Gov. Jay Nixon has signed a bill that will keep St. Louisans from passing ballot initiatives restricting public financial incentives for coal companies.

The provision was part of a large local government bill passed during the Missouri Legislature’s regular session. It was pushed by Mayor Francis Slay’s office and specifically outlaws ballot measures in St. Louis that limit tax credits and other incentives for coal companies.

The law sunsets at the end of 2017.

Peabody Energy and Foresight Energy are the two big coal companies based downtown, and the bill was pushed in response to activists who gathered enough signatures to place such a measure on the April ballot.

Critics warned that the initiative was worded too broadly and risked drawing in companies that weren’t in the coal industry.

A lawsuit blocked the initiative before city voters could weigh in, and the activists, who have historically targeted Peabody Energy, are appealing.

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