| To the editor:
Now that Missouri lawmakers have returned from spring break, things are heating up in the legislature. That spells good news and bad news on the environmental front.
On the upside, a new green omnibus bill HB 1871, which incorporates several energy-related bills we’ve been pushing, was unanimously passed by the House Energy and Environment Committee. Among its provisions is PACE – Property Assessed Clean Energy – which allows municipalities to help homeowners finance energy retrofits and pay them off slowly in their property taxes. HB 1871 also includes a green building measure, requiring LEED Silver Certification for new large state buildings.
On the downside, on March 23rd Missouri’s House passed (by a vote of 112 to 41) a misguided resolution that undermines federal climate legislation. MVC was disappointed that so many House members rejected the need to reduce America’s greenhouse gas emissions. We’re now working to make sure our state Senate doesn’t pass a similar misguided resolution, SCR 46.
Your readers can help influence the fate of these bills! Please contact the Missouri state legislators and tell them to vote green this session: urge state Reps to vote YES on HB 1871, and state Senators to vote NO on SCR 46.
Liz Forrestal, executive director
Missouri Votes Conservation
Missouri Votes Conservation (MVC) is a non-partisan, statewide non-profit corporation headquartered in St. Louis that focuses on the political arena to achieve sound conservation practices. MVC represents all sectors of the conservation community, including environmentalists, small business owners, hunters, anglers, scientists, farmers, and students. Go Back | 
