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Guest Blog: Planning for the future

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:00:00 -0500

The editorial "The nuclear guy" (April 15) misses some important points. Even with recent rate increases, the utility has electric rates 30 percent below the national average. As a regulated utility, we are not talking about the free market. Just as costs can be recovered from ratepayers, any income the company makes is restricted to modest percentage above costs, and blunders on Ameren's part come out of the shareholders' pockets. There are no windfall profits. And to be honest, who are the winners? The unions, pension funds and individual families who have put money into a utility stock that offers modest, low-risk investments.

Planning for the future is necessary and costs money, whether it is solar, wind, nuclear or cleaner coal or any new energy source. For a regulated utility, the public should participate in that investment. In the end, the cost will be lower as less money must be borrowed to build the plant. Not planning for and investing in the future leaves us dependent on coal, which emits the most greenhouse gases, and natural gas, which can gyrate wildly in price.

Why would a utility want to invest in nuclear power (and subject itself to large capital investments, Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations and public debates about the perceived dangers of nuclear) if it wasn't one of the least expensive ways to provide clean, affordable electricity to its customers?

- St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 22

William H. Miller • Columbia, Mo.

Professor Emeritus, Missouri University Research Reactor

Breaking news: Exciting investment opportunity for Missouri announced today

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:00:00 -0500

On Thursday, April 19, Missouri’s energy future took a giant leap forward as investor-owned, cooperative and municipal utilities announced that they are partnering with Westinghouse Electric Company to apply to the Department of Energy’s Small Modular Reactors (SMR) investment fund for up to $452 million. The funding will support engineering, design certification and licensing for SMRs in Missouri.

This historic partnership could make Missouri a world leader in the energy sector economy. Gov. Jay Nixon, Sen. Mike Kehoe, Rep. Jeanie Riddle, Chairman Pollock and the overwhelming majority of members of the General Assembly who support nuclear power and helped make this amazing opportunity a reality, should be applauded for their hard work and commitment to Missouri’s energy and economic future.

Over the last four years, MBEF’s supporters across the state educated the public to show that cleaner, alternative energy sources like nuclear are a path forward for Missouri. Today, we are another step closer to creating jobs, boosting our economy and securing our energy future.

This announcement could make Missouri home to an SMR component manufacturing center, engineering and design center, and training facility for engineers—establishing Missouri as a world leader and exporter in energy technology and manufacturing. In addition to the construction of new SMRs, thousands of Missourians will be put to work because of this project.

An economic impact study about the SMR project is in process and will be made available later this spring.

For more information about SMRs, please visit the below websites.

DOE:

http://energy.gov/articles/obama-administration-announces-450-million-design-and-commercialize-us-small-modular

Westinghouse:

http://www.westinghousenuclear.com/smr/index.htm

or http://westinghousenuclear.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=312

Sincerely,

Irl Scissors

Executive Director
Missourians for a Balanced Energy Future
(314) 368-4330

Learn More This information is provided by the Missourians for a Balanced Energy Future (MBEF), a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization comprised of small and large businesses, labor, farmers, associations and trade groups, and Missouri citizens, who understand that securing Missouri's reliable energy sources for tomorrow means making common sense decisions today.

www.moenergyfuture.org | info@moenergyfuture.org | Follow us on Twitter: @mbef | Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/moenergyfuture

MBEF Featured in Consumer Energy Alliance Newsletter

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:00:00 -0500

Affiliate Spotlight

Missourians for a Balanced Energy Future

Missourians for a Balanced Energy Future (MBEF) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization comprised of small and large businesses, chambers of commerce, labor organizations, farmers associations, trade groups and Missouri citizens who understand that securing Missouri’s affordable, reliable energy sources for tomorrow means making common sense decisions today.

We believe that alternative and clean energy development is a powerful engine that will fuel Missouri’s economy and create thousands of new jobs.

MBEF’s co-chairs are distinguished Missourians from diverse backgrounds, who work to promote the betterment of our state. We also have support from Missouri’s Rural Electric Cooperatives, municipal electric providers, investor-owned utilities and the organized labor community.

MBEF calls on Missouri legislators and state leaders to educate Missourians about energy issues and enact legislation that promotes more balanced and sustainable energy solutions while providing accountability and regulatory oversight in the interest of Missouri consumers.

For more information please visit the Missourians for a Balanced Energy Future website: www.moenergyfuture.org.

Kehoe: Breakthrough Progress on ESP Legislation

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:00:00 -0500

I expected that the week before the legislature’s spring break would be relatively mundane in preparation for significant actions when session resumes on March 19^th. This assumption was incorrect, and I have never been more pleased with an incorrect assumption. This week saw marked progress on early site permit legislation which is the first critical step toward securing Missouri’s energy future, building additional nuclear capacity at the current Callaway site, putting thousands of Missourians back to work, and injecting billions of dollars into Missouri’s economy.

