Energy group revamps 2008 proposition

Attendees to the Renewable Energy Conference on Truman State's campus discussed a state ballot measure requiring utility companies to gradually shift toward solar, wind and biomass energy.

In 2008, voters passed Proposition C, which requires Missouri energy companies to buy or produce 15 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2021. There were conflicting interpretations of the requirements, but lawmakers interpreted it to mean companies can comply by purchasing energy credits from states other than Missouri.

Now, renewable energy proponents in the state want to pass another statewide ballot measure in 2012 that makes the requirement specific to energy consumed in Missouri, and increases the target to 25 percent renewable energy by 2025.

Missouri lawmakers' decision to allow utility companies to purchase energy credits from states like California violates the intention of the 2008 ballot measure — to get more Missouri power from renewable sources, said P.J. Wilson, conference speaker and Renew Missouri executive director, a non-profit that campaigned to pass the 2008 proposition.

"We're talking about going back to the ballot to make it crystal clear so a third grader could interpret it," he said. "We're talking about the power you pay for on your electric bill — that power."

Wilson said he is filing the 2012 ballot language today or Friday for approval from Secretary of State Robin Carnahan for the November 2012 elections. If approved, the campaign has until May 6 to collect 100,000 signatures to put the new proposition on the ballot.

Wilson said he expects resistance from utility companies if the renewable energy requirements in the proposition threaten shareholder profits.

He said he thinks companies are more likely to be on board if renewable energy can be profitable.

"I don't think that anyone has said that publicly, but there have been various utility groups that have said if this goes on the ballot, you better watch out, we will fight it," Wilson said.  

Utility company Ameren Missouri, whose service area includes Kirksville, buys California energy credits as part of a way to meet the Proposition C regulations, said Warren Wood, Ameren Missouri legislation and regulation vice president.

Buying credits from other states often is the least expensive way to comply with the Proposition C requirements, and Ameren is obligated to keep rates low for its customers, he said.

"Ameren's preference is to build local renewables — period," Woods said.

But solar energy in California is cheaper than in Missouri, he said.

"We certainly don't oppose renewables, but at the same time they are more costly and that is an impact on our customers, so we think that such legislation needs to be reasonable," Ameren Communication Executive Mike Cleary said.

One of the challenges of using renewable energy is how to store energy from wind and solar power, he said.  Those types of energy sources are less reliable than coal or nuclear power plants because they hinge on weather conditions, Cleary said.

An advantage of solar and wind power is that costs are more stable than petroleum-based energy, said Rep. Zachary Wyatt, R-2, who organized the conference and is on the Special Standing Committee about Renewable Energy in the Missouri House.

Wyatt said he supports a new version of the 2008 proposition that clearly stipulates utility companies must meet requirements for power used in Missouri.

"Any time we're paying for a rate increase because of the renewable energy standards that were put forth because of [Proposition] C, that has to be spent within Missouri because that's what the voters wanted," he said. "They didn't want to invest their time and money into California. They wanted to keep Missouri growing."