Green Groups Push Bills, May 8, 2007 - The Advocate

Tax credits urged for hybrid cars, solar energy
By AMY WOLD Advocate staff writer Published: May 9, 2007 - Page: 4a
Tax credits for homeowners who improve the energy efficiency of their houses is just one of the bills environmentalist hope will pass the Legislature this session.
Representatives from various environmental groups went to the Legislature on Tuesday to raise awareness about this, and many other, environmental-tinged bills coming up.
“For the first time in memory, there’s a good 15 bills floating around that we like,” said Darrell Hunt with the Sierra Club.
Representatives from Delta Chapter of the Sierra Club, Alliance for Affordable Energy, Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, Louisiana Environmental Action Network and others attended the 2007 Environmental Lobbying Day at the State Capitol.
The goal wasn’t to push any one bill, but to promote a number of bills geared toward protecting the environment.
“There’s a whole lot that’s positive this session and that’s nice for a change,” said Kathy Wascom with the Louisiana Environmental Action Network.
Bills being proposed so far include providing sales and use tax exemptions when someone buys a hybrid car and tax credits for homeowners who install solar or wind energy.
In addition, one bill proposes giving people tax credits for putting their land into conservation easements, which would protect them from development, Hunt said.
The bill could help protect areas, such as the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, that are undergoing pressures for development, he said.
There are also several bills that the environmental groups would like to see defeated.
One bill would allow drivers transporting less than 300 gallons of liquefied petroleum gas to be exempt from having to pass a test or get a card from the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Commission.
Another bill opposed by the environmental groups proposes to redefine “restaurant” in the Louisiana Smoke Free Act. Currently, bars within a restaurant have to be smoke-free.
The bill would change that “no smoking” requirement if the bar section is in an enclosed, separate area with its own ventilation system.