Hi all,
Read Bud's message below, please, and if you cannot make it to the Capitol tomorrow PLEASE call your representatives or email them and make your voice heard! We are especially opposed to House Bill 1662 which makes nuclear power easy to slip into the state without resistance. See below. All the mentioned legislation is important and we need to stay on top of these issues. Thank you everyone - spread the word!
The Carrie Dickerson Foundation Board of Directors
>>>Greetings Sierra Club members and friends!
Just a reminder that tomorrow is our scheduled Lobby Day at the
State
Capitol at 2 PM on the 2nd floor rotunda. It is critical for conservation
issues to be taken seriously that you show up to make your voice heard!
I've requested that those planning on attending RSVP to either
405.445.9435or
bud.scott@sierraclub.org. Thus far, I have 3 RSVPs! We need your help in
expressing support on these critical issues!
The lobby day will be followed with Conservation & Cocktails at the 51st
Street Speakeasy (1114 NW 51st/west of Western on NW 51st) at 6 PM for a
handcrafted beer tasting and informal conversation with invited legislators
and other officials. Again, I need RSVPs to determine how much food to
purchase. Please RSVP and join for a relaxing evening with opportunities to
discuss your conservation initiative with
elected officials and other
partners.
The lobby day will focus on four pieces of legislation as follows:
SUPPORTHB 3015 by Rep. Seneca Scott (D-Tulsa) and Sen. Tom Ivester (D-Elk City)
provides financial incentives through the Agricultural Linked Deposit
Program in the form of low-interest loans to individuals/partnerships
investing in healthy corner stores (majority of food/product being local and
grown local, with less than 10% of sales from cigarettes and beer). HB 3015
falls under the
Sierra Club priority of Food Localization. The funds for HB
3015 are already in place and will not have a fiscal impact upon the state.
HB 3015 is up for consideration tomorrow(!) in the Senate Finance Committee
at 10:30 AM. In my previous email I requested that you contact the
Senate
Finance Committee members to encourage them to vote in favor of the
legislation.
HB 3028 by Speaker Chris Benge (R-Tulsa) and Sen. David Myers (R-Ponca City)
is the
Oklahoma Energy Security Act, which sets forth a Renewable Energy
Goal for electric generating entities of 15% of their electric generating
portfolio by 2015. The bill also establishes a natural gas goal and CNG
fueling station goal. This legislation reflects a top priority for the
Oklahoma Chapter of the
Sierra Club as it will encourage our electric
providers to move beyond dirty coal-fired power and enhance
renewable energy
generation in Oklahoma. HB 3028 has passed the House, passed through the
Senate Energy and Environment Committee and is up for consideration by the
entire Senate for passage. Contact your Senator or Representative and
encourage them to vote for a
smart energy policy, such as that reflected by
HB 3028.
OPPOSESB 1662 by Sen. David Myers (R-Ponca City) and Rep. Rex Duncan (R-Sand
Springs) amends the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority Act to allow
municipal power authorities to (1) purchase electricity from nuclear
facilities, and (2) to invest in a joint venture for a nuclear facility. As
originally passed, the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority Act specifically
excluded
nuclear energy as an eligible resource or investment for municipal
power authorities. The reasoning behind this has not changed: Oklahoma
does not need the radioactive waste generated by these facilities
threatening the public health and natural resources of our state.
Furthermore, nuclear energy is the most cost-prohibitive commercially
viable
power resource available...most of that cost would be passed on to
Oklahoma electric consumers!
SB 1662 is up for consideration tomorrow, Tuesday at 1:30 PM before the
House Energy and Utilities Committee! Contact the members of the Energy
Committee and express your opposition to SB 1662 TODAY!
SB 1668 is sponsored by Sen. David Myers (r-Ponca City) and Rep. Rex Duncan (R-Sand Springs). PLEASE contact the committee members below and express your opposition to this legislation.
House Energy and Utility Regulatory Committee:
Kouplen, Steve 405.557.7306 steve.kouplen@Okhouse.gov
Lamons, Lucky 405.557.7390 luckylamons@Okhouse.gov
Proctor, Eric 405.557.5410 eric.proctor@Okhouse.gov
Thompson, Mike (Chair) 405.557.7403 mikethompson@Okhouse.gov
Trebilcock, John 405.557.7362 johntrebilcock@Okhouse.gov
Watson, Weldon (Vice Chair) 405.557.7330 weldon.watson@Okhouse.gov
Wesselhoft, Paul
405.557.7343 paulwesselhoft@okhouse.govHB 3137 by Rep.
Jeff Hickman (R-Dacoma) and Sen. Brian Bingman (R-Sapulpa)
proposes to consolidate the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission within the
Oklahoma Conservation Commission and the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and
Recreation. The Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission is vital to the
preservation of water quality on the
Illinois River and should be left in
place to maximize monitoring and policing of water quality on the
Illinois
River and the five other designated Oklahoma Scenic Rivers.
HB 3137 is part of a larger omnibus effort to consolidate agencies and has
passed the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on
Natural
Resources. Contact your Senator and express the need for the Scenic Rivers
Commission to be preserved. Oklahoma's rivers have too much to lose!
Please RSVP to both the Lobby Day and the Conservation & Cocktails event. If
you are unable to attend either event, PLEASE contact your legislators
regarding the listed legislation. WE NEED YOUR HELP!
--
Robert "Bud" Scott, Esq.
Chapter Director
Oklahoma Chapter of the Sierra Club
PO Box 60644
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73146
405.445.9435
bud.scott@sierraclub.org>>>
