Remembering the ‘Visionary’ Author of Pennsylvania’s Environmental Rights Amendment

Franklin Kury's passing marks the end of an era for Pennsylvania's environmental movement, but his legacy continues to inspire action. As the author of the state's Environmental Rights Amendment, Kury ensured that future generations of Pennsylvanians would have a constitutional guarantee to a healthy environment. This amendment, which was passed in 1971, has served as a model for other governments around the world and has been cited in numerous court cases to protect the state's natural resources.

The Environmental Rights Amendment has been particularly relevant in recent years as Pennsylvania has grappled with the challenges of climate change, fracking, and renewable energy development. As the state looks to transition to cleaner energy sources, including solar, Kury's work will continue to shape the conversation. In fact, Pennsylvania's solar industry has been growing rapidly in recent years, with solar capacity increasing by over 50% in the past five years alone. As the industry continues to grow, the Environmental Rights Amendment will remain an important tool for ensuring that solar development is done in a way that prioritizes environmental protection and public health.

As the solar industry continues to evolve in Pennsylvania, it's worth watching how the state's policymakers and regulators balance the need for renewable energy development with the need to protect the environment. Will Pennsylvania continue to prioritize solar development, and if so, how will it ensure that this growth is done in a way that is equitable and sustainable? Additionally, as other states and countries look to Pennsylvania's Environmental Rights Amendment as a model, will we see similar constitutional guarantees being adopted elsewhere, and what implications could this have for the global transition to renewable energy?

Originally reported by insideclimatenews.org. SolarNews adds analysis for climate & energy readers.