Environmental Groups to Protest Outside Solobay's Office

Members of five different environmental groups plan to protest outside state Sen. 's Canonsburg office Thursday to voice their opposition to his 'yes' vote on the state's .

Solobay, D-Canonsburg, is one of three senators being targeted by members of Clean Water Action, Penn Environment, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, the Sierra Club and Conservation Voters of PA.

Members of those organizations, as well as local residents, will be on hand at 11:30 a.m. Thursday in front of Solobay's Pike Street office in the borough in protest.

Members also plan to organize outside the offices of state Sen. Ted Erickson, a Republican from Drexel Hill, and Sen. Charles McIlhinney, a Republican from Doylestown.

"State lawmakers approved last week's legislation (HB 1950) that overturns local zoning ordinances and forces townships to allow gas operations in residential and all other parts of the municipality," the groups said in a media advisory. "Sen. Solobay represented one of five Democratic senators supporting the legislation. (Senators) McIlhinney and Erickson had publicly voiced their opposition to overturning local zoning rights, but then reversed their stand in voting for final passage of the law."

Reached for comment Wednesday afternoon, Solobay gave the following statement about the planned protest: 

"That is what is great about our country and state—the freedom for groups and individuals to be able to voice their concerns in matters that are important for them, then the opportunity for all of us to evaluate those concerns and sit down at some point and discuss them and see what can be done to alleviate those concerns," he said.

Solobay said he would work with the groups to "determine if there is a true problem or just unknown fears and concerns."

While the senator said he will still be in Harrisburg dealing with issues related to the governor's budget proposal Thursday, his chief of staff will be on hand to talk with organizers.

"We will welcome all and any information they want to provide and ... see what can be done to alleviate their concerns," he said.