On Tuesday a house committee heard Representative Riddle’s early site permit bill. During testimony in opposition to Representative Riddle’s bill, the director of the group leading efforts against energy security and jobs that additional nuclear capacity would provide testified that their group supports the language I filed two weeks ago. Representative Riddle has led efforts in the house to make ESP legislation, and in order to advance this effort she offered substitute language to her bill, changing the wording to match my SB869. Representative Riddle’s leadership in doing so, and her willingness to once again make concessions to the opponents of this critically needed project, is greatly appreciated. Based upon opposition testimony at the hearing, and on the fact that Representative Riddle’s legislation now matches exactly what FERAF said they would support, I look forward to FERAF, and the large industrial corporations that fund and support them, ending their divisive and patently untrue commercials about HB1316 being an “Ameren Bailout”.

I want to thank the large and small companies that continue to support additional nuclear capacity at the current Callaway site. These companies understand that energy security is critical for Missouri’s economic competitiveness, but they also understand that the thousands of jobs that a new plant will create will be a tremendous boost to the economy. I want to thank Monsanto for keeping their word and supporting the current language in Representative Riddle’s and my bills. This legislation is the critical first step toward increased nuclear power that will benefit farmers, residents, small and large businesses, served by Electric Cooperatives, Municipal Utilities, and Investor-Owned Utilities across the state. Like Monsanto, I look forward to this legislation ultimately passing both chambers and going to the governor for his signature.

Last year, even with tremendous individual, community, and industrial support, ESP legislation fell victim to some unsavory mechanics of the legislative process. While I cannot guarantee that will not happen this year, I am hopeful that they can be avoided as much as possible. On Wednesday I spoke with the Speaker of the House, and he assured me that if Representative Riddle could get language that FERAF publicly stated they would support out of committee, he would endeavor to ensure that it made its way to the floor quickly for debate. On the Senate side, I remain hopeful in spite of the fact that ESP legislation was once again referred to the Veteran’s Affairs and Pensions Committee. At the end of last year’s session, the President Pro Tem of the Senate indicated that failure to pass ESP legislation was one of his top three disappointments of the session. With both a house and a senate bill in the works, and with the leadership of the President Pro Tem, last year’s disappointment can soon be a proud accomplishment. I look forward to the senate and house versions working through the legislative process and paving the way for securing Missouri’s energy future, putting thousands of Missourians back to work, and injecting billions of dollars into the Missouri economy.

In addition to ESP discussions, this week also saw the continuation of substantive and productive discussions on Missouri’s transportation infrastructure needs. As I have consistently said, I filed the public private partnership bill in an effort to generate, and hopefully sustain, these very conversations and I am grateful to Senator Stouffer, Chairman of the Transportation Committee, for his passion on the issue and his willingness to devote a great deal of precious time to this discussion. Missouri’s transportation infrastructure will be better, in the long run, as a result of Senator Stouffer’s leadership on this issue and as a result of the citizens, businesses and industries that continue to participate in these discussions.

In the last week I have had the great fortune to sit down with many of you at a variety of events to hear your concerns, to receive your candid criticism, and to listen to your kind words of support. On Thursday of last week I was welcomed warmly at the Spotlight on Osage County event in Linn. On Friday I enjoyed breakfast with Callaway County Superintendents, was on the radio with Warren Krech, spoke to an MU business class in the afternoon, swung by the Tuscumbia FFA Student Fish-Fry, and then ended the evening with a meeting in Stover. On Saturday I co-hosted a morning radio show from Hy-Vee, attended a Boy Scout breakfast at the Eagles, and finished the evening at the Trinity Lutheran School dinner and auction. On Sunday I enjoyed some of the best country ham I have ever had with the good folks at St. Thomas. At each of these events you welcomed me warmly and made me feel at home. I am grateful to all with whom I had the chance to talk, as well to all with whom I didn’t speak but contributed to making each of these events great.

I am in this office to serve the constituents of the 6th Senatorial District. Please contact us at (573) 751-2076 if my office or I can be of any assistance to you or if you have questions.

MBEF Praises House Utilities Committee for Strong Support of Early Site Permit Bill

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 10:00:00 -0600

Big news out the House Utilities Committee this week as House Bill 1316, a bill that could lead to the construction a second nuclear power plant in Missouri, was adopted this morning by a vote of 17-2, with one member voting present.

Given the onset of strict federal emission standards and our aging fleet of power plants, Missouri needs to look to cleaner, more efficient baseload energy solutions. House Bill 1316 paves the way for additional nuclear power in the state and offers the potential for thousands of new jobs for Missourians.

