Thanks to a coalition of community, labor, business, environmental and religious organizations, voters in Missouri will have the opportunity to approve a ballot measure that calls for a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) in the state, when they vote for U.S. president in November.
Volunteers with Missourians for Cleaner Cheaper Energy (MCCE) circulated petition pages, gaining enough signatures to have the Missouri Clean Energy Initiative placed on the November 4, 2008 ballot.
The Initiative would require investor-owned utilities to generate or purchase 15% of their electricity from clean energy sources, such as wind and solar power, landfill gas, biomass, and small hydroelectric projects. Approximately 163,000 signatures were turned in from six U.S. Congressional districts.
"The Clean Energy Initiative will reduce the use of fossil fuel for electricity and encourage growth in Missouri’s renewable energy industries. The potential growth in these industries could lead to significant renewable energy jobs creation and gains in income for Missourians," said Dr. David Laslo of the University of Mossouri-St. Louis Public Policy Research Center.
The Clean Energy Initiative is endorsed by a broad based coalition of groups, including Kansas City Power & Light, United Steelworkers, Restoring Eden-Christians for Environmental Stewardship, and Republicans for Environmental Protection.
"The Clean Energy Initiative would diversify Missouri’s electricity supply by adding a significant amount of renewable energy, and potentially save Missourians $331 million over twenty years," said Martin Cohen, former Illinois Citizens Utility Board Executive Director.
Twenty-six other states have enacted similar renewable electricity standards to increase production of clean energy and promote energy independence.
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A new poll shows that 83% of Michigan voters support the bipartisan energy reform package now before the state Legislature, which would create an RPS in that state and provide for energy efficiency and clean energy incentives.
86% of responders said they would be much more likely to vote for a lawmaker who supported and voted for such a comprehensive plan.
"Michigan citizens are concerned about the cost and availability of energy–that’s clear," says Rich Studley, president and CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Michigan Jobs and Energy Coalition. "Moreover, they want lawmakers to do something about it–now."
The poll of 500 registered Michigan voters was conducted Aug. 22-25 by the Alexandria, Va.-based TargetPoint Consulting. It has a margin of error of +/- 4%.
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