A sportsman, a union leader, and a clean energy professional walk into a bar -- no, a legislator’s office

Last week, PennFuture lead a group of diverse Pennsylvanians to Washington, D.C. for lobby visits to members of the state's congressional delegation around the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean Power Plan (CPP). Each advocate gave their unique perspective on why Pennsylvania’s elected leaders should do everything in their power to protect the CPP from legislative attacks. 

From left to right: Claire Borzner, Senator Casey’s Office; Katie Bartolotta, PennFuture; Dewitt Walton, United Steelworkers; Alison Steele, Conservation Consultants Inc.; Dave Imgrund, National Wildlife Federation; Bernie McGurl, Lackawanna River Corridor Association; Derek Miller, Senator Casey’s Office, Liz Hermsen, Senator Casey’s Office; and Ted Popovich, Allegheny Clean Air Now. 

Participants included: 

• Dewitt Walton, assistant to the international president of the United Steelworkers who gave the labor perspective on why the CPP is important for mitigating climate change and the need for a just transition for displaced employees in the coal industry; 
• Alison Steele, advocacy manager for Conservation Consultants Inc. who championed the benefits of Pennsylvania’s clean energy economy and opportunities for expansion under the CPP; 
• Dave Imgrund, sportsmen organizer for the National Wildlife Federation who talked about the observable impacts of climate change on waterways and wildlife and the important role the CPP will play in preserving Pennsylvania’s rich outdoor heritage for future generations; 
• Bernie McGurl, executive director of the Lackawanna River Corridor Association who underscored the need for the CPP by giving a comprehensive overview the legacy of coal in northeast Pennsylvania with an emphasis on its negative effects on the Lackawanna River; 
• and Ted Popovich, co-founder of Allegheny County Clean Air Now who detailed the negative public health and climate change impacts caused by air pollution from coke plants and power plants in southwestern Pennsylvania. 

Visits were made to the offices of U.S. Senator Bob Casey, U.S. Representatives Matt Cartwright, Patrick Meehan, Ryan Costello, Brendan Boyle, and Mike Doyle. Additional photos of the day’s events may be found here. 

Katie Bartolotta is southeastern Pennsylvania outreach coordinator for PennFuture and is based in Philadelphia. She tweets @KatieBartolotta.