Provisions in House Bill 1316 also include robust consumer protections, including a hard cap of $45 million in recoverable costs, reimbursement to consumers if the permit is sold or transferred, and increased funding for the state’s consumer watchdog, the Office of Public Counsel.

Special thanks go out to Representative Jeanie Riddle for her leadership on this issue. Earlier this week Rep. Riddle spoke with more than 800 Missourians via conference call about the benefits additional nuclear power would bring our state in the form of economic development, jobs and affordable, clean energy.

A recent development also aided the success of this legislation in committee. When asked earlier this week by Rep. Jason Holsman (D-Grandview) about the handshake agreement all parties agreed to last year regarding the site permit bill, representatives of the Fair Energy Rate Action Fund testified that "if the utility companies would come on board and support that also, I don't think you would have any problem with us not opposing it.”

To that end Rep. Riddle offered a substitute in this morning’s committee meeting, which is identical to Sen. Mike Kehoe’s Senate Bill 869. SB 869 includes the exact language agreed upon last year by FERAF, the utilities and other parties. It appears that compromise language is now moving forward.

Kehoe: "Select few" large industrial companies are leaving us to pick up their tab

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 10:00:00 -0600

On Tuesday afternoon the Commerce Committee continued hearings on SB759 which would clarify provisions in Proposition C and would prevent radical environmentalists and large industrials from conspiring together on an initiative petition to increase Missouri’s renewable standard requirements. The marriage between the radical environmentalists and these large industrials is proof positive that politics does indeed make strange bed-fellows. The large industrials are not concerned about the environment or the amount of renewable energy in the state’s portfolio. They simply want to lower their exposure to the cost of meeting the renewable standards currently required by law. To do that, they joined with the radical environmentalists, sitting at the same drafting table, and authored an initiative petition that, if passed, would dramatically raise the costs for residential customers, small and medium-sized businesses to meet Missouri’s renewable standard. Quite simply, these select few large industrial companies made a pact with the anti-small business, anti-consumer, environmentalists to save themselves a ton of money and to leave you and I to pick up the tab for their savings.

During Tuesday’s testimony, The Public Service Commission, which serves as the regulatory body responsible for overseeing investor owned utilities and in front of whom all rate-cases are heard, provided numbers that confirm the significant cost increase of this initiative petition to residential customers, small and medium-sized businesses. Somehow though, citizen groups such as AARP and the Missouri Consumers Council continue to ignore the Public Service Commission’s numbers. They actively support an expensive, anti-small business initiative petition, and they continue to disregard the fact that their members will see costs for meeting the renewable standard rise dramatically even as a few big businesses receive a windfall in savings.

Of all the testimony I heard on Tuesday, the most disturbing was from the Office of Public Counsel. This state office was created by the legislature with the original intent and design to serve as a watch-dog for residential, agricultural, and small business customers in matters coming before the Public Service Commission. Unfortunately, this office has abandoned that mission and now appears to be motivated by two things: 1) Increasing its own funding without legislative oversight via the initiative petition, and 2) Doing the bidding for a select few large industrial customers at the expense of the very people the office was designed to protect. My fellow senators and I support a reasonable increase in funding for the Office of Public Counsel, subject to appropriation by the legislature, as long as the OPC stays true to its original mission of protecting residential, agricultural, and small-business customers. That the Office of Public Counsel openly admits that they failed to represent residential customers, agricultural customers, and small and medium-sized businesses on this initiative petition, while at the same time the petition dramatically reduces costs for a select few large industrial users (for one company, their costs would go from more than $1,500,000 annually to $1800 annually), is an insult to the legislative intent for the office. Further, it is causing many in the capitol to question whether a total overhaul of the office and a dramatic funding reduction in a future session and budget might be the only solution.

- Senator Mike Kehoe, "Kehoe Capitol Report", Week of 2/27/2012

Massive Rate Increases on Residents and Small Business – Not what Missouri can afford.

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:00:00 -0600

In 2008, Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure that would increase our use of renewable energy in Missouri. A key component of that measure was a 1 percent cost cap, which was put in place to preserve Missouri’s already low electric rates.

Due to political and legal wrangling, much of the original ballot measure was thrown out. Now, a new measure has been introduced to correct the wrongs of 2008, but the cost cap language has been changed. Instead of protecting Missouri residents and small business owners, big industrial corporations receive a bailout on their electricity bills, leaving the rest of Missouri to pick up the tab.

Yesterday, in a hearing on renewable energy legislation, Sen. Mike Kehoe stated an analysis on electric rates for his small business demonstrated that under the proposed ballot initiative, he could see an increase of 45 percent on his business’ annual electric bill!

Sen. Kehoe is not alone. An analysis distributed to the Missouri General Assembly showed that other small business owners could also see massive rate increases on their electric bills, while the largest industrial consumers’ costs actually go down!

