Pennsylvania’s commitment to environmental protection is enshrined in the state Constitution, and while the language exists on paper, the past two years have demonstrated how a pro-environment majority in the state House of Representatives can turn that principle into reality.
The House passed several exciting proposals that will put Pennsylvania on the path to a clean energy future, as outlined in the newly released 2023-2024 Pennsylvania Environmental Scorecard.
The Environmental Scorecard, compiled by Pennsylvania Environmental Voters, Clean Water Action, the Pennsylvania chapter of the Sierra Club and the Clean Air Action Fund, compiles key environmental votes adopted by the Pennsylvania General Assembly during the most recent legislative session and evaluates each lawmaker’s pro- or anti-environmental performance.
In the state Legislature, our coalition assessed lawmakers on six bills, including the Solar for Schools and Community Solar bills, both of which have passed the Legislature and will help strengthen energy infrastructure by expanding access to solar power across school districts and communities.
The House also approved a bill to help Pennsylvania harness offshore wind power on Lake Erie, a bill to help fund clean energy projects and improve efficiency standards for the machines we use every day, and a bill to boost access to electric vehicles so Pennsylvania can compete for hundreds of millions of dollars in clean funding provided by President Biden's landmark climate change bill.
These bills will help move our economy away from fossil fuels while fighting climate change and creating union jobs.
But with the exception of the solar for schools bill, many other environmental bills that passed the House have stalled in the Senate.
read: Time for Pennsylvania to move forward with a bold new clean energy plan
Nearly half of the state Assembly members (101) received perfect scores, meaning they voted 6 out of 6 in favor of all of the bills listed above. Meanwhile, only six senators received a perfect 100%, and 71 members of the entire state Assembly received a shocking 0%, voting against environmental issues at every opportunity.
Here in Bucks County, we have legislators from all walks of life. For example, State Senator Jarrett Coleman (R-16th District), with only 10% of the vote, opposed nearly every environmental bill that came up for a vote on his floor, including a bill to limit exposure to PFAS chemicals, a major issue threatening the health of families throughout Bucks County.
Meanwhile, lawmakers like State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10th District) and State Representative Tim Brennan (D-29th District), who both voted more than 90% of the time, have consistently voted for environmental protections. Their voting records show that while they support a clean energy future, they oppose bills aimed at gutting important environmental protections.
Check out our scorecard to see how your state's representatives and senators acted on environmental protection bills.
We release this scorecard each legislative session because we believe our democracy works best when voters understand the laws that affect our families, our air, our water and our health, and then use that information to engage with our elected officials and hold our leaders accountable.
You play a critical role in this effort, and we urge you to take action. The upcoming fall legislative session is your next opportunity to show lawmakers they can be the champions we need to build a cleaner, safer Pennsylvania. Use our scorecard to inform your conversations with your elected officials. Urge your lawmakers to vote pro-environment, and urge candidates running in your district this year to support pro-environment policies if elected.
The future of our state depends on your vote in support of climate action today.