The KC event was held at Westport Flea Market on Thursday. We'd like to thank all our attendees for their participation, along with our co-sponsors Cromwell Solar and Brightergy.

Rep. Jason Holsman hosted much of the party with a discussion of the past legislative session, what went wrong, and what went right. He was even kind enough to skip a tee ball game to continue his discussion of Missouri renewable energy. Holsman sponsored HB 613 which in the last minutes of session failed to go to a vote.

The topics went from the technicalities of putting new renewable energy on line and taking fossil fuel power plants off line to the possible need for co-ops and municipalities to commit to the same rules.

One memorable line was, "Solar panels are the new victory gardens." Because supporting clean energy means you're decreasing our dependence on foreign energy. Renewable energy is the smart choice for Americans, utilities may just need some incentive to see that way.

The Recap and Reactivate Party tour continued with great success at Culpepper’s in St. Louis. With over 30 people in attendance, the crowd brought up a lot of good ideas for changing renewable energy policy in Missouri.
Our special guests, Rep. Zachary Wyatt (R-2nd) and Sen. Joan Bray (D-24th) made appearances and showed their support for renewables. Rep. Wyatt expressed a positive outlook as we continue to build up coalitions of renewable energy supporters.

PJ Wilson and Josh Jones of Renew Missouri explained the situation with the Renewable Energy Act HB 613 – how it failed to go to a vote at the end of session. Rep. Wyatt added that it was essentially a jobs bill, yet it still faced strong opposition from other interests like Ameren.

Renewable energies have been proven to be the right choice for Missouri by facts and figures. We just need to find the right messaging to bring this reality to our state’s decision makers. That will be a strong focus as the possibility of a new ballot initiative approaches.

Thanks so much to StraightUp Solar for co-sponsoring and Morgan Street Brewery for providing gifts to the attendees.

Thanks to all who attended our Recap and Reactivate Party on Thursday, June 9th, in Springfield.  It was great to share in food, drink, and conversation with so many new and familiar faces.

We kicked off the night with a recap of the 2011 Legislative session and energy efficiency news and updates.  State Representative Zachary Wyatt (R – 2nd), one of Missouri’s most ardent renewable energy supporters, was in attendance and provided some insights into what happened and ultimately what didn’t happen in Jefferson City around energy policy this year.

Former Lieutenant Governor Joe Maxwell, legal counsel for the Missouri Solar Energy Industries Association, spoke on the importance of renewable energy to the state and the importance of protecting the will of the voters. Maxwell explained a new ballot initiative project he’s supporting that would require a 75% majority in both the House and Senate to overturn or change a law passed by the voters.  This initiative would help protect future attempts to pass a renewable electricity standard or energy efficiency standard via the ballot. 

Brian Hamburg, a Springfield City Utilities Board member, discussed a new on-bill financing program that he and the rest of the CU Board and senior management are currently developing.  He stressed the importance of building support for the program so that it would receive sufficient funding to have a large impact on City Utilities’ demand side management efforts.   Brian also explained there are four seats opening up on the City Utilities Board in December and he encouraged attendees to apply for the positions to help his efforts to strengthen the utilities’ renewable energy and energy efficiency programs.

A very special thanks to Power Source Solar for co-sponsoring the event.  And thanks to Askinosie Chocolate for donating a chocolate gift box to raffle and to The Coffee Ethic for providing a free coffee drink to all attendees. 

Renew Missouri's first Recap and Reactivate session June 2nd attracted a full house at Shiloh's in Columbia, Missouri with 35 people present. The first in a series of Thursday night meetings featured the Renew Missouri team outlining how the General Assembly gutted the clean energy law that citizens passed in 2008 and outlining possible next steps. Plan to attend the remaining sessions and help us get Renewable Energy back on track Thursdays in June at a town near you.

Take a look at the presentation from Columbia's party by clicking the slideshow image to the right.

The major next step, on which we are currently conducting a feasibility study, is a ballot initiative to rectify and improve the Missouri Renewable Energy Standard. It would potentially close the geographic sourcing provision hole and raise the state's renewable energy targets.

We need a sustainable movement that will get Missourians fired up about clean energy and the jobs and public health benefits that come along with it. We can't let Missourians' wants and wishes be squashed by the General Assembly after they showed such solid support in the voting booths for Prop C.

Almost every one of the attendees last night were ready to gather petitions for a future ballot initiative. If you share that feeling, please join our volunteer list!