Petitions are now circulating to get a Renewable Energy Standard on the Missouri ballot in November. Over 100,000 signatures must be turned in by May 4th. To learn more, visit www.renewmo.org. Help is needed — financial contributions and volunteers to collect signatures.
The Renewable Energy Standard (RES) would require Missouri’s investor-owned utilities (AmerenUE, KCPL, Aquila and Empire District Electric) to provide electricity from renewable sources like wind, solar, small hydro and biomass. The amount of clean power required would increase by steps, going up to 15% in 2020. Similar standards, sometimes called renewable portfolio standards, already exist in 24 states. Experience has been that they have little discernible impact on customers’ bills, but just in case, Renew Missouri built in a guarantee that this standard will not increase rates by more than 1%.
Missouri would become the third state to enact an RES by ballot initiative, after Colorado and Washington. The push for an initiative grew out of the 2006 Environmental Summit hosted by Missouri Votes Conservation. The Sierra Club and many other environmental organizations were frustrated by the legislature’s failure to act. In 2007 the General Assembly did pass what we derisively refer to as “Renewable Energy Suggestions,” asking the utilities to make a “good faith effort” to reach 11%. We need and deserve better than that.
Renew Missouri recently incorporated to manage the petition drive.