KCC Legislative Update

A meeting was held last week with representatives of the major players in a push for a Land Stewardship program in Kentucky. Organized by Terry Cook of the State Nature Conservancy, attendees heard a presentation from the National Nature Conservancy’s senior campaign coordinator, Terry Bopp, on campaign strategies for the passage of a Land Conservation amendment to Kentucky’s constitution. Bopp outlined the role the Conservancy played in the recent passage of a constitutional amendment in Minnesota which resulted in a 3/8% increase in the sales tax. This increase was passed by the voters by over a (60%) sixty percent margin and will be dedicated to Land Conservation projects as well as increased funding for the arts. If they can pass a constitutional amendment to provide money for a Land Stewardship program in Minnesota, Arkansas and Missouri we can do it here. The Kentucky Conservation Committee has been in the thick of this process from the beginning, and has helped carry it through two versions of the Land Stewardship Task Force. The KCC is currently working with legislators to produce a bill that will create a Land stewardship Fund in anticipation of a campaign for and the passage of a constitutional amendment similar to Minnesota’s. This will only be accomplished with the help of all groups interested in preserving Kentucky’s natural beauty and willing to support the kind of campaign necessary to get it passed. The Nature Conservancy along with the National Trust for Public Lands can play a huge role in this effort and it is heartening that they are now considering providing funds and technical support to help in this important process. I would encourage any of you reading this to let the KCC know of your interest in joining a coalition to begin this important work and to write or call the Nature Conservancy and express your support for a Land stewardship program in Kentucky worthy of our beautiful state. You can reach the Nature Conservancy at 1-800-628-6860 you can contact the Kentucky Conservation Committee at our website kyconservation.org. It’s time to get down to business and provide the funds this state needs to preserve and protect its dwindling natural areas.

SB 26, Senator Bob Leeper’s nuclear power repeat bill from last session, passed out of the senate Ag and Natural resources Committee with only one dissenting vote. Ironically, the no vote came from a coal-field legislator who objected to placing nuclear power in competition with coal generated power. The bill authorizes new activity in the area of nuclear fueled electricity generation and fuel reprocessing without having to define a method of disposal of the dangerous waste products. The Obama administration has stopped the opening of the Yucca Mountain disposal facility in Nevada effectively putting a stop to the nuclear industry in the U.S. unless power generators are allowed to store spent fuel on-site. This bill would allow such storage. Tom Fitzgerald of the Kentucky Resources Council spoke in opposition to the bill, but Senator Leeper countered by having Len Peters, Secretary of the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet speak in favor of developing the nuclear option in Kentucky. This bill will certainly pick up a lot of opposition as it moves through the legislative process. KCC will continue to oppose this option for nuclear development, stressing the need for a long-term Federal solution to waste disposal before we try as a State to take the nuclear “great leap forward”  some would like.

The 2010 version of the Kentucky Legislature commenced at 12:00 Tuesday amid rumors of bad budgets and tax reform. The hot scuttlebutt floating around the halls of the annex was in regard to a new interest from many higher-ups for a comprehensive reform of the State’s tax system. Faced with ever-growing deficits and a reluctance on the part of the Senate to pass any big new gambling programs lawmakers have their backs against the proverbial fiscal wall. It is rumored that there might not even be a budget passed this session unless this systemic problem is addressed. Stay tuned for that.

As for the KCC, the big issues will be land conservation and energy. Following the lead of the Land Stewardship Task Force recommendations, the KCC will push for the creation of a Land Stewardship program: first through the creation of a Stewardship Trust Fund and a Board to administer it, and then by a Constitutional Amendment to increase the sales tax by 1/8% and dedicate the proceeds to the new program. The first part of this will obviously be easier than the second, but the KCC is currently out enlisting allies in this battle. The reasoning behind setting up the structure before the funding mechanism is in place is to allow for any other possible funding sources to be considered. With tax reform a possibility, opportunities could open up for us in this area, as well as in expanded gambling. It makes sense to explore all funding alternatives if we can finally get the Commonwealth to put real effort into protecting our natural areas.

As to energy, I hope those who are reading this have had the chance to read Bruce Scott’s excellent white paper on electric feed-in tariffs. It explains the complex issue very well. Trying to craft a viable energy policy must include significant incentives for alternative energy production. It is with this in mind that the KCC as a part of a new energy alliance will push for a greater role for renewables in any State-wide energy plan. Well, it’s off to the wars for me. Stay in touch through this blog and our KCC alerts or on-line at www.kycoservation.org.