Governor's $625M Conservation Bond Goes to Voters

The bond funding would be allocated to Rendell's Growing Greener II initiative, which he proposed at the beginning of his administration. If approved, it would represent the largest investment in environmental programs in the state's history. In a statement, Rendell says, "Growing Greener II will allow us to make major new investments in our quality of life, and this will help us attract and retain good employers and good jobs."

The bond funding would be allocated over six years, and particular allocations would be determined with input from voters following passage of the referendum, a spokesman in the governor's office tells GlobeSt.com. He also says that budget analysts in the state senate projected the annual cost of repaying the 20-year bond at about $50 million, which includes an estimated 5% interest rate on the borrowing. The spokesman also repeated that in statewide polls, often cited by Rendell, "more than 80% of respondents said they would support issuing a bond to pay for programs critical to the preservation of the commonwealth's environment."

Passage of the bill to put the question to a popular vote drew immediate and widespread support from sporting and environmental groups. Concerned over traditionally low turnout for primaries, a spokesperson for Pennsylvania Alliance for Conservation and Restoration, says PARC members "will be working every day between now and next month's election" to get out the vote. "Southeastern Pennsylvania is losing an acre of open space to development every hour," according to the spokesperson, who adds that acid mine drainage and storm water pollution threatens rivers and streams in the southwestern areas of the state.

John Hanger, president and CEO of locally based PennFuture, called the bond initiative "a responsible, modest investment of desperately needed funding to address pressing conservation and restoration needs." Penn Future, an advocacy group devoted to protecting and improving the state's environment and economy, also has offices in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.