Triple E Agenda - Energy

I made it a mark early on as Speaker that we would pursue smart energy policy that will help keep your family’s budget intact and our manufacturers’ doors open.  There are vast opportunities on the horizon, including Small Modular Nuclear Reactor (SMR) technology, in which Missouri is still seeking to participate.  In the meantime, there is much we can still do to promote wise energy choices.  HB 44, sponsored by Rep. Korman, is one such proposal we have already moved to the Senate for their consideration.

HB 44

In 2008, Missouri’s voters approved a constitutional change that required that Missouri’s energy generators source a certain percentage of their power from renewable sources.  Hydropower is one such source of power that our energy companies have utilized for many years.  However, hydropower from already constructed sources was not able to apply towards that new benchmark. 

HB44 will modify the state’s statute so that all hydropower can be fully counted towards the Renewable Energy Standard.  Without this measure in place, Missouri’s investor-owned facilities will have little choice but to dramatically increase costs as they make huge investments in new facilities to meet the standard.  We feel the voters’ intent was to have a true standard which counted all renewables, and we intend to bring Missouri’s statute in line with that intent. 

Energy 1/10/13

Energy policy is often debated in legislatures nationwide and ours is no different. Though we typically identify its impact as to having a direct effect on the cost to us to flip on the light switch at home – energy policy is much more than that. Energy costs are some of the largest for companies who grow, manufacture, deliver, and sell the public its commodities and other goods. Poor energy policy won’t just make your electric bill go up, it will make the cost of your milk, eggs, diapers, cars – you name it – go up.

Here in Missouri, we depend on coal. It produces most of the energy we have and use. While the EPA and democrats in D.C. have been struggling to find ways to make you pay more for anything and everything you buy with their destructive energy policy, your Missouri House has a different agenda.

Over the next several months, we will work towards policies that stand against threats to coal, enhance our ability to be competitive in the Small Modular Nuclear Reactor market (more to come on this), and stand up for your wallet.