As the former political director of the 2008 Prop C campaign, I can say from experience that the latest proposal is not in the spirit of the Prop C Missourians overwhelmingly supported. Giving big businesses a bailout, while sticking residents and small business owners with a higher electric bill, is not we set out to do.

Missouri has an abundance of renewable and alternative energy sources, and they our essential to our energy future. It is not good policy, however, to bail out corporations and stick it to Missouri consumers.

Missouri can learn from this week's energy progress in Georgia

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:00:00 -0600

Major news out of Washington, D. C. as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the licenses for construction of the first new nuclear reactors since 1978. The state of Georgia will see an influx of over 5,000 new jobs and billions in economic activity as construction begins. (AP report)

Here in Missouri, large industrial corporations and their allies continue their efforts to block additional clean, affordable and reliable nuclear power in our state.

As you know, H.B. 1316, the nuclear site permit bill currently pending in Missouri’s House of Representatives would keep open the option for a second nuclear power plant.

Representative Jeanie Riddle’s bill contains strict consumer protections that all parties demanded. A strong cost recovery mechanism is in place so that Missouri residents and small business owners enjoy affordable electric rates for the long-term.

Georgians will see the economic benefits of increased nuclear power as early as 2016. But until Missouri’s legislators stand up to big businesses, Missouri’s energy future remains cloudy.

Kehoe: ESP is the first step to thousands of long-term jobs

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:00:00 -0600

"I have been asked repeatedly this year why, if it is such a high priority, I have not filed Early Site Permit legislation that is the critical first step toward building additional nuclear capacity at the current Callaway site. My first response is that the need for additional nuclear power production at the current Callaway site increases every day. Missourian’s electric bills continue to rise because we are far too dependent upon an old coal fleet that the federal government has put directly in their cross-hairs. Beyond that, securing an early site permit is the first step toward thousands of good, high-paying, long-term jobs. Secondly, I respond that there has been legislation filed by Representative Riddle in the House, legislation that was overwhelmingly supported last year and legislation that will receive tremendous bi-partisan support when it comes over to the Senate. Thirdly, I respond that there is still a great deal of time left to file bills in the Senate. I talk about ESP legislation with my fellow Senators daily and I am confident that the great support I had last year has only grown. However, I still have no indications that the roadblocks, half-truths, and political games that sabotaged the process in the Senate last year can be avoided until next year. As you may have seen, the Southern Company in Georgia was just granted licensure for the construction of the first two nuclear reactors in the United States in more than 30 years. Had our ESP legislation passed last year, it might have been Missouri leading the way in the nuclear renaissance in the United States. I am hopeful that the coming weeks will provide opportunity for a caucus meeting in the Senate where legislation that will lead to thousands of ‘boots on the ground’ jobs can be discussed, so that we can take the next step forward in securing Missouri’s energy future and putting Missourians to work in the long-term, high-paying jobs that building additional nuclear capacity will create."

- Senator Mike Kehoe, "Kehoe Capitol Report", Week of 2/6/2012

Help Missouri small businesses keep the lights on

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:00:00 -0600

As Missouri struggles to advance statewide economic development and energy policies, small businesses are feeling the pressure. When it comes to energy, a perfect storm is brewing that could threaten our states low energy rates, ultimately harming small businesses.

- The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) recent mercury rules will put mounting pressure on operators of coal-fired power plants to either spend millions to clean them up or retire them outright. More EPA emission standards are expected or deadlines are already looming.

- Missouri's fleet of coal plants has an average age of 50 years, and many will need massive and expensive retrofitting to continue operation. With an 80 percent dependency on these plants, Missouri is increasingly vulnerable to higher energy rates, unless we plan ahead.

- Rate disparities among electric users allows some large companies to pay far less than residential and small business consumers, forcing Joe's Printing Company, or Mom's Restaurant to pay far more for their electricity.

Let’s not reach a point where small businesses have to choose between cutting employees and keeping the lights on.

More Benefits of the Consumer Protections in the Site Permit Bill

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:00:00 -0600

According to an article in January 26^th’s Tampa Bay Times, ratepayers in Florida are now on the hook for more than a billion dollars in costs for the construction of a nuclear plant – even though the plant may not be constructed.

Legislation pending in Missouri’s legislature would protect us from exactly this type of situation. The nuclear site permit bill stipulates that only the cost of securing the site permit may be recovered from ratepayers. In fact, it even doubles the budget of the Office of Public Counsel (OPC) to ensure that it provides the type of oversight necessary to ensure that this never happens in our state.

Moreover, it requires that the utility reimburse any costs to consumers – with interest – if the plant is not constructed. And finally, even though Missouri’s law only deals with the permitting process, our bill sets a hard cap to make sure its cost is less than two dollars a year for an average residential rate payer.

