FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                         

June 3, 2015  

                                                        

CONTACT: Tanara Bowie  (703) 302-8383

 

BUSINESS, CONSERVATION GROUPS AND PARENTS COMMEND STATE SENATE ON CONFIRMATION OF JOHN QUIGLEY AS SECRETARY OF THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Harrisburg, PA—Today, eight clean energy business, religious, conservation and environmental organizations representing hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians, strongly and unanimously lauded the state senate’s confirmation of John Quigley as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).  The groups praised Quigley as “uniquely qualified” given his experience as a mayor and former Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and his ability to balance the need to preserve Pennsylvania’s natural resources and the DCNR’s financial concerns.

 

“While at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Mr. Quigley showed himself to be innovative, flexible, and pragmatic,” said Mark Szybist,  Senior Program Advocate, Energy and Transportation for the Natural Resources Defense Council. “He proved himself to be a Secretary attuned both to the value of Pennsylvania’s natural and aesthetic resources, and to the agency’s fiscal concerns. These qualities will serve Mr. Quigley equally well as Secretary of DEP.

 

“Pennsylvania’s clean energy businesses commend the Senate’s selection of Mr. Quigley,” said Alice Tong, Eastern States Advocate for Environmental Entrepreneurs. “He understands the importance of preserving our natural resources and scaling renewables to benefit the state’s economy and its businesses.”

 

"Mr. Quigley understands that growing Pennsylvania's clean energy economy is the key to a prosperous and sustainable future for our state," said Joseph Otis Minott, Esq., Executive Director of the Clean Air Council. "The need for a strong leader at DEP is particularly urgent now, given the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan call to decrease carbon pollution.  We can think of no one more qualified than Mr. Quigley to serve in this role at this time."

 

“We’re at a critical time to do the right thing for our children and our children’s children,” said Gretchen Dahlkemper, National Field Manager for Moms Clean Air Force. “We need someone who can stand up and fight to preserve our natural spaces. John Quigley is that person.”

 

“Having worked with the legislature in the past during his time at DCNR, Mr. Quigley understands and respects the strong role that the General Assembly currently has in the development of new agency regulations,” said Dan Lashof, Chief Operating Officer of NextGen Climate America.

 

“Mr. Quigley is uniquely qualified to be Secretary of the DEP. He will bring a wealth of relevant administrative experience, an appreciation of how DEP interacts with local and other state agencies and a fresh perspective that can only help to improve the agency’s performance,” said Brian Kauffman, Executive Director of the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance. 

 

“Mr. Quigley will bring to the DEP not only strong and accountable leadership, but also a spirit of transparency that will be a model for other state agencies,” said Joanne Kilgour, Chapter Director of the Sierra Club PA.

 

"When it comes to protecting Pennsylvania's air, water and natural heritage, John Quigley has an impeccable track record," stated David Masur, Executive Director of PennEnvironment. "Secretary Quigley will be a leader for our environment and health-now and for future generations of Pennsylvanians."

 

In sum, the groups say they are confident that Mr. Quigley will bring years of experience and the ability to work with both sides of the aisle to his new role at DEP and look forward to working with him in coming years.

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