by Wallace McMullen, Energy Subcommittee Chair
Missouri Clean Energy Coalition
A group of environmental activists and renewable energy supporters have been meeting regularly during the last six months to pursue more use of renewable energy in Missouri, and to join forces against possibly damaging actions by the proponents of fossil fuel generated electricity. The Sierra Club, the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, the League of Women Voters, Heartland Renewable Energy Society, and the Mid-Missouri Green Party have been consistent participants. A representative from Bridging the Gap has joined the group, and representatives from Citizens Energy/Labor Coalition, MOFARES, the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, AARP, and MOPIRG have participated or attended meetings as well.
The group representatives discussed what their common interest were, and agreed on the following statement of principles:
We believe that Missouri’s future energy needs should be met using safe, clean, renewable sources, that energy efficiency should be promoted, and that a well-regulated electric power industry will best protect Missouri citizens. These strategies promote healthier living conditions, are economically and environmentally wise, offer greater financial returns for our state, and help to preserve our natural resources.
To date the coalition has shared information and coordinated some activities around renewable energy legislation in the last session of the Missouri legislature.
See: The Struggle for Renewable Energy
We are planning to partner with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on presenting a renewable energy conference in September. More interested participants are always welcome. Contact Wallace McMullen in Mid-Missouri, (573-636-6067, mcmulw@homemail.com), Jill Miller in St. Louis, (314-645-2032, jill.miller@sierraclub.org), or Ron McLinden in Kansas City (816-931-0498, ron.mclinden@kcmo.org).
Big New Powerline from AmerenUE
AmerenUE, the biggest electric utility in the state, is planning to build a new powerline south from the Calloway nuclear plant through Osage and Maries counties. It intends to use its power of eminent domain to acquire the land in the powerline corridor. As demand for electricity has not grown much in that part of its service area, we speculate that AmerenUE is considering selling power out-of-state.
Affected residents near Linn have told the Sierra Club that AmerenUE is not only planning to acquire farmland for the powerline, but in some cases intends to go right through occupied homes.