Updates - Archives
July 13, 2009
Governor Nixon made stops in St. Joseph and Kansas City to sign SB 376, The Energy Efficiency Investment Act. Nixon visited Altec Industries and the University of Missouri- Kansas City , both of which have made significant energy efficiency investments and partnered with KCP&L to bring down the costs of those upgrades. Altec replaced old high-pressure sodium light fixtures with more efficient fixtures. Once all replacements are completed, the companies estimate a savings of more than 800,000 kwH of electricity. UMKC worked with Burns & McDonnell to design and build energy-saving features throughout the campus. The Governor toured the new water chiller plant which is a part of a campus wide initiate to save 11.8 million kWh (22.8% electricity reduction) and reduce emissions by 30%.
Utilities now have an incentive to continue partnering with customers to reduce electricity usage. With this new law, every dollar invested in energy efficiency will be treated like a dollar invested in a power plant or distribution line. Governor Nixon called the bill an, "Important, historic step for the state of Missouri."
Not only is energy efficiency good for the environment, it also creates jobs and economic activity. Bill sponsor Senator Brad Lager, R-Savannah, referred to energy efficiency as, "Something we can do today that has an immediate impact." The bill will go into effect on August 28th.
May 14, 2009
The 2009 Energy Efficiency Investment Act was truly agreed and finally passed by the House today, sending it to the Governor! The House passed the Senate version of the bill, adopting the language carefully crafted by a diverse coalition of business groups, environmental interests and consumer advocates and focuses only on energy efficiency.
A special thanks to Senator Brad Lager (R-Savannah) for sponsoring the bill and Representative Will Kraus (R-Raytown) for supporting the bill through the House.
Thanks to everyone for their interest and hard work on this bill. This will allow our region and state to more aggressively embrace energy efficiency.
In addition to all of our coalition members, the following organizations testified in support of the bill in Jefferson City: KCP&L, Mid America Regional Council, Burns & McDonnell, Sierra Club, Kansas City Area Development Council, Missouri Conservation and Environmental Alliance, Missouri Energy Development Association, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Energy Efficiency First Coalition, Missourians for Balanced Energy, Home Builders of Greater Kansas City, Gale Homes, Missouri Alliance for Renewable Energy, City of Kansas City, Ford Motor Company, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Bridging the Gap, Missouri Association for Social Welfare, Anheuser-Busch, AARP, Office of Public Counsel (OPC).
May 8, 2009
Yesterday, the House Rules committee passed SB 376 out of committee to allow the bill to head to the House floor for debate. With only one week left, it's important that House members recognize the importance of energy efficiency for consumers, our environment and our State.
Please contact any legislators you may have relationships with and who may be able to help this initiative head to the Governor's desk for final approval. Here is a link to the entire Missouri House of Representatives: http://www.house.mo.gov/member.aspx.
April 28, 2009
SB 376, the Missouri Energy Efficiency Investment Act, took another step forward today with passage out of the House Energy and Environment Committee by a 10 to 1 vote. The committee heard the bill and debated it during the same hearing.
The bill again garnered significant support from diverse interests, including: MARC, Burns & McDonnell, KCP&L, Bridging the Gap, the Office of Public Counsel, Sierra Club, Missouri Coalition for the Environment, Ford Motor Company, Anheuser-Busch, City of Kansas City, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, KCADC, Gale Homes and the KC HBA, AARP, Missouri DNR, Missouri Association for Social Welfare, Midwest Alliance for Renewable Energy and Senator Brad Lager (the bill's sponsor).
Several amendments were added to the bill, with only one dealing with energy efficiency. Those include:
- An amendment to allow the PSC to decide which industrial customers may opt-out of the bill;
- The addition of HB 1016, allowing electric corporations to file petitions with the Missouri Public Service Commission for rate adjustments and infrastructure system replacement surcharges;
- The addition of HB 654, changing the process for collection of gas company bad debt;
- An amendment concerning Utilicare funding and providing additional flexibility to utility assistance agencies.
It is likely the Senate may have questions about several of the provisions added in committee. The next step will be debate and action on the House floor, which may occur next week. Afterwards, the bill will likely go to a conference committee to reconcile changes in the bill between the Senate and House versions. We will notify you prior to debate on the floor so that you may contact your legislators in support of energy efficiency.
