Gov. Tom Corbett and Democratic candidate for Governor Tom Wolf Wednesday discussed environmental issues in remarks before the annual dinner of the PA Environmental Council in Philadelphia.  It was the first time the two candidates appeared at the same time in any forum.

Both candidates spoke about the need to balance environmental protection and economic development and each lauded PEC as a voice of reason among environmental groups that just demonstrate outside a governor’s office.

Gov. Corbett said he has witnessed significant improvement in the environment from his own experience as a Boy Scout growing up and going on canoe trips on the Allegheny River.  “We all have the same goal, and that goal is the better environment we’ve all been talking about, a stronger, more prosperous Pennsylvania for our children and our grandchildren.”

On natural gas issues, Gov. Corbett said the existing drilling impact fee he proposed has generated $630 million over the last three years and is working for people across the state and at the local level.  “Everyone ought to pay their fair share, and they do,” said Corbett.

Gov. Corbett pointed out that greenhouse gas emissions in Pennsylvania have declined significantly while the economy has grown thanks in part to the use of natural gas.

Wolf said a new “responsible and reasonable” severance tax would provide certainty for the industry as well as help Pennsylvania’s schools and mitigate some of the damage to the environment and infrastructure the industry might have inadvertently caused.

Wolf said he would propose a third round of the Growing Greener if he was elected, but did not say how it would be paid for.  He talked about the need to address climate change and greenhouse gas emissions by, among other things, joining the regional greenhouse gas initiative under “the right circumstances” and expand wind and solar power.

Click Here for additional background on the environmental positions by the candidates from an earlier Q/A published by the PA Environmental Council.

NewsClips:

Corbett, Wolf Make Their Pitches To PEC In First Appearance

Corbett, Wolf Address Environmental Group In Philadelphia

Corbett, Wolf Talk Environment, Energy At First Appearance

Wolf, Corbett On Environment In First Joint Appearance

Gov. Corbett, Tom Wolf Share Stage For First Time

6/16/2014