KFTC Stances on 2009 Energy-Related Legislation

KFTC members, as witnessed on I Love Mountains Day, continue ongoing efforts to steer the Commonwealth away from coal-burning electricity and towards clean, renewable energy sources.  Based on this momentum, KFTC attempts to monitor all relevant legislation and has chosen to oppose or endorse some of the bills under consideration in the 2009 Kentucky General Assembly. 

KFTC ENDORSES:

House Bill 104   -   Senate Bill 100    "Stream Saver Billâ€
  (Rep. Pasley)           (Sen. Stein)
Would prohibit dumping mining wastes into an intermittent, ephemeral or headwater stream or other state waters.  It directs that mining wastes be placed back on the site as part of the reclamation process (already required by state and federal law) or placed on a previously mined site — rather than pushed over the side of the hill into valleys and streams below.

House Bill 178  (Reps. Adkins, Steele)
Would reenact all elements of 2008’s House Bill 2, which KFTC endorsed last year.  House Bill 2 was passed by both chambers prior to midnight last year but was not enrolled as legislation until after that time, making it potentially vulnerable to legal challenge.

Senate Bill 51  (Sen. Harris)
Would authorize the Public Service Commission to require demand-side management plans for all utility companies under its oversight.

KFTC OPPOSES:

Senate Bill 13  -   House Bill 376
 (Sen. Leeper)        (Rep. Rudy and others)
Would eliminate state requirement that a federally approved permanent nuclear waste disposal site be identified prior to nuclear plant construction.  Thus, nuclear plants would be able to store hazardous waste on-site, endangering Kentucky communities.

House Bill 119  (Reps. Hall, Edmonds, Smith)
Would lower the number of required on-site mine emergency technicians for underground mines with fewer than 18 employees from two to one.  In response to widows of miners', UMWA's and KFTC's advocacy efforts, the number of required on-site METs was just increased to two in 2007.

House Bill 205  (Rep. Riggs)
Would greatly lower mining companies’ liability in civil lawsuits brought by citizens as a result of exposure to silica and mixed-dust.   Cancer and diseases similar to black lung, such as silicosis, may result from exposure to these dusts.
 
Senate Bill 55  (Sen. Jones)
Would allow all new coal-burning electricity plants and reconstructed plants to be eligible for House Bill 1 incentives, which are currently designated for alternative fuel and renewable energy facilities.

KFTC MONITORS ADDITIONAL BILLS:

KFTC’s Executive Committee monitors some bills without taking an official stance.  The committee meets every Monday night to review KFTC’s position and strategy on these bills.  If a KFTC member would like the organization to take an official position on a particular bill, please contact a Steering Committee or staff member Heather Mahoney.  This list below does NOT include all of the energy-related bills KFTC is monitoring, but only a few of them that could have major impact on our energy landscape.

House Bill 89  (Rep. Owens)
Would permit the Governor to add $2,000,000 to Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds if needed.

Senate Bill 52   and  Senate Bill 64
  (Sen. Jones)               (Sen. Jensen)
Both bills would establish requirements that improve mine safety.

Senate Bill 66 (Sen. Boswell)
Would amend existing law to include "tar sandsâ€ as among alternative transportation fuels eligible for tax incentives.

House Bill 285  (Rep. Adkins)
Expands some available tax incentives to newly constructed or modified coal-burning electricity plants with carbon capture or storage technologies.

House Bill 351 (Reps. Adkins, Pullin, Yonts)
Would require the state to assume liability for Kentucky Geological Service carbon sequestration projects.

Respond with comments to offer your opinion on these bills.  We'll keep you up to date through our Bill Tracker on their status.