HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-03-15 RESOLUTION n c i _ n i _ 1
i RESOLUTION SUPPORTING LEGISLATION TO ELIMINATE THE POLLUTION
CONTROL EXEMPTION
WHEREAS, the City of Oak Park Heights is a participating member of the Coalition of Utility Cities (CUC);
and
WHEREAS, investor -owned utilities (IOU's) and their host communities have operated in a long - standing
partnership, and real and personal property tax revenues are a fair compensation to host communities for the
social, economic and environmental costs of hosting nuclear and coal -fired baseload electric generation
facilities; and
WHEREAS, IOU's have received substantial tax relief through the liberal application of the exemption for
pollution control equipment; and
WHEREAS, the pollution control exemption, which was enacted in 1967, has outlived its usefulness because the
state and federal governments have adopted significant regulations governing pollution and the state has enacted
legislation allowing IOU's to recover the cost of pollution control equipment that exceeds regulations or that
complies with mercury regulations from rate payers; and
WHEREAS, equipment that reduces pollution from electric generation benefits the entire state; and
WHEREAS, the pollution control exemption places the cost of this statewide benefit on the citizens and
businesses of the utility host communities; and
WHEREAS, the process for granting the pollution control exemption is problematic in that it fails to provide
adequate notice to cities, does not require a detailed accounting for this substantial exemption; and does not
require any review or analysis after the exemption has been granted;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Oak Park Heights does hereby support HF 739
(Rep. Solberg, DFL -Grand Rapids) and SF 463 (Sen. Murphy, DFL -Red Wing), which eliminates the pollution
control exemption for equipment that is erected, constructed, or installed after
December 31, 2009,; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be sent to Governor Pawlenty, House Speaker Kelliher,
House Minority Leader Seifert, Senate Majority Leader Pogemiller, Senate Minority Leader Senjem, House
Tax Committee Chair Lenczewski, House Property Tax Relief and Local Sales Tax Division Chair Marquart,
Senate Tax Committee Chair Bakk, and Senate Property Tax Division Chair Skoe to show the city's support to
these two bills.
Passed by the City Council of the City of Oak Park Heights thi6aea;udet, "` f h 2009
Mayor
4EJo strator