ENERGY ON THE MOVE: Adam Snyder, executive director of Conservation Alabama, is providing Green Space with regular updates regarding the status of key bills related to the environment during the current session of the Alabama legislature. This is Snyder’s third report:

One of the early bright spots for the environment in the current session of the Alabama State Legislature is a package of energy-related bills.

Alabama's environment is under fire by the state legislature

Each of the past three years, the Joint Legislative Committee on Energy Policy has introduced and passed energy legislation. So far this session, the Public Interest Energy Research and Development Grants Program (HB80/SB194) has passed the House unanimously. It will create an executive agency to research and develop bio-energy and fossil-fuel energy sources for the state. The legislature passed this legislation two years ago, only to have it vetoed by Governor Riley, who believed the role of the program was already being fulfilled by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

Another bill (HB127/SB288) would allow trucks with vehicle idling technology to exceed the state weight limit by 400 pounds. Such a change in law would allow trucks to install this technology and reduce emissions by increasing fuel efficiency. The bill has passed the House and is moving quickly through the Senate.

However, bills that would impact average citizens have yet to move and will likely get resistance in a difficult budget year. One of Conservation Alabama’s legislative priorities is a sales tax holiday for Energy Star appliances (HB125). That proposal, along with a bill that would provide an income tax credit for installation of energy-efficient equipment (HB126), is awaiting action in the House Education Appropriations Committee.

In past years, these bills have drawn opposition from the Alabama Education Association because the proposals would take funding from education coffers, although at a minimal level. With the state budget having more questions than answers, these otherwise worthwhile bills may be a hard sell this year.

To learn more about Snyder’s organization, which is Alabama’s only full-time environmental lobbying group, visit www.conservationalabama.org.