Public lands have vital role in sustainable infrastructure
Some of our nation’s best solar, wind and geothermal resources are found on public lands
BLM Oregon
The Wilderness Society strongly supports H.R. 2.
WASHINGTON, July 1, 2020 ---- The Wilderness Society supports the House infrastructure bill, H.R. 2, as a model for promoting the long-term health of the nation’s people, economy and environment.
Statement from Lydia Weiss, Director, Government Relations, The Wilderness Society
“This legislation rebuilds our nation’s crumbling infrastructure while providing a foundation for a more just, equitable and sustainable future and makes public lands a cornerstone of community resilience. Public lands have a critical role to play in reducing climate-changing emissions, advancing a clean energy economy, fortifying healthy landscapes and creating more equitable access to vibrant local parks and recreation areas. We are pleased to see them harnessed in these ways in this infrastructure bill.”
This infrastructure bill (H.R. 2) lays out key elements of a comprehensive approach. A wide array of programs in the bill would curb pollution, increase clean energy and improve access to outdoor recreation, and they already enjoy broad support.
Public lands provisions in HR 2
The Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act would promote the responsible development of 25 gigawatts of wind, solar, and geothermal in places with high energy potential with low impact on wildlife and habitat, putting people to work, helping local economies and ensuring natural resource conservation is done in concert with building new infrastructure.
Revitalizing the Economy of Coal Communities by Leveraging Local Activities would commit $1 billion in economic development and diversification to clean up abandoned coal mines. In addition to creating jobs through sustained revitalization efforts, this program would restore land and water resources and improve water quality and wildlife habitat.
The Orphaned Well Remediation Program and Federal Bonding Reform would create good-paying jobs in Western and rural communities, repairing our public lands from oil and gas development by reclaiming and sealing orphaned or leaking oil wells.
The Offshore Wind Career Training Grant Program would provide grants for educational institutions or labor organizations to offer training for offshore wind careers, which is essential as the clean energy industry expands. This bill will allow for better training programs to provide employment readiness and a more effective and efficient offshore wind industry.
The Legacy Roads and Trails program improves the vital infrastructure that provides access to our nation’s parks and public lands. This is a smart way to reverse the harmful impact of poorly maintained national forest roads on water quality and fish, while also providing good jobs and economic benefits in rural communities.
Support for Wildlife Corridors will help address the worldwide extinction crisis by removing barriers, connecting habitat areas and reducing habitat fragmentation so species that need or move due to migration patterns or climate change can survive.
The Outdoors for All Act would codify Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) and ensure funding for the program to enhance access to parks and develop recreational infrastructure in urban areas that lack greenspace. Urban parks can function as dual-use spaces for both recreation and green infrastructure stormwater management, harmonizing the natural and built environments and creating resilient communities. However, one in three Americans do not live within a 10-minute walk of a quality local park and as cities grow, park spaces are not keeping pace. Consistent funding for the ORLP will allow cities across the country to support expanded access to the outdoors and recreation infrastructure. Equitable access to the outdoors strengthens community health and serves as a long-term investment in vulnerable communities.
The Wilderness Society, founded in 1935, is the leading conservation organization working to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places. With more than one million members and supporters, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect 111 million acres of wilderness and to ensure sound management of our shared national lands. www.wilderness.org.
