SierraScape April - May 2010
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by Ginger Harris
Transportation and Smart Growth Committee Chair

Again in 2010 the Sierra Club Missouri Chapter has joined with a dozen other environmental organizations in the Missouri Conservation & Environmental Alliance (MCEA) to support a common legislative agenda.

We actively supported:

• energy-efficiency incentives and codes;
• renewable-energy incentives;
• restrictions on coal derived from "mountain-top removal";
• transportation networks that meet the needs of pedestrians, transit riders and bicyclists;
• funding for public lands and rules to protect them;
• family farm and local food programs;
• recycling programs

We actively opposed:

• defining nuclear energy as "renewable;
• tax money used to enable non-conforming billboards to become energy-intensive digital ones;
• allowing polluters to keep their pollution secret and to avoid paying penalties.
  (See details on our website missouri.sierraclub.org/legis/showBills.asp.)

MCEA is represented by lobbyists Kyna Iman and former Senator Patrick Dougherty, plus RenewMO director P.J. Wilson for energy bills, and Sierra Club's Associate Regional Representative Melissa Hope for special energy issues.

Missouri's legislature runs from early January through mid-May. Their work week is generally Monday late afternoon through Thursday morning. We need Sierra Club members to help our lobbyists by coming to Jefferson City to testify on specific bills. You do not need to be an expert. Your personal comment about how you would be affected by a bill is often more effective. If you cannot travel to Jefferson City during the week, you can still be effective by calling, writing or emailing legislators and by visiting them Friday through Sunday in your district.

If you would like to help protect Missouri's natural resources via the legislative process, please sign up on our website at https://tioga.sierraclub.org/listsub/?listname=OZARK-LEGISLATIVE-ALERTS.