The Alliance worked hard this year to represent the interests of the growing alternative energy community in the Missouri General Assembly. To say the 2008 session was a "success" sounds like an understatement.
The legislature passed a significant energy and environment bill (CCS HCS SCS SB 1181, 1100, 1262 & 1263). This bill enacts numerous provisions to help Missourians save energy, save money, and preserve the environment:
- Requires certain government funds to be used for energy projects
- Requires minimum efficiency standards for state buildings.
- Allows low-interest loans for certain alternative energy operations, including solar, wind, hydroelectric, and qualified biomass
- Authorizes an income tax deduction for home energy audits
- Establishes the Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday for certain Energy Star certified appliances
- Sets in motion a procedure to secure federal energy independence grants
- Requires the Missouri Energy Task Force to issue an annual report
- Requires the Energy Center of the Department of Natural Resources to provide advice to state agencies, local governments, and individuals on energy conservation
- Allows a unified permit schedule process for applicants requiring multiple permits for a similar project -- a big help for those major alternative energy projects
- Establishes professorships in energy efficiency at public state universities
- Caps electric rate increases caused by renewable energy mandates at 1% per year
- Creates minimum energy standards for certain appliances and goods sold in Missouri
- Requires the establishment of annual guidelines for "green cleaning programs"
MARE was also successful in amending CCS HCS#2 SS SCS SB 718 (a major economic development bill) to include the following within the highly successful Quality Jobs Initiative:
- A company that leases or owns facilities that produce electricity derived from qualified renewable energy sources or which produce fuel for the generation of electricity from qualified renewable energy sources.
This measure will spur the development of renewable energy projects in Missouri.
The General Assembly also passed CCS#2 HCS SCS SB 720. This bill increases Utilicare assistance for heating and cooling expenses, targets Utilicare funds for important weatherization efforts, and sets up a sweeping program for the recycling of old computers and other electronic equipment.
You can learn more about these important initiatives by following these links:
The Alliance is represented before the Missouri General Assembly by its officers, invited members and the staff of Madsen & Wright.