The legislature has been asked to consider specifying that Missourians have a right to burn wood to heat their homes and businesses.
Representative Tim Remole (R-Excello) filed a bill, (HB-1302) that would set in statute a right for Missourians to heat their homes and businesses using wood-burning furnaces, stoves, fireplaces and heaters. He says he got the idea after learning about a rule in development by the environmental protection agency.
“I knew that so many Missourians … across the state burn wood and how crucial it was and helpful to Missourians, and that’s what sparked the idea.”
Reg Kelly with Earth Outdoor wood burning furnaces of Mountain Grove, Missouri, testified in favor of the bill to the House Committee on Tourism and Natural Resources. He says none of the furnaces his company makes would meet the standards of that new rule.
“Basically what even the [testing] lab people will tell you is this is the death knell of any wood burning. The ultimate goal is to totally destroy the industry and to cease wood burning in America.”
The EPA will hold a hearing in Boston this month regarding that proposed rule.
No vote has been taken on Remole’s bill.