Pennsylvania Works! Coalition Praises State House for Passing Green Building Bill

HARRISBURG, Pa.--(Business Wire)--
Pennsylvania Works!, a coalition of environmental, conservation, preservation,
housing, and research groups, praised the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
for its passage today of the Green Buildings Bill (HB 444) by a vote of 180 -
17. This bill requires many new and renovated state-owned buildings, as well as
certain state-funded buildings such as schools, to meet green building
standards.

"This bill is a win-win for both the environment and taxpayers, since green
buildings save money, energy, and resources," said Ed Boito, coalition campaign
director, who works for PennFuture. "Green Buildings also create a better and
healthier environment for working and learning. They are less expensive to
operate, with significantly lower energy costs. They cause far less pollution,
particularly reduced heat-trapping gases that cause global warming. And this
bill will grow green jobs, increasing the demand for workers who can build and
operate green buildings."

House Bill 444 is sponsored by Representative Matt Smith (D-Allegheny), who has
been a strong champion for green buildings the past two legislative sessions.
Representative Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) amended the bill so that it now
includes the buildings under the control of the General Assembly, state courts,
state-affiliated agencies such as the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the
State System of Higher Education, and state-related institutions such as Penn
State University, the University of Pittsburgh and Temple University.

"Our coalition believes that job creation is Job #1," continued Boito, "and they
must be good, family-sustaining jobs of lasting value that can`t be outsourced.
This bill will help us meet that need."

"We urge the Pennsylvania State Senate to join the House and pass the Green
Buildings Bill without delay," said Boito. "Pennsylvanians deserve no less."

Pennsylvania Works! is a campaign to create public policy that puts
Pennsylvanians to work and builds a resilient, robust and green economy for all.
Founding partners of Pennsylvania Works! (www.pennsylvaniaworks.org) include
Citizens for Pennsylvania`s Future (PennFuture), 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania,
the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Alliance, the Housing Alliance
of Pennsylvania, Keystone Research Center, Local Initiatives Support
Corporation, PennEnvironment, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Preservation
Pennsylvania, and Regional Housing Legal Services.

For Pennsylvania Works!
Jeanne K. Clark, 412-258-6683 or 412-736-6092

Copyright Business Wire 2009