April 21, 2009
Last week the Senate successfully passed SB 376 by a vote of 31-2. This is a great success for everyone involved with the effort and we hope to continue making progress during the final weeks of legislative session. The bill now heads to the House Energy and Environment committee where it will receive a hearing Tuesday, April 28, and may be voted out of committee the same day. The bill continues to receive wide support from environmental groups, consumer advocates and businesses provides an opportunity for the State and our legislators to make a positive change to our current energy policy.
Please express your support to any legislator who may be interested in helping move this initiative forward. Here is a link to the House Energy & Environment committee: http://house.mo.gov/content.aspx?info=/bills091/commit/com609.htm
April 2, 2009
On Tuesday both the House Utilities Committee and Senate Commerce Committee passed out an updated version of energy efficiency legislation. The House committee passed the committee substitute for HB 882 by a vote of 12 to 1. The Senate committee passed the committee substitute for SB 376 by a vote of 8 to 1. Both of the committee substitutes are the same and reflect compromise positions between environmental groups, utilities and consumer advocates.
Major changes in the bill include:
A special thanks goes out to Senator Brad Lager and Representative Will Kraus, and all the committee members, for working to push these bills forward.
March 27, 2009
This week the Senate Commerce Committee heard testimony from several groups who endorsed Senate Bill 376. Supporters talked about role energy efficiency should play in the States future energy policy. Energy efficiency will allow Missouri to maintain low rates and supply energy in a more sustainable way. In addition to being environmentally friendly, energy efficiency is a low cost resource and an immediate economic development driver.
Supporters who testified for the bill include: KCP&L, Missouri Energy Development Association, Missouri Alliance for Renewable Energy, Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Missouri Conservation and Environmental Alliance, Missourians for a Balanced Energy Future, Ford Motor Company, Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Office of Public Counsel. Others who submitted written testimony to the committee include: Mid America Regional Council (MARC), Sierra Club, Gale Homes and the Greater Kansas City Home Builders Association, Burns & McDonnell, Bridging the Gap and the Kansas City Area Development Council. Only one group opposed the bill, asking for additional consumer protections.
It is likely that the House Utilities Committee and Senate Commerce Committee will vote to move the bills (HB 882 and SB 376) out of committee next Tuesday.
March 11, 2009
A number of supporters testified yesterday before the House Utilities Committee in support of House Bill 882, The Missouri Residential and Small Business Energy Efficiency Investment Act. The committee heard why energy efficiency investments are smart for homeowners and businesses, good for the environment, and help the economy.
The only opposition came from two consumer advocates, who support energy efficiency, but have concerns the bill goes too far to encourage investments. Sponsors of the bill committed to working on appropriate protections.
Supporters testifying in person or offering written support include: KCP&L, Burns & McDonnell, Gales Homes and Kansas City Homebuilders Association, City of Kansas City, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Missouri Energy Development Association, Sierra Club, Mid America Regional Council (MARC), Missouri Conservation and Environmental Alliance, and Midwest Alliance for Renewable Energy.
Next week the General Assembly is off for spring break. It's possible the Senate Commerce Committee will hear SB 376 on March 24.
March 6, 2009
The House counterpart to the Missouri Residential and Small Business Energy Efficiency Act, House Bill 882, was introduced in the Missouri House by Representative Will Kraus (R-Raytown). Kansas City area Representatives Brian Yates (R-Lee's Summit), Paul LeVota (D-Independence) Mike Talboy (D-Kansas City) and Jason Holsman (D-Kansas City) are cosponsors of the bill, which is nearly identical to the senate version, SB 376.
The bill has been referred to the House Utilities Committee where it will have a hearing on Tuesday, March 10.
February 19, 2009
Senators Brad Lager (R-Maryville) and Victor Callahan (D-Independence) introduced Senate Bill 376 this week in Jefferson City. The bill, called the Missouri Residential and Small Business Energy Efficiency Act, promotes investment in energy efficiency by allowing utility companies to treat investments in energy efficiency just like they treat investments in a traditional power plant.
Thanks to Senators Lager and Callahan for introducing this important legislation. An update will be sent when the bill is scheduled for a hearing.