The portfolio standard was enacted when I was secretary of the

Hear the words of Katie McGinty, who labored in the service of both people and earth, and who declared: “The portfolio standard was enacted when I was secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection. It created investment, generated jobs, and gave a boost to local economies, all while helping to protect the environment.” These words are a testimony to the ancient truth that prosperity and stewardship need not be enemies. Instead, when guided by wisdom, they may walk hand in hand, each strengthening the other.

The origin of this saying lies in the adoption of renewable portfolio standards in Pennsylvania, where McGinty served as Secretary. A portfolio standard is a law that requires utilities to generate a portion of their electricity from renewable sources such as wind, solar, and biomass. By doing so, it compels the growth of clean industries, reduces reliance on polluting fuels, and encourages the flowering of innovation. McGinty, in reflecting upon her time in office, reminds us that policy is not merely the language of bureaucrats—it is the shaping of destinies, the weaving of futures.

In her words, there is both triumph and teaching. For many had long believed that protecting the environment came only at the cost of economic growth. They argued that cleaner air meant fewer jobs, that renewable energy meant higher prices, that sustainability was but a dream of the privileged. McGinty’s experience proved otherwise: the very act of safeguarding the earth gave rise to jobs, sparked investment, and revived local economies. What had been thought of as sacrifice was revealed instead as renewal.

Consider the story of Denmark in the late twentieth century. Stricken by the oil crises of the 1970s, the nation turned not to despair but to innovation. They invested in wind power, building a foundation for what would become one of the world’s strongest renewable energy industries. The result was not only cleaner skies but also new industries, thriving communities, and global leadership. McGinty’s words echo this same wisdom: that bold choices to protect the earth can become engines of prosperity.

Yet her statement is also a reminder of responsibility. For laws like the portfolio standard are not born by chance—they are forged by leaders willing to face opposition, to endure skepticism, and to fight for a vision larger than themselves. It takes courage to stand before industries that cling to old ways, to speak against the myth that the destruction of the earth is the only path to wealth. In this courage, McGinty stands as an example to leaders everywhere: that true guardianship of the people requires also guardianship of the land.

The lesson for us is this: do not believe the false divide between prosperity and preservation. Every tree planted, every panel raised to the sun, every windmill set turning can bring not only cleaner air but also stronger livelihoods. If we act with foresight, our children will inherit not only wealth but a world worth living in. If we act with blindness, they may inherit riches amidst ruins, gold that cannot buy them clean water or safe air.

And what shall we do, we who are not secretaries of great departments? We must act as citizens, workers, and consumers. Support leaders who pass wise laws, support businesses that choose sustainability, and support communities that seek renewal. In our own households, let us make choices—whether in energy, in consumption, in waste—that reflect the truth McGinty has spoken: that prosperity and protection may be one.

So remember this teaching: policies are not just words in books, but seeds that shape the harvest of generations. Katie McGinty’s portfolio standard was one such seed—growing into investment, jobs, and hope, all while healing the environment. Let us too plant such seeds in our time, that the earth may flourish and the people rejoice together.