Thu, Nov 26 2009
|
|
House advances proposal to impose state’s first CO2 tax But supporters said the new proposal was more acceptable because of how it was drafted.
First, it would apply only to utilities with a total generating capacity of more than 350 megawatts. That’s Kansas City’s BPU, Sunflower, Westar Energy Inc. and Kansas City Power & Light Co. Any money raised would be used to finance a tax credit for the utility with the state’s lowest CO2 emissions in tons per megawatt hours of electricity. “It’s just almost a sin tax,” said Rep. Clay Aurand, a Courtland Republican and another sponsor of the amendment. “If they clean up a little, there won’t be any.” The tax also would apply only when a utility’s emissions are 10 percent greater than the statewide average for all utilities. That provision narrows the list of utilities likely to pay it to Kansas City’s BPU. “We’re always getting poked at,” said Rep. Tom Burroughs, a Kansas City Democrat and the chairman of the Wyandotte County delegation. “There was very little doubt that it was aimed at us — and a few others.” House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, an Ingalls Republican who supports Sunflower’s project, said voting for the carbon tax Monday night gave some members a “green” vote. Then, he said, they could justify voting for new coal-fired plants. But asked whether the tactic would attract enough votes to override Sebelius’ veto, he said, “I wouldn’t say that.” And Rep. Kenny Wilk, a Lansing Republican, the proposal’s third sponsor, said: “We’re getting more credit than we deserve for some master plan.” Some critics saw the proposal as technically flawed. Rep. Joshua Svaty, who opposed the energy bill Sebelius vetoed, noted that there had been no public hearings or committee review on the new carbon tax proposal. “If they wanted to have a serious discussion about carbon, fine, let’s have it,” the Democrat from Ellsworth said. “But this came out of nowhere.” 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the State News section
Missouri: State ordered to pay $152,000 to janitorial company Kansas: National Guard to close 18 armories Oklahoma; Regulators approve ‘OU Spirit’ wind farm plan |
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
 |
 |
: Special Offer For New Subscribers
:
 |
|||||||
|
|||||||
 |
|
|
Published by Newspaper Holding, Inc. 117 East Fourth Street, Joplin, MO 64801 Using our site is your agreement to the terms and conditions. News: news@joplinglobe.com • (417)623-3480 Advertise with the Joplin Globe Copyright © 2006 The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO All rights reserved. 
|
Popular Business directory links - Joplin Apartments | Joplin Attorneys | Joplin Auto Dealers | Joplin Auto Parts | Joplin Auto Repair | Joplin Beauty Salons | Joplin Car Rental | Joplin Dentists | Joplin Doctors | Joplin Flowers | Joplin Hotels | Joplin Insurance | Joplin Loans | Joplin Mortgages | Joplin Movers | Joplin Pizza | Joplin Realtors | Joplin Restaurants | Joplin Storage | Joplin Tax Preparation | Joplin Travel | Joplin Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |
