Penn Future limits ties to Sustainable Shale group
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Another environmental group has distanced itself from the Pittsburgh-based Center for Sustainable Shale, a hotly-debated partnership between major energy companies, green groups, and foundations.
PennFuture, a leading Pennsylvania environmental group that helped found the center, is no longer a “strategic partner.” The Public Accountability Initiative, a Buffalo, New York non-profit, disclosed the shift Wednesday and also criticized the center’s staff and funders for ties to the oil and gas industry.
Penn Future spokeswoman Elaine Labalme says they still participate with CSSD when they believe it’s worth providing input.
Sustainable Shale director Susan LeGros says they work with groups who have different viewpoints. The group seeks tougher but voluntary rules on gas drilling.
Over the past year the Heinz Endowments and the William Penn Foundation stopped funding the center.