Critics can't derail energy bill; COMMITTEE SENDS IT TO HOUSE FOR VOTE TODAY

Passionate critics of an energy bill that is roaring through the state legislature this week spoke yesterday to stop it, but to no avail.

Teri Blanton, a member of Kentuckians for the Commonwealth who was raised in Harlan County, told the House budget committee that it appears protecting Kentucky's environment does not seem as important as offering millions of dollars worth of tax incentives to lure a Peabody coal gasification plant to the state.

The committee approved the bill on a 26-2 vote and sent it to the full House for a vote today.

The bill's language to require such companies to be "carbon capture ready" to protect the environment from carbon waste was dismissed by Blanton as "feel-good language."

Carl Shoupe of Harlan County and Truman Hart of Perry County, also members of the grass-roots KFTC, predicted that the bill will contribute to more mountaintop removal coal mining.

"We're giving people money to destroy Kentucky. What's the rush?" Hart said.

Justin Maxson, president of the Mountain Association Community for Economic Development, testified that the bill needs more analysis and public input before he asked legislators to wait on acting on it.

But after nearly five hours of public testimony about energy in a meeting that saw the lights occasionally flicker off and on during heavy rains, the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee signed off on the plan that Gov. Ernie Fletcher had called a special law-making session to approve.

The only votes against House Bill 1, sponsored by House Majority Leader Rocky Adkins, D-Sandy Hook, were cast by Democratic Reps. Mary Lou Marzian and Jim Wayne, both of Louisville.

Wayne said he likes the bill's provisions dealing with renewable energy resources and energy research and education, but is concerned that it does not adequately address what coal-burning plants should do with carbon waste and the social and ecological impact that more coal mining will have on Eastern and Western Kentucky.

He called the bill "a multimillion-dollar incentive or corporate welfare check to a specific coal company," and said he hopes it can be scrutinized more closely in he 2008 General Assembly.

Under the measure, St. Louis-based Peabody Energy might be eligible to receive up to $300 million in tax breaks over 25 years to build a $3 billion coal-to-synthetic gas plant in Western Kentucky. The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, not legislators, would determine the actual incentives.

House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, said the bill is more than for just one company. He noted that it also provides incentives for other forms of energy.

House budget chairman Harry Moberly Jr., D-Richmond, said the bill is "a good starting point" to make Kentucky a national leader on energy.

Tom FitzGerald, director of the Kentucky Resources Council, told the House budget panel that he did not oppose or endorse the bill, that it has merit and can be revisited in the 2008 General Assembly.

Speaker Richards has said the bill will "sail through" the House today. Wayne filed amendments to it last night that would provide more investment in renewable energy sources such as hydroelectric, wind and solar power.

After the House acts on the bill, it will go to the Senate. The special legislative session, which began Monday, is expected to end Friday.

Reach Jack Brammer at (859) 231-1302 or 1-800-950-6397, Ext. 1302.