Green clearinghouses

Pennsylvania and Virginia, both progressive states when it comes to technology, now boast separate online ventures where people can find information on environmental issues and initiatives.

The Virginia Center for Stewardship (www.sustainableusa.org/va) offers an electronic network of individuals, organizations and institutions working to promote improved environmental performance in the commonwealth. The goal of the site — launched last week — is to provide citizens with information about environmental projects and initiatives.

The site was developed by the Global Environment and Technology Foundation, a nonprofit organization that designs online projects on quality of life, environmental and social issues. GETF (www.getf.org) partnered with, and received funding from, the Virginia Environmental Endowment (www.vee.org) to launch the site.

Pennsylvania's environmental site (www.GrowingGreener.org) was developed to usher people to the four state agencies involved in Gov. Tom Ridge's five-year Growing Greener initiative.

Through the program and new Web site, citizens can see what environmental initiatives the $135 million in this year's proposed budget funds will impact through the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority and the Agriculture Department.