By John Hickey, Chapter Director
The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from US power plants dropped by 10% between 2010 and 2012. During that same time frame, Missouri’s GHG emissions went down as well, but only by 6%.
According to analysts, about 75% of that national reduction in GHG emissions is due to increased energy efficiency. Missouri Sierra Club members are demanding that our utilities invest in ambitious energy efficiency programs to match the national progress.
In our last newsletter, you read about how Sierrans, led by Jim Evans, Harry Alper, William Frye, Catherine Hart, Gaye and William Pate and Hugh and Ramona Shield, put a resolution to support energy efficiency in front of Empire shareholders at their April annual meeting in Joplin. The strong vote of support for this resolution gave a signal to Empire executives that it was time to get serious about energy efficiency. In October, Empire filed a plan with the Public Service Commission (PSC) to do just what we were asking for – a plan to aggressively pursue energy efficiency in southwest Missouri!
Similarly, in Kansas City, the organizing work of Sierra Club members is paying off. In May, activists including Anne McGregor, David Mitchell and Carol Habig delivered over one thousand petition signatures to the PSC office in downtown Kansas City, asking the PSC to convince Kansas City Power and Light (KCPL) to initiate a substantial energy efficiency plan. Then, just a few weeks ago, KCPL filed paperwork with the PSC announcing that it will submit an expanded energy efficiency proposal in December!
A final bit of good news here – Ameren’s $150 million energy efficiency program is in full swing. Visit www.actonenergy.com if you are an Ameren customer interested in rebates for energy efficiency projects at your home or business.