On Thursday the State Senate will vote to approve the final passage of two regulations that will help protect Pennsylvania’s waterways from the consequences of Marcellus Shale drilling and pollution created by development.  The first regulation, the Wastewater Treatment Requirements, would require drillers to reduced the number of total dissolved solids in drilling wastewater to drinking water quality levels before it can be released back into streams and rivers.  The second resolution, Erosion and Sediment Control, would require companies to maintain a 150 feet vegetation buffer between any development and Pennsylvania’s best streams and rivers.

Polluters across the state are fighting against the passage of these clean water regulations, and we need your help to fight back.  Please contact your state senator before the vote at 12pm on Thursday to voice your support for these regulations.

Learn more – check out PennFuture’s “Take Action to Protect Clean Water”

A new report by the Keystone Research Center shows that Pennsylvania has begun to invest in sustainable development across the state.  Between 2003 and 2008, Pennsylvania’s three major economic development assistant programs invested more aid per capita into older cities and towns than into “outer townships.”  KRC also released data on how the state’s major metropolitan areas distributed the business subsidies they received, and ranked that data in order from the most investment into older communities to the least.  Of the 9 areas examined, Pittsburgh was tied with Lancaster for 6th, behind Erie, Reading, Harrisburgh, Philadelphia and Scranton – Wilkes Barre.

To learn more, read the report.

The Creative Neighborhood Revitalization Taskforce, a group of students at The Ohio State University, are among the many speaking out for sustainable development and investment in older communities.  It is imperative that the Pittsburgh region begins to focus on reversing our cycle of sprawl and decline, and emerges as a leader in Pennsylvania and the nation in the practice of revitalizing our older communities through smart growth practices.  Watch a video created by The Creative Neighborhood Revitalization Taskforce below.

On Friday, May 21st, the Regional Green Economy Task Force will host the Green Pathways to Prosperity Summit in Pittsburgh.

This summit will bring together government officials, clergy, organizational leaders, business leaders and community advocates who represent traditionally disadvantaged constituencies for a day of discussion on how Pittsburgh can attain the goal of a socially just, economically prosperous and environmentally sustainable future.  Key topics of the summit will include climate change, environmental justice, emerging industries, and public policy.

The goals of the Green Pathways to Prosperity summit are to both contribute to a more informed group of community leaders, and to also inspire collaboration between those in attendance.  For more information on this summit, contact Khari Mosley at k.mosley@gtechstrategies.org.

Meetings Postponed Due to Snow

OnTuesday February 9th and Wednesday February 10th, CSX will hold public meetings to provide residents with information on the National Gateway Project.

Structures in Western Pennsylvania will be affected as CSX works to increase the vertical clearance along rail lines. This meeting will allow those in attendance to see the plans for the affected structures.

An open invitation has been extended to all for these meetings.  The February 9th meeting will be held in Somerset, PA, and the February 10th meeting will be held in Pittsburgh.

Click Here for More Information

On Monday, November 16th, the Northstar Commuter Rail trains made their first trip shuttling commuters into downtown Minneapolis.

The rail line was first conceived in 1993, and finished this year $10 million dollars under its original budget. This is the second rail system that Minneapolis has seen in recent years – in 2003 Hiawatha, a light rail system, was introduced there.

Read More About the North Star Debut

Earlier this year, Councilman Bill Peduto presented to Council the findings from a six-month study on the possibility of a commuter rail line in Pittsburgh. This city line would connect Hazelwood on the Monongahela River to Lawrenceville on the Allegheny River. It would pass near The Technology Center, Schenley Park, CMU and Oakland, The Baum-Centre Corridor, Bloomfield and Lawrenceville.

But this line would also be just one link in a multi-county regional system. Not only would it connect to the Mon Valley and Westmoreland County – via Norfolk-Southern -and the Allegheny Valley and Armstrong County – via the AVRR (which are two projects being pushed right now), but the CSX line itself extends North along Route 8 all the way to New Castle in Lawrence County, and South to Washington, PA. This leaves many possibilities open for further expansion in the future. Investment in this rail line for Pittsburgh would be a long-term investment in regional transportation.

The Group Against Smog and Pollution has named Councilman Bill Peduto one of  ”40 Environmental Heros”  in recognition of his leadership on environmental issues.

GASP sought nominations for the title in honor of their 40th anniversary. The group will recognize these leaders at the 4oth Anniversary Celebration tonight, from 6pm – 9pm at the Union Project in Highland Park.  Tickets to the event are available online at the GASP website.

An Associated Press story published this weekend, Pittsburgh Reinvents Itself through Green Economy, discusses the growing presence of green technology in Pittsburgh, and the resulting transformation of Pittsburgh’s previous image as a smoky, post-industrial city.

The article highlights the fact that over 2,600 green companies have made Pittsburgh their home, and according to the Pittsburgh Technology Council, of the 183,000 technology jobs located in Pittsburgh in 2005, one-third of them were in green technology. The article also notes that “green jobs may also help reverse Pittsburgh’s massive population decline,” as green technology companies continue to grow and create new jobs.

Councilman Bill Peduto believes that this is Pittsburgh’s opportunity to become a leader in the rapidly expanding world of green technology. “Pittsburgh could become a model not just for the Rust Belt, but for post-industrial cities throughout the world,” He said.

The article references Councilman Peduto’s green legislative efforts, including a bill recently approved by City Council that will require LEED certification standards to be met in projects that use city TIF financing. Councilman Peduto has continuously fought to further a green agenda in City Council. He introduced a plan to bring LED lighting to the city, saving both large amounts of energy and taxpayer dollars, and has also fought for environmental issues like hillside cleanup and preservation. Councilman Peduto was one of the driving forces behind the creation and implementation of the Pittsburgh Climate Action Plan, among many other green legislative achievements in his 8 years as a City Councilman.

Check out the full article to learn more about green technology in Pittsburgh.