By Alex Wiggins
Capital News Service
Richmond, Va. — For the average person, the sky is no longer the limit, but you just might have to be dead first.
Delegate Terry Kilgore (R-Gate City) is proposing legislation to provide tax breaks to Virginia residents who send their cremated remains into outer space.
Under House Bill 19, Virginians would get an income tax deduction if they entered a prepaid contract with a commercial space flight entity “to place the taxpayer’s human cremated remains into earth or lunar orbit from a spaceport facility operated by the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority.”
The tax break would be in effect from 2013 through 2020. Eligible taxpayers could deduct from their taxable income up to $2,500 in any one year and up to $8,000 total.
While the measure may seem a bit out of this world, it has a down-to-earth purpose: economic development.
The Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority operates the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, or MARS, on Wallops Island on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Proponents say incentives like tax breaks for “space burials” will help launch the fledgling industry.
It’s an idea both Republicans and Democrats can agree on.
The chief patron of HB 19 is Kilgore, who represents House District 1, which includes Lee and Scott counties, the city of Norton and part of Wise County in southwest Virginia.
The bill’s co-sponsor is Delegate Lynwood Lewis, a Democrat who represents House District 100, which includes the Eastern Shore and parts of Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
HB 19 is awaiting action by a subcommittee of the House Finance Committee.
Kilgore and Lewis hope the measure will boost interest in space exploration since NASA’s space shuttle program ended in July. They also hope it will fuel business at the spaceport on Wallops Island.
The spaceport is gearing up for that business.
“What I can tell you is, we’re very busy on our end getting our new launch pad complete. I am aware of the market for space burial, and I certainly think it’s a good idea,” said Rick Baldwin, spaceport manager at MARS.
Some companies also think space burials are a good idea.
Celestis Inc., based in Houston, began offering “memorial spaceflights” to the public in 1997. For $995, the company will launch a canister of remains into space and have it return to Earth. For $2,995, the remains can orbit Earth. Moon orbit is available for $9,995.
In 2014, Celestis will begin sending remains into “deep space.” The price: $12,500.
Recent Stories
Prince William Times: Licensed wildlife rehabber Olivia LoBalbo can’t wait until the wild animals she treats are well enough to scurry off or fly away into the forest on their own. But while they’re in her care, they can now be safely transported in a fully equipped wildlife rescue van, dubbed “The PAW Express,” courtesy of the Prince William SPCA.
LoBalbo, 37, is a former veterinarian tech and the founder of AERO, which stands for Animal Education and Rescue Organization. For the last 10 years, she and her nonprofit have taken in thousands of injured, sick or orphaned wild animals that wouldn’t survive without human intervention. She runs the licensed wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility out of her Gainesville home.
Olivia LoBalbo’s Gainesville home is a refuge for more than 1,000 hurt, orphaned wild animals a year
Insidenova.com: County staff and leading park engineers outlined the design plan for the 308-acre Doves Landing Regional Park and its adjacent Sinclair mill site during a community meeting last week.
About 35 in-person residents, plus a handful of others online, turned out Jan. 8 at the Pat White Center at Ben Lomond near Manassas for a thorough, two-hour project update meeting. Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega also tuned in virtually.
During the event, Patti Pakkala, planning manager with the Prince William County Department of Parks and Recreation, Ed Umbrell, senior project manager at Dewberry Engineers, and several of their colleagues led a presentation and Q&A, laying the foundation for the ongoing development of Doves Landing.
FXBG Advance: The public was first made aware of the possibility of data centers in Celebrate VA when Mayor Devine added the topic to the July 9, 2024 Council agenda, giving the public no prior notice that the topic was to be discussed. Well before that announcement, council members had toured data centers in February, two at a time, to avoid public notice.
Also, prior to the July 9th meeting the City Manager initiated discussion with a developer to provide land for data centers.
In September the City Council supported the expenditure of $200,000 to study the infrastructure needs to provide power for data centers in Celebrate VA. A cost that should not be the responsibility of the city but by either Dominion Power or the developer. When questioned about this City Manager Tim Baroody confirmed it was not the city’s responsibility but explained that it was being done at the direction of the City Council.
Looking for a hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology? Don’t miss the 3D Printing Workshop at the Manassas Park City Library on January 16th at 5:30 p.m. Open to teens and adults ages 12 and up, this free workshop will teach the basics of Tinkercad and give participants the opportunity to ask questions about 3D printing. Explore the possibilities and take the first step into the exciting world of 3D printing!
Do you have an event you’d like to share with the community? Submitting your event is FREE and easy! Simply fill out this form with your event details. It’s a great way to spread the word and engage with local residents. Don’t wait—get your event on the calendar today!
Start 2024 on the right foot by prioritizing your mental health and well-being. At Peaceful Mind Solutions, we understand how challenging life can be—whether it’s managing stress from work, family dynamics, or navigating the complexities of the world around us. Our team is here to help you create balance and find the peace you deserve.
We’re offering a free 15-minute consultation to help you explore how therapy can work for you. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, looking for support, or just want to talk things through, this is the perfect opportunity to take that first step toward a healthier, happier you.
Scheduling is simple and convenient. Choose the option that works best for you:
Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra, this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
Featuring:
