Tag: legislation

WILL WASHINGTON BECOME THE FIRST STATE TO TAX GREENHOUSE GASES?

This article discusses how the State of Washington is considering taxing GHGs.

With just over a week before the Washington Legislature adjourns for the year, the question recurs: Will legislators make Washington the first state in the nation to tax greenhouse-gas emissions to fight climate change?

Lurking in the background as state legislators debate a carbon tax is the threat of a citizens’ initiative on the November 2018 ballot to tax carbon emissions. In Olympia, legislation has passed three Senate committees, the latest on Wednesday. That alone is historic, said to be the first time that a carbon fee was approved by any panel of state politicians.

 

Commentary: Conservancy calls for legislators to protect water resources, ban fracking

As the 2018 state legislative session approaches, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida and our more than 6,000 supporting families are asking our elected officials to prioritize and pass bills that protect our most valued resource: our water.

https://www.usabreakingnews.net/2017/10/commentary-conservancy-calls-for-legislators-to-protect-water-resources-ban-fracking/

Jim Henson, Joshua Blank, Texs Perspectives: Texas cities replace Obama as new bogeyman for …

Austin seems to have a time-honored role as a target for the ire of state legislators, but our capital city was hardly alone in a legislative session that saw the clearest and most persistent articulation yet of a sustained attack on the autonomy of local governments. Several Texas cities have been involved in a large number of these skirmishes: sanctuary cities, plastic-bag bans, transgender bathroom policies and ridesharing ordinances, to name a few.

http://www.wacotrib.com/opinion/columns/guest_columns/jim-henson-joshua-blank-texas-perspectives-texas-cities-replace-obama/article_32937025-d193-5ed4-9a09-4381b6dba849.html

Connecticut 2017 Legislative Session – Disappoints Environmentalists

The General Assembly‘s 2017 regular session ended this week with a major gut punch for environmental activists when a popular bipartisan proposal to add protections for state parks and forests failed to even come up for a vote.

http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-mixed-environmental-energy-bag-20170608-story.html

Maryland Poised to ban Fracking

Maryland state lawmakers on Monday approved legislation that would indefinitely ban hydraulic fracturing in the state, a bill that has the support of Gov. Larry Hogan and that, if signed, would represent the first state legislative ban of the controversial drilling technique.

https://www.law360.com/articles/906944/maryland-poised-to-indefinitely-ban-fracking

Opponents of fracking seek permanent ban in Maryland

Opponents of fracking in Maryland demonstrated in Annapolis and filled a hearing room Tuesday in support of legislation banning the practice.

 Fracking involves horizontal drilling into Marcellus shale, which is abundant in western Maryland. A high-pressure mix of water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock, freeing natural gas trapped inside.

Opponents want a permanent ban as the state moratorium on fracking expires in October.

http://www.wbaltv.com/article/opponents-of-fracking-seek-permanent-ban-in-maryland/8991870

Florida State Senator Wants to Outlaw Fracking in the State’s Fragile Environment

A Florida State Senator is sponsoring a bill which, if passed, would ban all fracking in the state, citing Florida’s fragile foundation as reason for the ban. Republican State Senator Dana Young of Tampa proposed SB 442 which would ban all forms of fracking in the state in order to preserve Florida’s fragile limestone foundation.

https://trofire.com/2017/01/26/florida-state-senator-wants-outlaw-fracking-states-fragile-environment/

Baltimore County Del. Morhaim speaks out on fracking

If the Maryland legislature fails to pass a ban or an extended moratorium on the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, “fracking” could commence in Garrett and Allegany Counties after October 2017.

http://baltimorepostexaminer.com/baltimore-county-del-morhaim-speaks-fracking/2017/01/06#sthash.r1esuLHq.dpuf