We believe it is critical to plan now to secure our state’s affordable, reliable and clean energy future. Our power plants are getting older, and constructing a second nuclear power plant in Missouri would bring abundant, clean power – and thousands of jobs – to our state. But without the nuclear site permit bill, additional nuclear power will not be an option. We must preserve this option.

Exciting progress this week in Jefferson City

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:00:00 -0600

Good news from Jefferson City this week as Representative Jeanie Riddle filed early site permit legislation, HB1316, in an effort to preserve Missouri’s option to build a second nuclear power plant.

We applaud Rep. Riddle for her determination and effort to file and pass this important piece of legislation. In the wake of stricter EPA emissions standards and the rising demand for electricity, MBEF believes the passage of this bill is needed now more than ever in Missouri. Its passage could lead to thousands of new jobs and billions of dollars into Missouri’s sagging economy. Furthermore, the construction of a new nuclear plant would secure a cleaner, more efficient power supply for Missouri while preserving long-term affordable electric rates for our future.

This legislation includes the same strong consumer protections that were so important in gaining support for last year’s bill. Those protections include a hard cap of $45 million on the amount of money that can be recovered from ratepayers; a required refund, including interest, if the permit is sold or transferred or if the plant is not constructed; and no dollars may be passed through to ratepayers until a permit has been obtained by the utility. The legislation also provides additional funding for the Office of Public Counsel (OPC) to oversee utilities in the state. The additional funding will more than double the OPC’s current budget.

Last year’s legislation was met with overwhelming support which included 20 co-sponsors in the Senate, over 200 business and community organization endorsements, along with over 300 individuals testifying in support of the bill and a whopping vote of 121 to 21 in the House. Along with the Governor’s support and a last minute handshake agreement amongst all stakeholders last session, the early site permit legislation could see final passage this year.

It is clear that this legislation deserves the full attention and support of the Missouri General Assembly.

Special Event Notice:

Next week Dr. Patrick Moore, Greenpeace founder and now nuclear power advocate with the CASEnergy Coalition and Russ Hopper, Director of the Missouri Alternative and Renewable Energy Center at Crowder College will engage in an informative discussion of our energy future. Click this link for details: meinuclear.eventbrite.com

As always, thank you for supporting MBEF. Please join the conversation about these important issues on our blog, Facebook and Twitter.

MBEF Statement on the Filing of Early Site Permit Legislation

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:00:00 -0600

In a survey, taken after widespread news coverage of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, 53% of Missourians continue to support the use of nuclear power compared to only 29% who oppose it. Even more respondents, 60%, said they support constructing a new nuclear power plant in Missouri. And by a margin of 66% of 27%, respondents believe Missouri must not close off the option of building a new nuclear power plant.

It is clear that this legislation deserves the full attention and support of the Missouri General Assembly.

Guest commentary: Used nuclear fuel is a good energy source

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:00:00 -0600

Ever since the government banned its use in the recycling of used nuclear fuel nearly 35 years ago, “reprocessing” has been a dirty word. Many nuclear scientists and engineers, however, believe a new commitment to reprocessing is the key to solving the nuclear waste problem and ushering in a new generation of advanced power reactors. Hundreds of nuclear professionals recently sent a joint letter to Energy Secretary Steven Chu and White House science adviser John Holdren urging such action.

Housed in cylindrical rods, used fuel is periodically removed from a reactor and stored in engineered water pools or above-ground dry casks at nuclear power plant sites. The United States currently has 65,200 metric tons of used fuel in storage, of which 610 metric tons are at the Callaway Nuclear Plant near Fulton.In spite of the doubts from skeptics, reprocessing is a game-changing technology that could turn a huge amount of used fuel left over from the production of nuclear-generated electricity into a significant energy resource.

Often mistaken for nuclear waste, used fuel contains large amounts of valuable plutonium and uranium that can be extracted and then chemically reprocessed into a so-called mixed-oxide, or MOX, fuel that can be used in a nuclear plant to produce more electricity. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter ended reprocessing in the United States, citing proliferation risks and hoping other countries such as France and Great Britain would do likewise. They didn’t.

They have continued to reprocess used fuel — in the case of France, using recycling as part of its nuclear program to obtain 80 percent of its electricity and to sell surplus power to neighboring countries.

Reprocessing has great potential value for the United States. Using it along with breeder reactors would recover 90 percent of the original energy that remains in the fuel after one use in a reactor. And it would extend uranium resources for hundreds of years and reduce by at least 50 percent the amount of long-lived nuclear waste that would need to be stored in a deep-geologic repository. Additionally, the heat and toxicity of such waste would be reduced, enabling the United States to store all of the long-lived waste from power reactors and the weapons program in a single repository instead of having to find sites and pay for the construction of multiple repositories.

