The bill being pushed by the Dairy Alliance would make it easier for utilities by posting pollution credits in a clearinghouse that could be bought directly, or arranged through a third party. The entity offering the credit would have to reduce discharges by 1.2 units for every 1 unit by which the credit purchaser exceeds its permitted amount, for a net reduction in pollution.

“You actually get more reduction at a substantially lower price,” Meyer said. “I always supported this. I come from an economics background. This is a cost efficient way to reduce pollution, especially for small entities.”

But he said several details would have to be addressed, particularly the lack of clarity over whether the polluter and the entity offering the credit would be impacting the same water basin. That could lead to a net increase in pollution in one water body while causing an increase in another.

“That needs to be clarified,” he said. “That’s an important point.”

Tressie Kamp, an attorney at Midwest Environmental Advocates, pointed to other concerns. She said some environmental groups are worried that the proposal doesn’t do enough to hold polluters accountable.