives can bring those principles to life.
As showcased in the newly released 2023-2024 Pennsylvania Environmental Scorecard, the House passed a number of exciting proposals that help put Pennsylvania on the path to a clean energy future.
Compiled by Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania, Clean Water Action, Sierra Club’s Pennsylvania Chapter and Clean Air Action Fund, the environmental scorecard compiles important environmental votes that the Pennsylvania General Assembly took during the most recent legislative session and grades each legislator on their pro- or anti-environmental performance.
In the State House, our coalition graded members on six bills, including Solar for Schools, and community solar legislation, which both passed the chamber and will help strengthen our energy infrastructure by expanding access to solar energy for our school districts and the broader community.
The House also approved legislation to position Pennsylvania to harvest the power of offshore wind in Lake Erie; bills that would help fund clean energy projects and improve the efficiency standards of machines we use in our everyday lives; and legislation that would boost access to electric vehicles while positioning Pennsylvania to compete for hundreds of millions of clean dollars available thanks to President Biden’s landmark climate legislation.
Together, these bills help transition our economy away from fossil fuels while fighting climate change and creating union jobs.
Yet, with the exception of Solar for Schools, many other pro-environment measures that passed the House are languishing in the Senate.
READ: Time to Move on Bold, New Clean Energy Plan for Pennsylvania
Just about half of state House members (101) scored a perfect score – 6 out of 6 in supporting all of the above bills. Meanwhile, only six Senators received a perfect 100% and across the full legislature, 71 legislators earned a shocking 0%, voting against the environment at every opportunity.
Here in Bucks County, we have legislators across the full spectrum of performance. State Senator Jarrett Coleman (R-16), for example, earned a paltry 10%, supporting several bills that would harm our environment or weaken environmental protections, including a bill to prolong the use of PFAS chemicals in firefighting foam, a major problem that threatens the health of families across Bucks County.
On the other end, we have legislators like State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and State Representative Tim Brennan (D-29), both scoring above 90% and voting consistently for the environment. They showed in their voting records that they support a clean energy future while opposing legislation designed to eviscerate key environmental protections.
Check out the scorecard for yourself to see how your representatives and senators performed on pro-environment bills.
We release this scorecard each legislative session because we believe that democracy works best when the electorate understands the legislation that impacts our families, our air, our water, and our health, and uses that information to engage their elected officials and hold those leaders accountable.
You play an important role in this work and we encourage you to take action. The upcoming fall legislative session is your legislators’ next opportunity to demonstrate they can be the champions we need them to be to build a cleaner, safer Pennsylvania. We hope you will use our scorecard to inform your conversations with your elected officials. Encourage your legislators to vote for pro-environment policies, and call on candidates running in your district this year to support a pro-environment agenda if they are elected.
The future of our state is counting on your vote to support climate action today.