Such a reprocessing plant could be located at the Savannah River Site. Both South Carolina senators — Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint — are outspoken supporters of nuclear power who favor the idea of building a used-fuel reprocessing plant at this nuclear installation.

Another facility to convert surplus weapons plutonium into MOX fuel for power reactors is under construction at the Savannah River Site, providing thousands of jobs and revenue for South Carolina.

How ironic that Congress has approved the processing of weapons plutonium into MOX fuel for commercial electricity production but has yet to do the same for reprocessing used fuel stored at nuclear power plants. This contradictory policy is absurd.

Given the strong political support in South Carolina for nuclear power, why not build a plant there to demonstrate the technology for reprocessing used fuel? And why not tap into the Nuclear Waste Fund for that very purpose?

Users of nuclear-generated electricity already have paid $17.9 billion into the trust fund since it was established more than 30 years ago. The fund continues to grow by $800 million annually to cover the costs of nuclear waste management. Considering the uncertain future of the Yucca Mountain project, now is the time to resurrect used-fuel reprocessing. This would simplify the challenge of nuclear waste storage and disposal.

If reprocessing is revived in the United States, used fuel could become an important energy source. If not, it will remain in storage indefinitely as a lost opportunity.

William H. Miller is a professor with the University of Missouri’s Nuclear Science and Engineering Institute.

Guest commentary: Labor must get creative in negotiating to survive

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:00:00 -0600

It's been four years since the economy went on life support in a recession that still saps the lifeblood of business today. In the St. Louis construction industry, unemployment remains at a Depression-level 30 percent to 40 percent. The union sector has frozen or cut wages and modified work rules to stimulate work. But it is all too clear that this is a market without money, frozen by credit gridlock. It's a watershed moment for labor, requiring a more creative approach to negotiating with the market.

On Nov. 2, Gary LeBarbera, head of the Building and Construction Trades Council AFL-CIO of Greater New York, gave us a compass. Speaking to more than 150 local business representatives from 15 different trades, he showed us pathways to avoid and pathways to blaze.

Misplaced union pride and complacency left the New York trades high and dry in the residential market, which in the Big Apple means 25-story high-rise apartment and condo buildings. Meanwhile "bread and butter" commercial, industrial and public projects ground to a halt in a strapped-for-cash economy, leaving 25,000 union construction workers jobless. In normal times, developers were willing to pay the premium for union wages to gain the heightened safety and proficiency highly trained workers deliver — but not when credit is tight. Faced with 25 percent unemployment, union trades had to adjust to market realities.

In 2009, the New York building trades turned to an economic recovery Project Labor Agreement that offered flexible work rules. A 70-story building needs a sensible approach to phased lunch breaks so an hour of productivity isn't lost daily transporting workers down and up elevators. Start times were altered. Work crews were optimized. The result? Projects that had been trimmed to less than 40 stories became 70 stories again, $15 billion in PLA projects moved forward and unemployment in the trades dropped to 10 percent.

Misplaced union pride and complacency contributed to the founding of the landmark St. Louis PRIDE labor-management group nearly 40 years ago. Since then, labor and PRIDE have continually worked with the buyers of construction services to make St. Louis the best place to build. But the erosion of union construction in New York and its leadership's creative response to rebuild market share is a reminder for all union workers and their leadership that we must continually adapt to market needs. Proficiency in skills and safety will only take you so far in a market that lacks capital.

A week before LeBarbera shared his perspective, the PRIDE competitive initiative committee held its first meeting to examine impediments to productivity on local construction projects. Owners, contractors and labor each submitted a list of "pet peeves." Included were concerns about jobsite readiness, professionalism, safety, unproductive work rules, change orders, sequencing of work, jurisdictional challenges and drug testing. Under the aegis of PRIDE, this collaborative effort will form the basis of a stimulus plan that we hope will get St. Louis building again.

As was the case with our brothers and sisters in New York, there figures to be heated exchanges with certain union members who cling to a past when complacency and arrogance often overshadowed the mission of justice and fair wages for working families. We will engage them, regardless, just as we will reach out to community organizations that share our vision of the pressing need to more fully utilize a workforce rigorously trained to competitively deliver a constructed product of the highest quality.

We brought to town LeBarbera, arguably the most prominent union construction official in the United States, to help to reinforce the direction our underemployed membership must embrace. It is imperative that the St. Louis union workforce acknowledge and constructively adapt to current economic realities. The ability of our hometown and state to achieve sustainable, long-term prosperity hangs in the balance.

Jeff Aboussie is executive secretary and treasurer of the St. Louis Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO.

