The Senate voted to bail out Aquila today in a 26-5 vote that gives retroactive approval for a power plant the company built in Cass county, despite court orders forbidding it to do so. As you may have guessed, I was one of the 5 no votes.
We argued that the law would be ex post facto and therefore unconstitutional. We argued that the law takes the heat off Aquila to settle with the homeowners who had a big, noisy power plant built in their backyard. We argued that the law is, in effect, a $100 million dollar bailout for a company who has thumbed its nose at local law enforcement and court orders time and again.
I guess the thing the bothers me the most is I don't see any real punishment from the state for Aquila blatently ignoring the law. What's next? What's to stop a CAFO or a Wal-Mart from ignoring local regulation and court order and opening a facility in your backyard?
Thursday, May 8, 2008
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4 comments:
I agree - however - I'm at a loss as to how Aquila could be "punished" in such a way that the customers would not be adversely affected.
What would have been wrong with seizing the illegal facility and granting it to another service provider? Since when is allowing a law breaker to profit from their illicit deeds a service to the public?
Senator Justus:
Please accept my sincerest thanks for your willingness to stand up for what is right and bring to light the fact that the legislative remedy proposed is yet another violation of the constitutional rights of citizens by this rogue company.
It was revolting to hear Senators Koster and Bartle try to paint poor Aquila as the victim and "greedy" neighbors as the villains. In the 3 1/2 years of this horrible ordeal, StopAquila.org never filed a suit for damages. We only asked that Aquila follow the law and when they failed to do so, that the courts enforce the law.
If I could sell my house that is less than 1/2 mile from the monstrosity, I'd seriously consider moving to your district. How disheartening that our own Senator who wants to become Attorney General sounded like his only duty was to represent Aquila in debate yesterday.
Bless you and thank you for standing on principal regarding this important debate that could yet have far reaching impacts on others throughout the state.
Appreciative StopAquila.org Member
Senator Justus,
Thank you so much for standing up for the law. I agree Aquila did not get punished. A lot have people have called us NIMBY, when that is far from the truth. The fact is we chose to live here because of the local zoning laws that are in place to protect us. Aquila thumbed their nose at those LAWS. Then Aquila thumbed their nose at the court that placed a permanent injunction agaist Aquila BEFORE they built the plant. Aquila chose to build the plant in the face that they may have to be required to tear it down. Blame Aquila for gambling with $140M of ratepayer/stockholder money. Thank you for standing up for the people that were just trying to fight for their TRAMPLED rights. Our rights have been TRAMPLED again by Aquila and a majority of the Missouri Legislature.
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