|
Feb. 17, 2010 For more information, contact: MRPC Goes on Record in Support of HB 1995 ST. JAMES—Meeting Feb. 11, the board of Meramec Regional Planning Commission voted to support House Bill 1995 and provide a letter in support of the legislation, which is sponsored by Rep. Tom Loehner and co-sponsored by Rep. Charlie Schlottach. The bill, as written, would allow an electrical corporation located in the state and using nuclear energy to produce electricity to pay a surcharge per-kilowatt-hour on power sold out of state. Any moneys collected would be distributed to schools within the 10-mile emergency planning zone of a nuclear-power, electrical generating facility. The funds would be used for nuclear emergency preparedness and planning and hazard mitigation within those school districts. Rep. Loehner and David Luker, who represents the city of Chamois on the MRPC board, met prior to the meeting with MRPC external relations committee to explain the proposal. Luker explained why the bill was needed, pointing out that the Chamois area and Osage County do not benefit from property taxes from the Ameren UE Callaway Nuclear Plant despite its proximity. It is difficult for Chamois residents to take advantage of jobs at the plant because there is no bridge across the river at Chamois. Luker pointed out that the Chamois area has 100 percent of the risk and 0 percent of the benefit. The legislation would be a start, he added. As an example, in the event of a nuclear event requiring evaluation, the Chamois school district is required to bus all students and staff to Westphalia. However, the Chamois school district doesn’t have enough busses to do that and would have to call a neighboring district to send busses. “The older the plant gets, the more likely the chance that something may happen,” Luker told the committee. Currently, the Ameren UE facility in Callaway County is the only nuclear-powered, electrical generating facility in the state, meeting the criteria set forth in the proposed legislation. Five school districts would benefit from the funding mechanism, Loehner said. Loehner was still waiting information on the estimated amount of funds that legislation could generate. Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities.. A professional staff of 30, directed by the 52-member MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities. More information is available online at www.meramecregion.org. |