Guest commentary: An uncertain future for power plants

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:00:00 -0500

The near-term future of our nation's and Missouri's economies is filled with uncertainty. Our struggle back from one of the largest economic downturns in U.S. history is extremely challenging.

Compounding our situation even more are the pending Environmental Protection Agency regulations that will both threaten jobs and increase costs on energy consumers in Missouri.

This has led the two of us — a representative of an organization that promotes Missouri businesses and a representative of Missouri's working men and women — to urge the EPA to take a more reasonable, responsible approach.

The EPA has proposed rigorous, new regulations on coal-based electricity power plants. These regulations will be implemented under a compressed compliance timeline and without consideration of the cumulative economic and system reliability impacts.

Federal EPA officials hold out that these regulations will result in nothing but good news. However, studies show this is not the case.

Many business, labor and consumer groups are urging caution on the pending regulations and together we are adding our voices to theirs.

The EPA's new rules will require ambitious compliance by hundreds of power plants in the very near future — some within three years.

Each power plant operator would have to determine what new equipment they might need to meet the proposed regulations and guess what may be required by other, forthcoming regulations.

Companies would then have to place orders for the necessary, large-scale equipment from a limited number of factories able to manufacture them.

Everything about these pending EPA regulations is a moving part — the rules themselves, their deadlines for compliance, the technological remedies and the workforce needed to install the technology.

We believe the short time frame for compliance and the potential implementation of even more federal regulations will bring extraordinary harm to our state and nation's economic well "'being.

The EPA's rush to force compliance risks tens of thousands of jobs nationwide in the utility, coal mining and

transportation sectors. There is no question the cost of electricity will soar as low- cost power plants are shut down prematurely and the electricity they provide is displaced with higher-cost alternatives; this will result in every business and family facing higher costs.

Even if the national and state economies were in better shape, such an extensive series of rulemaking would challenge utility decision makers and power plant operators.

In a time of great economic uncertainty, this could burden Missouri workers, businesses and families with job losses and energy price increases that we cannot afford.

While Missouri and the national economy is on the delicate path to recovery, we urge the EPA and the Obama Administration to slow down the federal regulations and extend the compliance timetable for a reasonable period of time. Missouri's working families and businesses cannot afford otherwise.

Legislative and Events Update

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:00:00 -0500

Missouri’s legislators get it. They know that the best way to bring more jobs, more economic investment and more affordable, reliable energy to our state is to leave open the option for a second nuclear power plant. That’s why some of our legislators are speaking out on behalf of the nuclear site permit bill.

Check out these links:

Rep. Jay Barnes is talking about the bill on his website.

Sen. Lager, Rep. Jeanie Riddle and Rep. Chris Kelly all talked about the bill on a recent radio interview.

Sen. Mike Kehoe wrote about the site permit bill in his newsletter, re-posted as a guest blog on our site here.

Also, as you may remember, earlier this month many of our MBEF members came out to see a debate on nuclear power in our state. Don’t miss an opportunity to see the follow-up – a group discussion on nuclear energy. Details are below:

Who: The Ethical Society of St. Louis

What: Group discussion on nuclear energy

When: Tue, September 20, 7pm – 9pm

Where: The Ethical Society of St. Louis

9001 Clayton Road
St. Louis, MO 63117-1003
Map to the Society
Telephone: 314-991-0955

Guest Blog: Back in Session

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 10:00:00 -0500

Read the below for a guest blog post from Missouri State Senator Mike Kehoe.

Saturday, August the 27th marked the end of the nine stop summer flap-jack tour. I had a great time chatting with many of you and appreciate you enduring the coffee that my chief of staff brewed at each stop. In every instance you gave me candid feedback and asked pointed questions about: 1) what state government is doing to help grow Missouri’s economy, 2) why has the governor called a special session of the legislature, and 3) what is the status of a second nuclear plant at the current Callaway site. Jobs and growing Missouri’s economy remain your top priority, and it is mine too.

This week the Missouri Senate convened to begin discussions on economic development legislation that is part of Governor Nixon's special session call, specifically to address economic development legislation that failed to pass during the regular session. This legislation includes potential business incentives and much needed tax-credit reform all with the goal of expanding and growing jobs in Missouri. I look forward to honest and straightforward discussions on how and if this legislation can help to improve Missouri’s economy. I appreciate the large number of calls the office has received, and I will bear your insights in mind as I participate in discussions.

Unlike how things happen in Washington DC, where legislators pass bills in the dead of night that they have never had time to read, the Missouri Senate is taking an appropriately deliberative approach by adjourning until Monday afternoon to allow all Senators to fully read the bill and prepare for debate.

