How many times must Missouri voters tell their government that
they want clean, local energy and its economic benefits? They
should try 21 times. That’s how much more in-state economic
benefit can be gained from developing local energy rather than
trying to keep rates low with energy imports. In 2008, voters
approved – with 66% percent of the vote – a referendum
establishing a 15% renewable energy standard. The law also
required utilities to get the renewable energy within Missouri
or surrounding states. In January, however, the state
legislature stripped that part of the law, allowing Missouri
utilities to import renewable energy from anywhere, even if that
electricity never physically reaches Missouri ratepayers.
Renewable energy advocates even tried to reach a compromise with
utility lobbyists, reducing the mandate by half but keeping the
geographic restriction. If the measure had passed, it would have
guaranteed Missouri “a coal-sized plant of renewable energy over
the next decade,” [Rep.] Holsman said. “