Missouri Clean Air Initiative meets opposition

Proposition C. an initiative appearing on the ballot for Missouri voters in the Nov. 4 election, is meeting with some late-campaign opposition.

The measure, known as the Missouri Clean Air Initiative, would require the state's four investor-owned utility companies to get 15 percent of their electricity from renewable sources like wind, solar, and biomass by the year 2021

According to the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, voter approval of the measure would make Missouri the 27th state to enact similar rules.

Tony Wyche, a spokesmen for Missourians for Cleaner Cheaper Energy, which is promoting the measure, said, "More importantly, passing Proposition C will help Missouri's economy by creating jobs in clean energy fields while helping our state become more energy independent."

Proposition C has garnered many supporters, including KCP&L, which provides electricity to much of the Nevada area.

But the Americans for Tax Reform announced its opposition to the measure on Oct. 28, saying it's an "ill-conceived plan" they believe it will be a costly venture for the public.

"If Prop C is approved, Show-Me State residents can expect higher utility bills, higher taxes, and a higher cost of living," said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. "Creating a market by forcing people to buy a certain product is simply bad policy. Usage of renewable energy will increase when cost effectiveness becomes competitive with traditional energy sources. Anyone who is serious about promoting viable 'clean' energy sources would look to expand nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is glaringly excluded from Prop. C."

The group also points out that legislation similar to Proposition C has been introduced in the Missouri Legislature in the past.

Supporters are turning up their messages in favor of passage as well.

Last week, a letter to the editor from the Missouri Coalition for the Environment said, "Proposition C will further stimulate our state's economy by adding tax revenue locally as well as statewide. As already evidenced by the wind farms built in Missouri in the past few years, clean energy developments have a direct, positive impact on local school districts. Last September, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote about the success of a local wind farm on in Gentry County. According to the article, 'The 9,000-acre Bluegrass Ridge Farm is slated to pay more than $500,000 in property taxes next year to Gentry County, the largest share of which will go to the King City School District.'

Missourians for Cleaner Cheaper Energy unveiled a new ad that will air in markets across the state of Missouri starting today.

The ad highlights the benefits of passing Proposition C, namely new jobs, new business growth, and cleaner, cheaper energy for the citizens of Missouri.

"The people of Missouri have a unique opportunity to take one step that would help make the state of Missouri more energy independent, create jobs and increase economic investment in our state, and guarantee an increase in the production of cleaner energy from sources like wind and the sun," said Tony Wyche, spokesman for Missourians for Cleaner Cheaper Energy. "That one step is a 'YES' vote on Proposition C next Tuesday."

Proponents say that studies by the Missouri Coalition for the Environment show that during the next 20 years, Missourians could experience a cumulative net savings of $331 million. As an added rate guarantee, Proposition C also includes an ongoing rate cap that provides better protection for consumers than any other state's renewable energy standard.

The report also indicates that by 2021, Proposition C will reduce carbon emissions in Missouri, having the same effect as permanently removing 2 million cars from the road.