Say No To SB 849

“Property rights in Missouri have long been upheld and respected. It is disappointing that Senator Cindy O’Laughlin is considering taking that away by banning all solar in the state with SB 849. Solar gives farmers and other landowners the opportunity to create substantial drought-proof revenue for decades. It allows families to hold onto their land and pass it on to the next generation. If property rights are taken away, more and more small farms will be forced to sell to corporate ag. as crop margins continue to shrink. 

Solar farms also bring in massive amounts of investment into rural communities. Projects throughout the state are creating new revenue for local governments – often to the tune of over a million dollars a year. This new money for rural communities can help to retain talented teachers in our schools. These funds also help to maintain police and fire departments, and ensure that vital services can be maintained for decades to come.

There are many reasonable regulations to solar development that lawmakers could consider. But an all-out ban of this industry which has been such an important boost to many families, farmers, and rural communities, is not the way to go. Please tell your lawmakers to protect property rights and oppose SB 849. You can find your legislator at www.senate.mo.gov/legislookup/default or email  (cindy.olaughlin@senate.mo.gov) or call (573-751-7985) the leader of the senate.”