 Renewable Energy is quickly evolving from a vague objective to a legislative priority. Many states have implemented sound renewable energy
policies resulting in economic and social benefits. Advantages
of such policies include energy independence, electricity
reliability, local job creation, and fewer negative environmental
and health impacts. In May 2007, upon adoption of the Easy Connection by Missouri's General Assembly, our state made its first steps towards a responsible energy portfoilio.
Catalysing the passage of that act and other important measures, "Renew Missouri" continues to support meaningful legislative action. Renew Missouri is a collaborative effort comprised of the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, Missouri Votes Conservation, and the Heartland Renewable Energy Society. The collaborative strives to promote sound renewable energy policies for Missouri and has identified three main priorities for 2007. With the passage of the Easy Connection Act, Renew Missouri has jumped forward to achieve improvements in two of these three areas.
To learn more about the Easy Connection Act Click Here.
1) Establish True Net Metering (One-for-One Electricity
Measurement)
Current Missouri law involves a cumbersome and ineffective “dual metering” policy. Before installing a small renewable
energy (RE) system such as a solar or wind system in Missouri,
you must first install a second electric meter to measure
electricity that flows back to the grid. If the RE system
produces more energy than is used by the household or business,
the excess energy is sent back to the grid. The current
law allows the utility to “buy” this energy back but only at
about 20% of the retail rate.
A better solution is called “true net metering.” True net metering,
used in 40 states and Washington D.C., operates with
one standard electricity meter that measures electricity flow
in both directions. The meter simply spins backwards when
a renewable electricity system generates more energy than a
home can use at one time. The owner of the renewable energy
system is then credited at a one-to-one rate
for the energy “sold” back to the grid. The Easy connection Act, if signed by the governor, will establish true net metering in the state of Missouri.
2) Establish Simple Interconnection Procedures for
Small Renewable Energy Systems
Currently, the procedures for connecting small renewable
energy systems to the electric grid in Missouri are timeconsuming,
unclear, and costly. As a result, many Missourians
choose not to interconnect or connect illegally to avoid
the hassle.
Instead, Missouri should follow the national trend and establish
simple interconnection procedures to allow Missourians
to connect a small renewable energy system in a quick, safe,
and reliable manner.
The Easy Connection Act meets this requirement by standardizing connection procedures across the state of Missouri.
3) Create an Effective Renewable Electricity Standard
(RES), also called Renewable
Portfolio Standard, mandates that a portion of a state's
electricity production must come from renewable energy
sources such as wind turbines or solar photovoltaics. An
RES acts as a market-based mechanism that promotes competition
among providers to supply renewable energy at the
lowest possible cost. An effective RES is proven to be the
best method of encouraging renewable energy development.
Renew Missouri challenges the state to implement an RES
that will mandate that 20% of our electricity comes from
local renewable sources by the year 2020. Twenty states
already have a RES, many of which are consistent with the
20% by 2020 target.
To learn more about Renew Missouri, to pledge your support
to the collaborative, or to get involved, visit
www.renewmo.org.
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