By Byron Combs, MO Chapter Legislative Chair
Chapter joins MCEA coalition
The Missouri Chapter of the Sierra Club is joining a coalition of environmental groups for lobbying in 2009. The Missouri Conservation and Environmental Alliance (MCEA) was formed two years ago to create a coalition of environmental groups for lobbying Missouri legislators on issues such as clean air and water, renewable energy and green building.
The Chapter has been partnered with MCEA since its inception, but now we will be joining in their lobbying effort as well. The coalition has two strong environmental lobbyists, Kyna Iman, who has been lobbying for the coalition for the last two years and Jim Farrell, who is new to the group.
Other members of MCEA are Audubon Missouri, Conservation Federation of Missouri, Missouri Coalition for the Environment, Missouri Parks Association and Missouri Votes Conservation. By combining our lobbying efforts, we will convey a united front for environmental groups to the legislators in Jefferson City.
Environmental summit
The 7th Annual Statewide Environmental Summit was held on December 6 at the University of Missouri, Columbia campus. The summit brings together environmental leaders from across the state to discuss the key environmental and conservation issues facing Missouri and how they could be dealt with during the legislative session. This year over 130 environmentalists representing about 50 organizations, educational institutions, and other groups participated.
The summit began with a review of key environmental issues, after which attendees broke up into working groups to discuss the individual issues. This year the summit focused on electricity and energy efficiency, climate change, green building, factory farms (CAFOs), sand and gravel mining, transportation, and solid waste. Each working group reported suggested legislative priorities for their issue.
Legislative preview
The 2008 legislative session was very successful for environmental and conservation issues. Several good pieces of legislation were passed, including some good energy legislation, and no environmentally unfriendly legislation passed. Although no mandatory renewable energy standard legislation was passed, by the hard work of a lot of volunteers, enough signatures were obtained to place the issue on the ballot in November. Proposition C won by an overwhelming two-thirds majority.
2009 Missouri Legislature
We will have to wait and see exactly what the 2009 legislative session might bring, but energy issues will undoubtedly play a major role. Sierra Club joins a strong coalition of environmental and consumer groups to oppose repeal of the law banning Construction Work in Progress (No-CWIP) that will enable AmerenUE to transfer the financial risk of building a new nuclear power plant to ratepayers. And we will be strongly supporting clean energy solutions - investments in clean energy and efficiency (see related article in this issue: “Legislative Agenda: Making More from Less”.)
Several energy-related bills have already been introduced. One would repeal the Missouri Renewable Fuel Standards Act which requires all automotive fuel sold in the state to contain 10% ethanol. Others include tax deductions for the purchases of hybrid vehicles and tax deductions for residential purchases of fuel cells or solar cells for generating electricity.
Other areas of concern that have come up in previous legislative sessions and we need to watch for are factory farms (CAFOs) and environmental self-audit for businesses. Attempts are continually being made to ease restrictions on CAFO construction requirements and CAFO health and environmental regulations.
Also, an environmental self-audit bill has been introduced the last several years that would allow businesses to self-report any illegal emissions into the air or water and not be penalized or fined, and all records would be withheld from the public. We will be watching for this or any other anti-environmental legislation throughout this session.
You can help …
Support Missouri Sierra Club’s Legislative & Advocacy
Program:
• online at missouri.sierraclub.org/donate
• or send your check to the Chapter office (see newsletter return address) (Contributions and gifts to the Missouri Sierra Club are not tax deductible; they support our effective citizen-based advocacy and lobbying efforts.) Sign up (or update your information) for Missouri Sierra Club’s Legislative Alert list athttps://tioga.sierraclub.org/listsub/?listname=OZARK-LEGISLATIVE-ALERTS and be prepared to contact your legislators, the governor and other officials about environmental issues important to Missouri’s future.