PHILADELPHIA, NOV. 4, 2010 — Pennsylvania State Senator Anthony Hardy Williams (D) 8th, a member of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, will speak at the establishment of Philadelphia’s First Green Home Blocks, Saturday, November 6th at 11:30 a.m. The Philadelphia Water Department and Rebuilding Together Philadelphia are establishing the City’s First Green Homes Blocks located on the 6000, 6100 and 6200 blocks of Spruce Street. “The importance of this environmentally friendly project to our region and state cannot be overstated,” said Williams. “Protecting and sustaining our environment has significant health and economic benefits. It is my hope that this project can be duplicated throughout the state.”
The agencies will work with residents and volunteers to build and install a series of storm water management tools including rain barrels, rain gardens and flow through planters. The Philadelphia Water Department will continue to work with the residents over the next few years to monitor the effectiveness and enthusiasm for these storm water friendly practices.
Williams has been a leading proponent of protecting the environment. During the last legislative session he introduced Senate Bill 1473. The Bill would protect Pennsylvania citizens and landowners from environmental hazards by requiring gas drilling companies that use hydraulic fracturing to make available to the public the complete list of chemicals, chemical compounds and total volumes of fluids they are using at drilling sites. Currently, companies are not required to make this information public.
For more information about the Green Home Blocks project and Senator Anthony H.Williams, please visit www.senatoranthonyhwilliams.com.
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