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2010 Missouri General Assembly Legislative Update as of Feb. 16

The Legislative Session The 2010 legislative session is in full swing. Many bills of interest have been introduced in this session, and most of them are environmentally friendly and would help promote renewable energy, green building and sustainable agriculture.

However, there are a couple of bills of particular interest which would work against gains already made in renewable energy and environmental pollution:

HB 1851 - would allow nuclear energy to be considered a renewable energy source. This bill would undermine Proposition C which Missouri voters passed by a 2/3 majority in 2008. Proposition C created a Renewable Energy Standard in Missouri which requires a gradual increase in the use of renewable energy by Missouri utility companies to 15% by the year 2021. The intent of Proposition C was to increase Missouri's reliance on renewable energy, and it explicitly excluded nuclear energy as a renewable energy resource.

SB 680 - modifies provisions relating to hazardous spills and emergencies. Currently the threshold for defining a hazardous substance emergency is 50 gallons, and the responsible party must pay for all cleanup costs incurred. This bill would increase the threshold from 50 gallons to 3000 gallons, and reduces the liability of those responsible to a maximum of 25% of all cleanup costs.

Other bills of interest are listed below. Click on the bill number to get more information about the bill and its status.

Bills of Interest



Energy

HB 1243 - Authorizes an income tax deduction for taxpayers who purchase certain qualified fuel cell or solar energy property to generate electricity for their residences.

HB 1410 - Authorizes an income tax credit for taxpayers who use processed biomass engineered fiber fuel.

HB 1851 - Adds Nuclear energy to the definition of "renewable energy resources" so that it can be used to meet the requirements of investor-owned electric utilities under the Renewable Energy Standard.

HB1923 - Prohibits any investor-owned electric utility that operates a coal-fired generating unit to generate electricity from purchasing or using coal extracted by mountaintop removal coal mining.

HB 1929 - Establishes the Renewable Energy Information and Reporting Act which requires the Missouri Public Service Commission to provide an annual report on renewable energy trends and new developments.

HB 1930 - Requires state agencies to engage in energy conservation and requires state buildings to meet the International Energy Conservation Code.

HB 1931 - Establishes Establishes the Missouri Alternative Energy Loan Authority to provide low-interest loans to public and private entities for financing various energy-saving products and services.

SB 689 - Creates the Missouri Clean Energy Technology Center.

SB 848 - Allows methane from farm animal waste to qualify as a renewable energy resource for purposes of the Renewable Energy Portfolio requirement.



Green Building

HB 1667 - Creates provisions pertaining to environmentally sustainable construction for state-funded buildings.

HB 1922 - Requires grants to be awarded to school districts for assistance in obtaining certification from the United States Green Building Council for new construction or the renovation of their buildings.

HB 1932 - Requires sellers of newly constructed residential homes to disclose to initial purchasers the energy efficiency rating of homes based on the energy star rating system.

HB 2138 - Establishes the Green Building Tax Credit.

SB 634 - Creates a tax credit for homes built under green building standards.

SB 745 - Creates a statewide energy code for new building construction and renovation.

Agriculture Related

HB 1833 - Establishes the Farm to Institution Initiative to increase access to locally grown agricultural food products.

SB 658 - Creates a state and local tax exemption for sales of farm products made at farmer's Markets.

Environmental

HB 1933 - Establishes the Missouri Global Warming Solutions Act of 2010 to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

SB 680 - Modifies provisions pertaining to hazardous substance spills and emergencies, increases threshold from 50 gal. to 3,000 gal. and limits liability for holder of the substance to 25% of costs incurred for reasonable and necessary services.

Other Bills

HB 1250 - Requires a motor vehicle driver, when overtaking a bicycle, to pass safety at a distance of not less than three feet.

HB 1273 - Establishes the Night Sky Protection Act to reduce the amount of light emitted into the night sky to near natural levels for specified protected places.

HB 1581 - Requires the Department of Transportation to provide full consideration for bicyclists, pedestrians, disabled persons, and transit users in its plans, programs, and projects.

SB 720 - Requires the Department of Transportation to provide full consideration for bicyclists, pedestrians, disabled persons, and transit users in its plans, programs, and projects.

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