POLICY POSITIONS

Climate change increases heat-related illnesses, heart and lung disease, food and water insecurity, displacement, and mental health crises. Communities already facing economic hardship and environmental injustice experience the greatest harm.

PSR PA supports science-based policies that rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect communities from climate impacts.

PSR PA supports a rapid, managed just-transition away from coal, oil, gas, and petrochemical production.

We oppose the expansion of:
●    Coal and gas-fired plants
●    Fracking and fossil fuel extraction
●    Pipelines and exporting
●    Petrochemical facilities
●    Fossil-based hydrogen
●    New fossil-dependent industrial buildout

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We recognize that fossil fuel dependence is not just an energy problem. It is a health, housing, labor, and economic trap that disproportionately harms:
●    Low-income communities
●    Rural communities
●    Black, Indigenous, and people of color
●    Workers in extractive industries
●    Environmental Justice (EJ) Communities
●    Communities with pre-existing health conditions

These systems drive climate change, worsen air and water pollution, increase cancer, asthma, and heart disease, negatively impact public health, and harm low-income, rural, and frontline communities. We support policies that phase out fossil fuels while protecting workers, communities, and public health.
 

PSR PA firmly opposes false climate solutions and technologies promoted to justify continued fossil fuel extraction, combustion, or petrochemical production.

These include, but are not limited to:

• Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS)

• Blue or “low-carbon” hydrogen

• Waste-to-energy incineration

• “Advanced” or chemical recycling

• Fossil-based Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)

• Biomass electricity from whole trees
   

These approaches:

• Prolong fossil fuel use

• Worsen local air and water pollution

• Consume public funds

• Delay deployment of real clean energy

• Expose communities to additional health risks
   

We reject the framing that pollution can simply be captured, buried, or rebranded while communities continue to breathe it.

PSR PA supports:
●    Wind
●    Solar
●    Geothermal

We emphasize:
●    Distributed generation (rooftop and community solar)
●    Energy efficiency
●    Building electrification
●    Reducing energy demand, not just changing fuels

Renewable deployment must respect:
●    Indigenous sovereignty
●    Community consent
●    Land and ecosystem protection
●    Labor and safety standards

Electrification and efficiency should always be prioritized over fuel switching.

Workers and communities must not be sacrificed for decarbonization.

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PSR PA supports:

• Union jobs in clean energy

• Wage and benefit protections

• Job retraining and apprenticeships

• Community-led economic diversification

• Public investment in fossil-dependent regions
   

We recognize that economic insecurity forces people into harmful leases, dangerous jobs, and polluted neighborhoods.

People have the right to:

• Clean air

• Clean water

• Safe housing

• Informed consent

• A say in what is built in their communities
   

PSR PA supports:

• Strong permitting and enforcement

• Community right-to-know

• Local control

• Public participation

• Protections for frontline communities
   

We oppose regulatory systems that prioritize corporate profit over human health. No community should be treated as a sacrifice zone.

Human health depends on:

• Forests

• Soil

• Water

• Biodiversity

• Stable climate systems

• Healthy food systems
   

PSR PA supports:

• Forest protection and restoration

• Sustainable and regenerative agriculture

• Pesticide reduction

• Soil health

• Wildlife and habitat protection
   

We reject policies that treat ecosystems as expendable or separate from human well-being. Protecting natural systems is essential to preventing disease, climate instability, and food and water insecurity.

The waste system has become a backdoor for fossil fuel expansion.

PSR PA supports:
●    Reducing plastic production
●    Eliminating toxic materials
●    Composting organics
●    True recycling
●    Zero-waste strategies

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We oppose:
●    Incineration
●    Chemical recycling
●    Plastic-to-fuel
●    Landfill gas dependence as a long-term energy strategy

Climate impacts are already here, and harming Pennsylvanians.

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PSR PA supports:

• Heat preparedness

• Cooling centers

• Flood protection

• Resilience hubs

• Safe, efficient housing

• Disaster response infrastructure

Adaptation must prioritize the most vulnerable, such as the elderly, children, renters, low-income households, and medically at-risk residents.

We support policies that center equity by protecting communities disproportionately impacted by environmental injustice, political violence and the erosion of fundamental rights, and by ensuring all people can live safely, freely, and with dignity.

PSR PA advocates for a Pennsylvania where:

• People breathe clean air

• Drink safe water

• Live in healthy homes

• Work in safe jobs

• And thrive in a stable åclimate
   

We pursue these goals through evidence-based advocacy, community partnership, and a commitment to health, equity, and environmental responsibility.