Comment: Please review the bills listed below and inform VA leaders your feelings about the bills!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
By Press_Release
Richmond, VA – Dan Holmes, Director of State Policy, for the Piedmont Environmental Council in Virginia provided the following summary of bills being voted on during the current session of the Virginia Legislature, the organization’s recommendations on whether to support the legislation or not, and the patron of each environmental bill.
General Assembly Bills Worth Commenting On
Many issues are discussed, including: food production, sustainability, renewable energy, energy efficiency, D.C. urban sprawl, toll roads, scenic rivers, and conservation tax credits.
Please take a minute to voice your support for (or opposition to) some of the bills making their way through the Virginia General Assembly.
SUMMARY OF LEGISLATION
HB 441 would make it possible for citizens to join together and collectively generate renewable energy for their own use.
HB 441: Community & Agricultural Net Metering – SUPPORT
This bill would permit individuals to form a group and collectively generate renewable energy for their own use under a net metering agreement. The bill would expand opportunities for small-scale renewable generation, and make it easier for farmers and homeowners to produce energy, taking pressure off of the grid. Patron: Delegate Toscano (D-District 57)
SB 71: Energy Efficiency Standard – SUPPORT
This bill would jumpstart energy efficiency initiatives in Virginia, and sets reasonable, enforceable goals for reductions in energy consumption over the next twelve years. Patron: Senator A. Donald McEachin (D-District 9)
HB 675: Minimizing the Impact of Transmission Line
Rights-of-Way – SUPPORT
This bill would require the State Corporation Commission to establish conditions to minimize impacts from transmission lines, such as discouraging clear-cutting and encouraging vegetative screening along rights-of-way. Patron: Delegate Joe T. May (R-District 33)
HB 447 would provide a funding source for easement monitoring and enforcement.
HB 447: Funding for Monitoring & Enforcement – SUPPORT
This bill from Delegate Ware would create a funding source for easement monitoring and enforcement, by removing the $10,000 cap on the 2% fee imposed on the transfer arising from the sale of land conservation tax credits.
The resulting revenues would be paid to the Department of Taxation and the Department of Conservation and Recreation first. The remaining revenues will be transferred to the public or private conservation agencies responsible for enforcing the conservation purposes of the easement.
HB 277 prioritizes a sprawl-inducing toll highway around DC.
HB 277: Prioritizes Outer Beltway Around DC – OPPOSE
This bill would divert limited resources away from projects that would help reduce congestion in Northern Virginia. This type of project has been studied over and over again, and found not to be justified due to its failure to ease traffic congestion and multi-billion dollar price tag. Patron: Delegates Albo (R-District 42) and Rust (R-District 86)
SB 442: Authority to Suspend Regulation – OPPOSE
This bill would allow the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules (JCAR), a committee of 12 legislators, to suspend any rule or regulation with the concurrence of the Governor.
Patron: Senator Frank Wagner (R- District 7)
Support for Local Food
HB 398: Procedures to Purchase Virginia-Grown Food Products by State Agencies – SUPPORT
This bill would establish procurement procedures to facilitate the purchase of Virginia-Grown food products for use in local public school divisions and state agencies.
Patron: Delegate Matthew J. Lohr. (R- District 26)
HJ95: Designates Virginia Farm to School Week – SUPPORT
This resolution would designate the second full week of November 2010 as Virginia Farm to School Week.
Patron: Delegate Edward T. Scott (R- District 30)
Scenic River Designation
HB 501: Scenic River Designation for Jordan- SUPPORT
Designates a portion of the Jordan River in Rappahannock County as a state scenic river.
Patron: Delegate C. Todd Gilbert (R- District 15)
HB 503: Scenic River Designation for Hughes – SUPPORT
Designates a portion of the Hughes River as a state scenic river.
Patron: Delegate C. Todd Gilbert (R- District 15)
It’s very important your legislators hear from you, so make sure to express your support or opposition for the bills you are interested in. You can say as much or as little as you want – but be sure to clearly state your position on each bill and provide the bill number.”
To view more information about each of these bills, visit the Piedmont Environmental Council web site. You can email the organization at: pecnews at http://www.pecva.org/anx/index.cfm
Read more:
http://7bends.com/2010/02/06/piedmont-environmental-council-provides-overview-of-va-bills-to-watch/
