In the Governor’s Hands

Written By Lane Boldman

We have now have only two legislative days left in the 60-day legislative session. The Governor has four remaining days in the 10-day veto period to address bills. Lawmakers will then come back for two more legislative days (April 12 and 15th) where they may vote to override the Governor’s veto and finish passing any remaining bills.

Bills Not Yet Vetoed: “Coal Protection Bill” “Agriculture Gag Bill,” More - Calls Needed

The top of our list are two bills which deserve to be vetoed, but you can find several more on KCC’s Veto List. Do not delay- email the Governor at this link! You can also call the Governor’s office at 502-564-2611.

  • Senate Bill 16: (KCC Oppose) “Ag Gag” bill that prohibits the operation of unmanned aircraft, video or audio recording devices, or photography equipment on or above a concentrated animal feeding operation or commercial food manufacturing or processing facility without written consent of the owner or authorized representative of the facility.

  • Senate Bill 349: (KCC Oppose) The “coal protection bill” that will prevent or restrict the retirement, decommissioning, or demolition of fossil fuel-fired electric generating resources by creating a new agency (EPIC) to study the broad spectrum of electric generation and transmission resource and supply issues with specific emphasis upon the continued operation. Abandons “least cost” for generation.

    • It is notable that at the same time the Kentucky Legislature continues to tie itself in knots in order to hold on to coal plants that are well past their economic efficiency, New England states have set closure dates for their last coal plants, making all of New England coal-free for the first time in well over a century. Those last plants will be converted to solar farms and battery storage units.

  • MORE BILLS TO VETO THAT NEED YOUR CALLS - LINK HERE

The Governor HAS vetoed the following bills we were watching:

  • Senate Bill 198 attempts to establish the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority. The Governor said that while he supports an all-of-the-above energy policy that includes nuclear energy, this bill is unconstitutional, as it grants Executive Branch governing authority despite having no Executive Branch appointments, and it deprives the citizens of the commonwealth of any meaningful oversight. See the Governor’s full veto message.

  • House Bill 581 preempts local governments from using a zoning process and deciding the location of electric vehicle charging stations within its jurisdiction. The Governor said this interferes with local government decisions on local matters. See the Governor’s full veto message.

  • See our VETO page for more information on how to uphold the Governor’s actions.

Other Recent Actions Taken on Bills we are Watching:

The Governor updated Kentuckians on bills he has acted on since last Friday. The Governor has signed:

  • Senate Bill 125 expands the eligibility of local governments to participate in off-highway vehicle pilot programs. Signed by the Governor on 3/29.

  • Senate Bill 229 removes the Kentucky Municipal Utilities Association as a member of the Blockchain Technology Working Group and the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority Board, and adds a member appointed by the Kentucky League of Cities to both. Signed by the Governor on 3/29.

  • Senate Joint Resolution 140 directs the Public Service Commission to make staffing and administrative preparations to be ready to process applications for the siting and construction of nuclear energy facilities. Signed by the Governor on 4/4.

  • House Joint Resolution 56 allows $71 million in capital construction funds that were approved in the last budget to be released for improvements at Kentucky State Parks. Signed by the Governor on 4/4.

Other News of the Week:

Solarize Campaigns up and running! The Kentucky Solar Energy Society is leading its largest-ever Solarize campaign by partnering with the cities of Danville & Boyle County, Frankfort & Franklin County, Lexington, and Louisville to launch local Solarize campaigns to help make it easier and less costly for residents and small businesses to install solar on their properties.

Comments Needed to Protect Rooftop Solar: Duke Energy is requesting a change to the accounting process for determining how much rooftop solar customers pay on their monthly bills. This change would greatly reduce the value of your solar and make it harder for the solar industry. Submit a comment to the Public Service Commission to protect the value of solar. Learn more at buff.ly/43Hp3NK

Have you heard of Jefferson Memorial Forest’s “Valley of the Drums?” We were reminded this week of a massive stockpile of drums scattered on 23 acres of farmland in Bullitt County, along with the frightening revelation of chemical plant dumping in Love Canal, near Niagara Falls, led Congress in 1980 to pass the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, commonly known as Superfund. See more on this story from Inside Climate News here.

A federal judge has sided with Kentucky’s Republican attorney general in ruling that the Biden administration overstepped by requiring states to set goals for reducing heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions from vehicle tailpipes and other sources on federal highways.  See this week’s story in the Kentucky Lantern.

Proposed Haze Pollution Consent Decree Sets Schedule to improve visibility at Parks, including Mammoth Cave: In the Southeast, Mammoth Cave National Park was found to be the most haze polluted park in the country in an analysis done by the National Parks Conservation Association. See media release from the National Parks Conservation Association here. KCC has been helping NPCA in bringing attention to this effort.

Lane Boldman
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