Missouri Clean Energy Initiative

The Clean Energy Initiative requires Missouri investor-owned electric utilities (Ameren, Empire, Aquila, and KCP&L) to get 15% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2021. Renewables are defined as clean sources of energy like wind, solar, landfill gas, biomass, and small hydroelectric projects.

Twenty-six states have passed a similar policy often known as a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES). Instead, Missouri has a voluntary standard that does not hold utilities accountable to use clean energy.

Recognizing the need to secure a clean energy future, volunteers and petitioners gathered 163,000 signatures to put the Clean Energy Initiative on Missouri's November 2008 ballot.

The Clean Energy Initiative Creates Jobs and is Good for the Economy

The Clean Energy Initiative will create manufacturing and construction jobs in Missouri. Investing in new technology and clean energy like solar, wind and biomass will reinvigorate Missouri's economy and create the jobs of today and tomorrow.

The CEO of GE Energy, John Krenicki, Jr., recently stated, "We believe wind and solar energy are likely to be among the largest sources of new manufacturing jobs in the 21st Century."

The Clean Energy Initiative helps Missouri's rural economy, where the wind and biomass resources are strongest. Each wind turbine provides about $5,000 in lease payments per year for 20 years and more to farmers, ranchers, and other landowners. A single utility-scale wind turbine generates over $1.5 million in economic activity.

The Clean Energy Initiative is Good for Public Health and the Environment

Currently, 86% of Missouri's electricity comes from coal. Particulate matter from coal plants are linked to asthma and lung disease. In addition, coal power plants leach mercury, a toxic metal that causes developmental brain defects in children. Woman and children are warned to avoid eating fish from Missouri due to mercury contamination.

Coal fired power plants are also the biggest contributor to climate change. Shifting from a coal-based energy portfolio to clean sources of electricity like wind and solar reduces the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into our air.

The Clean Energy Initiative Protects Consumers from High Energy Costs

The Clean Energy Initiative is not expected to impact consumers' electric utility bills. In fact, the twentysix other states with this policy have not experienced rate increases. Instead, diversifying the power supply by developing America's homegrown renewable energy resources helps shield consumers from spikes in energy prices over time. Just to be sure that consumers will not experience a jump in rates as a result of the policy, the Clean Energy Initiative includes a 1% rate increase cap.

Missourians Support the Clean Energy Initiative

A February poll by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner found that Missouri voters broadly support the development of clean, alternative energy and an initiative that requires investor-owned utilities to generate a percentage of their electricity from clean sources would stand an excellent chance of passing in November.