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.  

"Beat the Heat" with PennFuture and friends on July 30

This summer, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will finalize its Clean Power Plan -- the first federal standard on carbon pollution from power plants. This is big news and an historic achievement toward mitigating climate change. What's more, the rule is a step toward a zero-carbon, clean energy future. 

We need to show strong support for the Clean Power Plan, which will have significant public health benefits and will create jobs in the energy efficiency and renewable energy sectors. It will also provide states the flexibility to implement plans tailored to their unique situations. 

Will you join us during your lunch hour to support the Clean Power Plan? PennFuture and many partner organizations will gather for rallies in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia to show support for the Plan. Bring a friend, hold a sign, and enjoy FREE ice cream. 

Looking forward to seeing you there!

When, where and more:  

Pittsburgh Rally:
Thursday, July 30: 12:30 - 1:00 p.m.
Courtyard of Pittsburgh City-County Building, 414 Grant St., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219
Updated location: Courtyard at the Allegheny County Courthouse (Enter on Fifth St.), 436 Grant St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219
There will be a brief lineup of speakers and FREE ice cream for attendees. 
Please let us know you'll attend by registering on our website.

Philadelphia Rally:
Thursday, July 30: 12:30 - 1:00 p.m.
Outside of Senator Casey's Office, 2001 Market St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103
There will be a brief lineup of speakers and FREE ice cream for attendees. 
Please let us know you'll attend by registering on our website.

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

Pittsburgh, Thursday, July 31: Tell the EPA we need a strong carbon standard!

Our loyal readers will already know that Pittsburgh has been chosen as one of only four cities nationally to host Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hearings on the newly proposed standard to limit industrial carbon pollution from dirty old coal-fired power plants.

Pittsburgh
Thursday, July 31
9:00 a.m. — 8:00 p.m.

William S. Moorhead
Federal Building
   Room 1310
1000 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222

This hearing, to be held on Thursday, July 31, gives Pittsburghers and all Pennsylvanians (and even our neighbors in surrounding states) a chance to shine.

Sign up to speak at the hearing

Everyone is welcome to testify — whether you're an individual, on staff or a volunteer for an environmental community group, a business owner, a teenager concerned about the future, a faith leader — anyone can and should testify. No expertise required — just passion about climate change.

Please sign up now for Thursday, July 31. EPA should respond to your request within 24 hours, assigning you a time to speak. If they don't, I encourage you to follow up with them.

Please do let PennFuture know what time slot you're assigned. (Send me an email.)

Want some help composing your statement for the hearing?

Have questions about what's being proposed by the EPA? Or what types of comments would be most helpful in getting the EPA to take the strongest actions possible? Would you like some facts and figures to help you compose your remarks for the hearing?

PennFuture is here to help! Just contact me.

Want to submit testimony, but can't make it to Pittsburgh on July 31?

PennFuture has volunteers who can read your testimony on your behalf, even if you live too far away to make it to Pittsburgh. Again, just let me know.

Want to be part of the activity on July 31, even if you don't want to testify?

There will be lots going on that day in and around the hearing, and we'd love to have you with us for all or part of the day. It would be really helpful for you simply to sit in the audience for a few hours, encouraging those who are testifying. We also need volunteers to help register people or distribute signs and T-shirts. Want to help out? You know the drill by now: Email me.

Come out and meet PennFuture on July 31!

PennFuture will have a strong presence at the hearing. So far, we know that Valessa Souter-Kline (Western Pa. Outreach Coordinator), Andrew Sharp (Director of Outreach), Elaine Labalme (Communications Manager) and I will all be there, and perhaps even more of our staff for parts of the day. We'd love to see you. And if you're new to any of us, come and introduce yourself.

Hope to see you on July 31, and to connect with you directly through email.

— Joy Bergey

P.S. When young people ask me in 20 years what I did to help slow climate disruption, I'll tell them I worked like heck to turn an EPA hearing in Pittsburgh in the summer of 2014 into a huge rallying cry for federal action. I want to tell the kids that there were so many people in Pittsburgh that day, that the issue could no longer be ignored by our politicians. And I'd love to have you in a selfie with me at the hearing that day, to prove that we were there, and our voices were counted at this critical moment.

Joy Bergey is federal policy director for PennFuture and based in Philadelphia. She tweets @joybergey.