Unfortunately, the best and most significant job-creation legislation that was discussed during this past session (ESP legislation that would facilitate construction of a second nuclear plant at the current Callaway site), is not part of the governor’s special session call. Billions of dollars and thousands of jobs have fallen victim to politics at its absolute worst. Noranda Aluminum, backed by $500/hour attorneys and two other large industrial companies, has continued to hold the state’s energy policy hostage and prevent the largest construction project in the state’s history, all to pad their own bottom-line.

I am small business owner and I understand the need to control costs and monitor every expense, but the actions of these large industrial users, in preventing the option for a second nuclear plant, is destructive in its self-service and guarantees that their energy costs will rise as current coal-fired plants are retired without reliable and efficient replacements.

Throughout the course of the summer I continued discussions with both sides in an effort to reach consensus to give the governor the opportunity to include this in a special session call. Quite frankly, I thought a deal was done, only to have Noranda’s CEO balk at standing beside Ameren’s CEO in front of Governor Nixon to shake hands on a deal that would grant all the provisions of the legislation heard on the last day of session AND grant a carve-out to the large industrial users in compliance with the language of Proposition C.

I, and a large number of my fellow Senators, now clearly see all the hours of effort and negotiations over the last nine months for what they truly were: a grand charade designed to protect three large industrial users and to pad the wallets of a couple of lawyers lucky enough to represent them. This was never about funding for the Office of Public Counsel, evidenced by the fact that a 400 percent increase in OPC funding was “insufficient”, nor was it ever about consumer protections. I will not stop working toward a second nuclear plant at the current Callaway site because I know it is critical for Missouri’s future, but I and my fellow Senators will most certainly apply the lessons learned from this session.

Representative Riddle and I today asked via letter that Governor Nixon add early site permit legislation to his special session call so that we can take Missouri’s energy future out of the hands of the special interests that roam the hallways of the capitol and place it rightfully into the hands of elected officials. I am certain that early site permit legislation has greater support than any other bill being considered during this special session.

On Thursday August 25th, Representative Caleb Jones and I met with sheriffs and members of drug task forces from central Missouri to discuss the real and potential impacts of halting funds to the Missouri Sheriff Methamphetamine Relief Taskforce (MoSMART). The thirty officers funded by this $1.5 million of federal funding do great work focusing solely on stopping the scourge that is meth in Missouri.

On Thursday Sept 8th I met with the leadership of the Department of Public Safety in an effort to enlist their support as I work to ensure that these thirty officers continue to be funded, whether from state or federal funds, after December 31st of this year. Meth destroys too many lives and wrecks too many families for this program, proven to be a successful national model, to be allowed to die on the vine.

I am in this office to serve the constituents of the 6th Senatorial District. Please contact us at (573) 751-2076 if my office or I can be of any assistance to you or if you have questions.

** To read more from Sen. Kehoe, click here to read the letter he and Rep. Riddle wrote Gov. Nixon on the nuclear site permit bill. **

Why isn't Nuclear Power Part of the Special Legislative Session?

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 10:00:00 -0500

Why isn't nuclear power part of the special legislative session? Ask Rep. Barnes for his point of view --- visit http://barnesformissouri.com/?p=45.

Show Your Support for the Nuclear Site Permit Bill

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:30:00 -0500

As you may have heard, Gov. Jay Nixon has called for a special legislative session to promote Missouri job growth and economic development. Unfortunately, the early site permit legislation, which would preserve the option to construct a second nuclear power plant in Missouri, will not be part of the special session. Like you, we are disappointed that the largest potential boost to our economy – construction of a new nuclear plant – was left off the table.

However, there is still good early site permit legislation news. Negotiations are still continuing and I remain optimistic that a compromise will be reached. Furthermore, should a compromise be reached soon, there is still time for the Governor or the General Assembly to add the early site permit legislation to the special session.

Our continually lagging economy, stagnant job growth and the EPA’s impending strict regulations on carbon emissions are all cause for the urgent passage of early site permit legislation. It is up to us to continue to push our elected leaders and urge them to move forward on this crucial legislation.

That is why we need your help. Please show your support for the nuclear site permit bill on September 6^th at 7pm in St. Louis. That day, the Ethical Society of St. Louis is hosting a debate on the risks of nuclear power. While no energy source is without risk, we know nuclear power is the safest, cleanest and most affordable long-term baseload energy source available. We encourage all MBEF members to attend this event and show your support. Missouri needs the long-term benefits a second nuclear power plant would bring to our state.

The details are as follows:

When: Tuesday, September 6, 7pm – 9pm

Where Ethical Society of St. Louis (map)

9001 Clayton Rd., St. Louis, MO 63117

What: "Is nuclear energy worth the risks?"

Who: Ed Smith, Missouri Coalition for the Environment

Scott Bond, Ameren Missouri

Thank you for your support and stay tuned for further updates. Your voice is important -- Please join the discussion on Facebook, Twitter and www.moenergyfuture.org.