Business Notebook: Emissions plan concerns region's lawmakers

Because of the amount of power Missouri and the 8th Congressional District derive from coal-fired power plants, even an additional 2 percent limit to emissions is concerning lawmakers who believe a newly announced plan will hurt businesses.

Among the opponents to the plan President Barack Obama unveiled last week to reduce U.S. power plant emissions 32 percent by 2030 are U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, and U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem, who represents Southeast Missouri. In 2014, a 30 percent reduction goal for carbon dioxide emissions was proposed by the Obama administration.

Coal supplied 83 percent of Missouri's net electricity generation in 2013, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and ranked 12th among states for carbon dioxide emissions in 2012, with 125 million metric tons. Electricity in the 30 counties in the 8th District is about 80 percent coal-generated.

Blunt and Smith said the plan will make electricity more expensive, which in turn will hurt companies and cost jobs in Missouri. Three coal-fired plants in the district may have to close, Smith said, further hurting employment, and manufacturers could lose a competitive edge.

"These rules are more aggressive than last year's, and nothing but a power grab by the president," Smith said after a visit to the Sikeston Power Plant in Sikeston, Missouri, last week.

The municipally managed plant uses coal to generate power for Sikeston and five other cities. It employs about 100 people.

Environmental groups such as the Sierra Club believe the plan will protect low-income neighborhoods, older residents and others from pollution, and it could bring jobs to the state, the Associated Press reported.

Legal challenges likely are coming for the new plan, which Smith said he will support.

Smith said he is disappointed the president is "signaling we will give up on using coal," because there is available "clean coal technology."

"For us to be successful with our energy policy, in my opinion, we're going to have to support an all-of-the-above energy approach that reinforces common sense," Smith said. "Hydro, wind, solar, coal, natural gas ... nothing needs to be off the table."

Old Town Cape racks up awards

Downtown revitalization organization Old Town Cape brought home four major awards from the recent 2015 Missouri Main Street Conference in Kansas City, according to a news release.

At the conference, the organization accepted an Adaptive Reuse award on behalf of Janus Development Group; a Business Excellence award on behalf of Thomas R. Higgins of TRH Accounting; a Stick Out Your Neck award on behalf of James D. Maurer; and the Great American Main Street cup for winning the Great American Main Street Award.

Among the attendees from Old Town Cape were executive director Marla Mills; Dr. Steven Hoffman, board of directors president of Missouri Main Street Connection and an Old Town Cape board member; Christa Zickfield, project manager; William Zickfield, volunteer; and Kevin Taylor, the organization's development and resource coordinator.

Company creates auto buying service

First Auto Credit in Jackson recently began a new service for businesses and people who want to buy a specific vehicle and save time.

Curb Service, according to business co-owner Ken Seabaugh, "can come to you at the office, at home or a casual meeting over lunch" and "is tailored to the buyer and focuses specifically on the customer's needs."

The service moves at the customer's pace, he said in a news release, and offers "complete upfront disclosure of details, terms and price," with financing and nationwide delivery.

The service was developed for people who do not want or do not have the time to go out to the lots or online to find the perfect vehicle, First Auto Credit co-owner David Kinder said in the news release.

Realtors board grant helps housing study

The Cape Girardeau County Board of Realtors recently was awarded a $5,000 grant from the National Association of Realtors' Housing Opportunity Program to help create and expand affordable housing opportunities, according to a news release from the board.

The grant partially pays for a housing needs survey by the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission for the city of Perryville, Missouri.

The grant will help raise awareness about the need for more housing opportunities in the community and identify and promote solutions that address affordable housing, said Dawn Seabaugh, the board's association executive.

The national association's program awards grants 10 times a year.

Sunset Towers businesses expand

Two businesses in the Sunset Towers office development at 1020 N. Kingshighway recently increased office space.

Carnes Financial Group, an investment, financial planning and insurance firm, and Guardian Land Title, a real-estate title service, expanded office space when adjoining office suites became available, according to a news release from Tom Kelsey, a commercial broker with Lorimont Place who handled the recent lease transactions.

Sunset Towers, a 26,000-square-foot multi-tenant office and retail development, is owned and managed by Rhodes Real Estate Partners.

Pharmacy staff attends national conference

Broadway Prescription Shop's pharmacist and owner Kevin Wood, owner Lee Schlitt and marketing director Stephanie Rogers attended ThoughtSpot 2015, an annual conference and trade show in Las Vegas.

The four-day conference for independent pharmacists included resources to drive positive health outcomes, improve profitability and network with other community pharmacy owners, according to a news release.

eragan@semissourian.com

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