HCS SCS SB 54 -- ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS

SPONSOR:  Koster (Emery)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Energy and Environment by a vote of 12 to 0.

This substitute changes the laws regarding renewable energy and
environmental regulations.  In its main provisions, the
substitute:

(1)  Establishes the Green Power Initiative which requires
electric companies to make a good faith effort to ensure that 4%
of total retail electric sales come from renewable energy
technologies by 2012, 8% by 2015, and 11% by 2020.  Renewable
energy technologies include wind, water, solar power, animal
wastes, and other technologies approved by the Department of
Natural Resources;

(2)  Allows the Missouri Public Service Commission to develop
standards for good faith compliance by considering a variety of
factors such as compliance costs and technological feasibility;

(3)  Allows current renewable energy produced from sources in
operation prior to August 28, 2007, to count towards the Green
Power Initiative targets;

(4)  Establishes reporting requirements for electric companies
until 2022 and requires the commission to report to the General
Assembly every two years.  The Director of the Department of
Economic Development will report every two years on the economic
impact of the substitute, and the Director of the Department of
Natural Resources will report on the environmental impact every
two years;

(5)  Requires the Missouri Air Conservation Commission to
establish pollutant fees for a three-year-period unless it is
necessary to make an annual adjustment by rule;

(6)  Renames the Missouri Ethanol and Other Renewable Fuel
Sources Commission to the Missouri Alternative Fuels Commission,
increases its membership from seven to nine, and allows the
Governor to appoint five members instead of three.  The
commission's responsibilities are expanded to include different
renewable energy sources, and new duties are specified in the
substitute;

(7)  Requires the Commissioner of the Office of Administration to
ensure that 70% of all new state vehicles are flexible fuel
vehicles that can use E85; and

(8)  Allows yard waste to be disposed of in landfills that are
certified as legitimate bioreactors by the Department of Natural
Resources.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of $5,000 in
FY 2008, $5,150 in FY 2009, and $5,304 in FY 2010.  Estimated
Income on Other State Funds of $0 in FY 2008, $20,678 in FY 2009,
$20,678 in FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill implements feasible
renewable energy targets that will benefit Missouri by
encouraging economic growth and reducing pollution.  The
agricultural industry will benefit from corn and livestock
demand.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Koster; Missouri Energy
Development Association; Department of Agriculture; and Midwest
Alliance for Renewable Energy.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say that it is a good
first step, but mandatory targets might be more effective.
Member utilities currently make use of renewable energy whenever
it is economically feasible to do so, and some forms of solar
power are consistent during peak use hours.

Testifying on the bill were Sierra Club; Missouri Association of
Municipal Utilities; and P. J. Wilson, Heartland Renewable Energy
Society.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:21 am