Prop C
Missouri Legislators Attempt to Gut Prop C
July 1, 2010
Jefferson City, MO -- The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) voted yesterday to remove a key job-creating provision from Proposition C, the Missouri Renewable Electricity Standard.
Prop C was approved by voters in 2008 with 66% of the vote. It requires investor-owned electric utilities to get at least 15 percent of their energy from local, renewable energy resources such as solar panels and wind turbines by 2021. It made Missouri the 27th state to have such a law.
Over the last 19 months, the Public Service Commission (PSC) has heard input from hundreds of stakeholders on how Prop C should be implemented. On June 2, 2010, the PSC approved a set of rules that were favorable to the development of renewable energy within Missouri.
But yesterday, a group of 10 legislators called the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) stepped outside their legal authority and removed the provision of Prop C that requires that the renewable energy to actually come from within, or near, the state of Missouri.
JCAR was created as a check and balance on laws created by the legislature, but because this law was passed by Missouri voters, JCAR's authority to hear the rule at all is questionable. It is unclear whether the Public Service Commission will implement the JCAR suggestions into their rule or not.
"JCAR's revision of the rule could potentially allow utilities to buy renewable energy credits from anywhere in the world to meet the renewable energy goals of Prop C," says Jason Hughes of Renew Missouri. "Millions of Missourians voted for Prop C because of its promise jumpstart in-state development of renewable energy, and it would put Missourians to work. I am frustrated by their actions at a time when Missouri needs new jobs and new industry the most."
"Missourians put Prop C on the ballot because the General Assembly had failed to pass a renewable electricity standard for eight straight years. Even after it passed overwhelmingly, Missouri legislators are again undercutting our chance to catch up with the rest of the country on renewable energy," said Erin Noble of the Missouri Coalition for the Environment. "If the JCAR ruling stands, we will continue to lose the race to transition to a clean energy economy costing the state jobs and in-state investment."
A 2008 Economic Impact Study by the University of Missouri-St. Louis estimated that Prop C will create 9,591 jobs and generate $2.86 billion in economic activity for Missouri by 2010.
Prop C was approved by voters in 2008 with 66% of the vote. It requires investor-owned electric utilities to get at least 15 percent of their energy from local, renewable energy resources such as solar panels and wind turbines by 2021. It made Missouri the 27th state to have such a law.
Over the last 19 months, the Public Service Commission (PSC) has heard input from hundreds of stakeholders on how Prop C should be implemented. On June 2, 2010, the PSC approved a set of rules that were favorable to the development of renewable energy within Missouri.
But yesterday, a group of 10 legislators called the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) stepped outside their legal authority and removed the provision of Prop C that requires that the renewable energy to actually come from within, or near, the state of Missouri.
JCAR was created as a check and balance on laws created by the legislature, but because this law was passed by Missouri voters, JCAR's authority to hear the rule at all is questionable. It is unclear whether the Public Service Commission will implement the JCAR suggestions into their rule or not.
"JCAR's revision of the rule could potentially allow utilities to buy renewable energy credits from anywhere in the world to meet the renewable energy goals of Prop C," says Jason Hughes of Renew Missouri. "Millions of Missourians voted for Prop C because of its promise jumpstart in-state development of renewable energy, and it would put Missourians to work. I am frustrated by their actions at a time when Missouri needs new jobs and new industry the most."
"Missourians put Prop C on the ballot because the General Assembly had failed to pass a renewable electricity standard for eight straight years. Even after it passed overwhelmingly, Missouri legislators are again undercutting our chance to catch up with the rest of the country on renewable energy," said Erin Noble of the Missouri Coalition for the Environment. "If the JCAR ruling stands, we will continue to lose the race to transition to a clean energy economy costing the state jobs and in-state investment."
A 2008 Economic Impact Study by the University of Missouri-St. Louis estimated that Prop C will create 9,591 jobs and generate $2.86 billion in economic activity for Missouri by 2010.
Explanation of Prop C Language
Prop C Electric Rates Analysis: Summary | Full Report
Prop C Economic Impact Study Summary | Full Report
Prop C Electric Rates Analysis: Summary | Full Report
Prop C Economic Impact Study Summary | Full Report
In 2007 and 2008, Renew Missouri spearheaded the Missouri Clean Energy initiative via the statewide ballot process. The initiative, which was called Proposition C, passed with 66% of the vote makes Missouri the 27th state to have a renewable electricity standard (RES), and only the 3rd to pass it by ballot initiative.
- Prop C requires investor-owned utilities to get 15% of their electricity from clean energy sources by 2021, 2% of which must come from solar.
- Through 2030, Prop C is expected a carbon reduction equivalent to permanently removing 2 million cars from the road by 2021.
- Prop C includes a solar rebate program that will make it cheaper for most Missourians to install a solar system on their home or business.
- Over the next 20 years, Prop C is predicted to save Missourians $331 million on their electric bills and is expected to stimulate in-state generation of renewable energy sources resulting in thousands of new “green-collar” jobs.