Growing Greener

==History of Growing Greener in PA==
Gov Tom Ridge began Growing Greener. It started as a pay as you go program.
Gov Ed Rendell was seeking to make Growing Greener become part of a large bond issue.
In early 2005, the Dems were stalling on Growing Greener and the Repulicans made their own suggestions.
In February 2005, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was about to authorize an $800 million bond referendum. The House passed a genuinely bi-partisan HB 2. It authorizes the bond for the May 2005 primary ballot.
The PA Senate has not enacted HB 2, though both Republicans and Democrats in the House, Senate Democrats, and the Governor support it. Some within the Senate Republican caucus seek a 50 percent reduction of the environmental funding package to $400 million, changes in the ballot language approved by the House, and placing county governments in a new, key administrative role for dispensing funding. 
Most conservation organizations oppose each of those changes to the legislation.
As the wrangling between those supporting HB 2 and those seeking to reduce its size continues, the clock ticks. As a result, there will not be a bond authorization passed by mid-March.
===Growing Greener's policies and priorities were adjusted under Rendell's direction.===
General issues: open space and farmland conservation, acid mine pollution clean-up, stream restoration and other environmental conservation and restoration projects. 
===Overwhelming public support exists for significant investments in the quality of life of our communities.===
Many communities have experience with environmental and economic benefits of conservation and restoration projects.
====A 54-acre abandoned strip mine in Fayette County at Brownsville is near the high school.====
This project aims to clean stagnant pools of polluted water; down abandoned buildings; improve water in a creek; and eliminate a "high wall" - a 100-foot cliff. The $922,000 Growing Greener grant restors the contours of the property and involves grading, excavation, back-filling, seeding, mulching and fertilizing.
====Dam removal====
A $767,000 Growing Greener grant attracted $1.3 million in matching funds. This restoration of streams all around Pennsylvania created a cottage industry of consultants with expertise in dam removal. Four years ago, estimates for removing a dam on the Conococheague Creek were $1-M, now the winning big is for $40,000.
===Legitimate economic development activities as well as environmental conservation and restoration efforts.===
The Senate should be as eager to support these activities as they were with other kinds of businesses when it enacted the economic stimulus package.
It is an extreme disappointment to miss the deadline offering a vote for the citizens. It would also hurt our economy because of the lost opportunities for businesses that could be busy this summer restoring environmental damage.