Missouri Renewable Energy Initiative (2012)

Not on Ballot
This measure was not put on an election ballot

The Missouri Renewable Energy Initiative did not appear on the November 2012 ballot in the state of Missouri as either an initiated constitutional amendment or initiated state statute.

In late July 2011 P.J. Wilson, the director of Renew Missouri, announced that supporters of the renewable energy law were completing a feasibility study for a possible 2012 statewide ballot measure. A proposal was filed with the Missouri Secretary of State in October 2011 but was later withdrawn "because of technical problems in how it was drafted."

A second proposal was submitted in early December 2011. The proposal, according to news reports, would maintain the same renewable energy targets as the initial proposal but would also give the state Office of Public Counsel the authority to monitor enforcement of the new standards. The proposed measure was approved for petition circulation on January 25, 2012.

Since its approval in 2008, Proposition C faced several road blocks and challenges. Among the issues is "whether electricity from renewable energy sources needs to be produced or sold in Missouri and the specifics of how to apply the 1 percent cap in rates."

According to reports, although Missouri's electric utilities - including Ameren Missouri, Empire District Electric Co, Kansas City Power & Light and KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations - support renewables, they are opposed to the proposed measure. Trey Davis, Missouri Energy Development Association (MEDA) executive director, said that they believe the proposal requires more work and that as written, it will harm ratepayers to expand renewable requirements because of the current status of the economy and a pullback of federal funds to support renewables.

In response to the proposal, Missouri Energy Development Association (MEDA) announced that the organization would be proposing renewable energy legislation during the next session of the Missouri Legislature.

Text of measure

The ballot title for the petition relating to initiative reform reads:

Shall Missouri law be amended to:

• increase incrementally the total amount of renewable energy produced from sources such as wind turbines, solar, and hydropower that investor-owned electric utilities are required to purchase, generate, or otherwise acquire to at least 25% of their total retail sales by 2026, and limit rate increases to retail customers for compliance with this standard;
• require that such renewable energy be either procured by an electric utility for Missouri retail customers or generated by such customers; and
• provide for solar energy incentives for retail customers and additional duties for the Office of Public Counsel?

Direct costs or savings to state and local governmental entities is minimal. However, if the proposal results in increased electric utility retail rates, millions of dollars in higher utility costs may occur for governmental entities. Higher utility costs may negatively impact the state's economy including state and local governmental revenues.

Path to the ballot

See also: Missouri signature requirements

To qualify for the ballot, the initiative required signatures from registered voters equal to 5% of the total votes cast in the 2008 governor's election from six of the state's nine congressional districts. Signatures on behalf of all initiative petitions for the 2012 ballot were due to the secretary of state’s office by no later than 5 p.m. on May 6, 2012.

See also

Suggest a link

• 2012 ballot measures
• Missouri 2012 ballot measures

Related measure

a Missouri Proposition C, Clean Energy Initiative (2008)

Articles

• Missouri's Robin Carnahan asked to refrain from writing proposed renewable energy initiative language (Updated)
• Missouri's renewable energy debate may re-appear on the ballot in 2012

External links

• Statutory Amendment to RSMo Chapter 393, Relating to Renewable Energy 2012-105

Additional reading

• St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "Groups lock horns over Missouri's green energy future," January 8, 2012
• St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "Advocates seek new vote on state clean energy mandates," October 7, 2011