CAFO VICTORY!
Last week during the first joint House & Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, Senator Clemens announced the Ag Committees will NOT attempt to pass legislation on issues pertaining to Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO's). This announcement is good news for family farmers, rural citizens and the environment. It is truly a victory for the democratic process and a direct result of grassroots organizing by Sierra Club and our coalition partners! Citizens put their elected officials on notice; Missouri communities come before the wishes of corporate donors.
Farm Bureau has been working for years to get a bill passed that removes notification to residents when a mega farm is sited next door and eliminates a county’s ability to pass health ordinances to regulate CAFOs. Industrial livestock operations, which make up less than ½ of 1 percent of Missouri’s farming operations are exempt from planning and zoning. Health ordinances continue to be the only mechanism by which counties can protect the health and welfare of the majority of citizens.
You may remember that we beat “big pig” Corporate Ag groups by a slim margin last year by defeating HCS SB 187. We did not rest on our victory. During the last half of 2005, Sierra Club joined coalition partners to educate and organize residents, county by county, about this threat to local control. We met with County Commissioners and rural citizens, held informational forums, and made it clear; the only tool to protect communities from the onslaught of industrial factory farms was to fight for county authority to regulate the health impacts of these huge polluting facilities. The public outcry opposed to attempts by the legislature to limit local control on this issue was deafening. Legislators wisely decided against attempting passage of this bill in an election year.
Sierra Club works with family farmers and rural citizens across the state to fight for independent family farms, healthy communities and a clean environment. The ability to inform and activate citizens statewide on these critical issues was a key factor in this VICTORY. A special thank you goes out to all who participated in this effort across Missouri.
In spite of proclamations not to move forward with CAFO legislation this year, we will continue to watch for any attempts to limit a county’s ability to address local health concerns.
RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARDS
As part of Missouri Sierra Club’s campaign
to secure a clean energy future for all of Missouri, a press conference was held on January 17th announcing the introduction of Renewable Energy Standards (RES) legislation. Senator Chuck Graham, of
Columbia and Representative Jenee Lowe, of Kansas City introduced companion bills, SB 843 and HB 1384 that will establish minimum requirements for all retail sellers of electricity to supply a certain amount of their power from renewable energy sources. The percentage requirement would grow from 1% in 2008 to 10% in 2020.
Renewable energy in Missouri enjoys bi-partisan, statewide support. The bills boast 30 co-sponsors and 20 supporting organizations. Renewable Energy Standards promote a positive future in which economic growth goes hand-in-hand with safeguarding our air, water and land.
Most of Missouri’s electricity is generated by coal-burning power plants, producing emissions that cause acid rain, mercury contamination and contribute to global warming. Air pollutants are linked to asthma, lung diseases, developmental delays and birth defects. Missouri Sierra Club’s Clean Energy & Air Campaign is working to:
1. Promote clean energy options in Missouri – primarily efficiency and wind – as a cleaner, cheaper and safer solution to each region’s long-term energy needs.
2. Prevent the construction of any new coal-burning power plant in Missouri.
3. Reduce emissions from existing coal-burning power plants.
4. Promote a balanced energy portfolio for all utilities in Missouri.
Development of clean local energy choices would diversify the state’s energy supply, increase energy security and reliability while protecting consumers from volatile energy prices. Without a RES, Missouri will continue to lag behind other states in renewable energy production. We are optimistic that this is the year for Missouri renewable energy standards to become a reality.
Please contact your legislator and ask them to support these bills.
Eminent domain is a hot topic this session, polling at 90% as an issue of concern. The controversial Kelo v. New London decision by the Supreme Court ruled in favor of economic development over property rights. The decision allowing developers to take away citizens homes to construct a strip mall, all in the name of economic development, has enraged property owners. Legislators are under pressure to halt eminent domain abuse. Several bills have been introduced. This is a complicated issue and the devil may well be in the details. We all understand the necessity of “takings” for the public good. However, there is much room for abuse of eminent domain powers. Sierra Club is monitoring these bills and will work with legislators to understand potential impacts and work toward positive protections.
For an up to date list of bills Sierra Club is tracking visit our website, http://missouri.sierraclub.org/, click TRACK LEGISLATION. Our site is linked to the Missouri State Government page and will connect you to all the bill information including the summary and full bill text.