Holsman makes environment a priority

By: Kurt Kloeblen, Staff writer

Rep. Jason Holsman promoted himself as environmentally friendly even before his election.

In the Missouri House of Representatives, Holsman has tried to follow through on some of those promises. Holsman is the ranking member on the Energy and Environment Committee and in the 2008 legislative session has sponsored or co-sponsored 11 bills with environmental slants.

Holsman has earned the Legislative Leadership Award from Missouri Electric Cooperative, Green Leader award from Missouri Votes Conservation, Legislator of the Year from Renew Missouri and Outstanding Legislative Leadership Award from Heartland Renewable Energy.

Holsman said he is happy with the progress made.

“Considering we have a Republican governor who didn’t even want to sign the Midwest Governor’s Energy Act and a Republican senate and a Republican controlled house, any step we can make is a good one,” Holsman said. “Some members in the General Assembly admit we have a problem and want to go in the right direction. There are some people in my chamber who don’t think that anything is wrong.”

Holsman has worked to push through legislation that deals with alternative energy production. Two of his wins came with his Easy Connections Act and Green Power Initiative.

Easy Connections allows private citizens with solar panels or wind turbines to connect to the power grid and keep energy they produce. Green Power set up a renewable energy target for Missouri utility companies with an eventual goal of having 11 percent of energy come from renewable sources by 2020.

Holsman said supporting bills, especially environmental bills, is not always easy. “You have to factor and consider all the impacts a piece of legislation might have,” he said. “You have to see the impact to the consumer, the business and the ability of government to carry out the legislation.

“We don’t want electric rates to go higher in Missouri, but we may need a modification in how we’re doing things. If those come with additional costs, the savings they have in the long run may make it all worth it and we are reducing pollution. Then our goal is achieved.”

Holsman said with his progressive ideas he has learned his delivery and wording of bills can change how other legislators look at them.

“It’s all in the presentation,” Holsman said. “If I present a radical argument, then it may be perceived as left-wing and tree-hugging. If I make a rational argument and a sound solution, then those who oppose progress are the radicals.”

Holsman said he recently visited a nuclear plant in Arkansas and shared how his mind is changing about nuclear energy at the Green Summit in Kansas City. His talk of using nuclear energy received mild reception among a strong pro-environmental crowd. Holsman said in his speech that companies are looking into how to get more out of nuclear plants, which emit fewer emissions than its counterparts.

Holsman said going green can be lucrative for Missouri businesses.

“Businesses are understanding there are profits in going green,” he said. “They create jobs and build the economy while saving money. The bottom line is, as they grow, it gets more expensive to waste energy. The business community understands the value of efficiency and conservation.”

Contact Kurt Kloeblen at (913) 385-6087 or kkloeblen@sunpublications.com.