PHILADELPHIA – March 14, 2019 – State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) joined PennEnvironment, Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership, Inc., the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, and the Montgomery County Planning Commission for a Town Hall on Environmental Consciousness.  The discussion included: clean water, clean energy, waste reduction, and the role citizens play to make communities greener.

“Reduce, recycle and reuse to clean up the planet,” said Senator Haywood.  “With the support of citizens, we can change the energy rules to save ourselves.”

“PennEnvironment was excited to partner with Senator Art Haywood, one of Pennsylvania’s strongest environmental champions in the state legislature for this important event,” said Kelly Flanigan, Global Warming Solutions Associate for PennEnvironment.  “This event gave local residents actions that they can implement in their homes, steps they can take to promote better policies, and tools to educate them in their daily lives about the most pressing environmental issues facing Pennsylvania.”

“Glad to have participated in the Environmental Consciousness Town Hall on behalf of Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership to share information about how people can take steps to improve the health of our creeks every day,” said Julie Slavet, Executive Director Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership, Inc.  “We appreciate Senator Haywood developing a program that builds on our collaborations with partners like PennEnvironment, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, and the Montgomery County Planning Commission on behalf of our shared constituents and their environmental concerns and values.”

“It is important to share information regarding the threat of Spotted Lanternfly and the role the community has in the control of this invasive species,” said Dana Rhodes State Plant Regulatory Official for the Department of Agriculture.

“The Montgomery County Planning Commission enjoyed participating in the Environmental Consciousness Town Hall.  We shared our insight on current recycling issues with a focus on the issue of plastics,” said Jon Lesher, Principal Environmental Planner of the Montgomery County Planning Commission.

Senator Haywood has introduced legislation with Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks) and Tom Killion (R-Chester/Delaware) updating the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard to increase clean energy requirements in Pennsylvania from 8% to 30% by 2030.

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