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MISSED OPPORTUNITY OF 2013 LEGISLATURE: ENABLING ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT, BETTER POWER RELIABILITY AND JOB CREATION

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:27:55 -0500

The Missouri Legislature missed a prime opportunity this session to enable massive new investment in our state’s electric power infrastructure. Lawmakers and supporters worked countless hours to craft and improve Senate Bill 207 and House Bill 398, the Infrastructure Strengthening and Regulatory Streamlining Act.

Special thanks to Senator Kehoe, Chairman Lager, Representative Riddle and Chairman Funderburk for their leadership and persistence.

By updating Missouri's 100-year-old utility regulations, ISRS legislation will allow the creation of well-paying jobs, assure a reliable power grid and provide some of the strongest consumer protections in the country.

Companies want to bring new manufacturing and new technologies to our state to create jobs and major economic development, but certainty in our state's energy policies is a MUST.

MBEF and its 5000+ members will keep working to educate Missourians and our state leaders about the critical need to replace our aging power infrastructure and update Missouri's utility regulations.

These critical needs remain, and it is time for our leadership to address Missouri's outdated energy policy and deliver the power and reliability Missourians expect and deserve.

-Irl Scissors, Executive Director

Advancing ISRS

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:00:06 -0500

Support across Missouri continues to grow for ISRS legislation.

Just last week, David Farr, CEO of Emerson Electric sent a letter to legislative leadership expressing his company's support for ISRS. The following is a quote from his letter:

"We at Emerson understand the important link between having a reliable energy infrastructure and a strong economy for the future. This legislative effort supports important investment in our aging electric energy infrastructure, enhances reliability for our business and the state of Missouri, and creates must needed jobs."

The diverse list of ISRS supporters continues to grow. Major corporations such as Burns and McDonnell, ABB, Emerson Electric, and Worldwide Technologies all see the value in uprgrading Missouri's electric infrastructure: we're preparing our state for the future while putting Missouri in position right now to compete for new business and jobs. Small business too, like Excelsior Springs Hospital and the Gonzalez Companies, see the value in ISRS. Furthermore, local chambers (from Kansas City to Warrensburg to Sedalia to Lake of the Ozarks to Jefferson City to Cape Girardeau) all know the positive impacts ISRS will have on their local communities.

Missouri's highly trained workforce also acknowledges the benefits of ISRS. From the KC Building Trades to the St. Louis Labor Council, Missouri's workforce stands united and recognizes the jobs impact for present-day and the future.

From every corner of the state, momentum and support continue to build for this much needed legislation.

Click here to read the full Emerson letter.

Support across Missouri continues to grow for ISRS legislation.

Just last week, David Farr, CEO of Emerson Electric sent a letter to legislative leadership expressing his company's support for ISRS. The following is a quote from his letter:

The diverse list of ISRS supporters continues to grow. Major corporations such as Burns and McDonnell, ABB, Emerson Electric, and Worldwide Technologies all see the value in uprgrading Missouri's electric infrastructure, preparing our state for the future along with putting Missouri in position right now to compete for new business and jobs. Small business too, like Excelsior Springs Hospital and the Gonzalez Companies see the value in ISRS. Furthermore, local chambers (from Kansas City to Warrensburg to Sedalia to Lake of the Ozarks to Jefferson City to Cape Girardeau) all know the positive impacts ISRS will have on their local communities.

Missouri's highly trained workforce also acknowledges the benefits of ISRS. From the KC Building Trades to the St. Louis Labor Council, Missouri's workforce stands united and sees the jobs impact now and in the future.

From every corner of the state momentum and support is building for this much needed legislation.

Support across Missouri continues to grow for ISRS legislation.

Just last week, David Farr, CEO of Emerson Electric sent a letter to legislative leadership expressing his company's support for ISRS. The following is a quote from his letter:

The diverse list of ISRS supporters continues to grow. Major corporations such as Burns and McDonnell, ABB, Emerson Electric, and Worldwide Technologies all see the value in uprgrading Missouri's electric infrastructure, preparing our state for the future along with putting Missouri in position right now to compete for new business and jobs. Small business too, like Excelsior Springs Hospital and the Gonzalez Companies see the value in ISRS. Furthermore, local chambers (from Kansas City to Warrensburg to Sedalia to Lake of the Ozarks to Jefferson City to Cape Girardeau) all know the positive impacts ISRS will have on their local communities.

From every corner of the state momentum and support is building for this much needed legislation.

Exciting Momentum This Week

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:34:17 -0500

This week, former Sen. Kit Bond submitted a powerful op-ed in the Columbia Daily Tribune titled “Measure will keep lights on.” His words emphasized the importance of Infrastructure Strengthening and Regulatory Streamlining (ISRS) legislation, and the urgent need for Missouri to invest in a new and improved infrastructure that would yield much-needed jobs, improve electric service and reliability and directly benefit communities, families and businesses across Missouri.

Unfortunately, an aging electrical grid and century-old energy regulations have prevented our investor-owned utilities from proactively making these investments so far. The good news is ISRS legislation, which would allow these utilities to quickly recover costs, encouraging them to make the most effective investments for the benefit of Missourians.

Adding to this week’s exciting momentum, Westinghouse Electric announced its renewed support for a second, promising opportunity to bring SMRs to Missouri. ISRS legislation would take us one step closer to opportunities like SMRs, and we were encouraged to see Westinghouse’s Kate Marx join other Missourians in support of ISRS this week in Jefferson City.

Thank you to former Sen. Kit Bond, Kate Marx and those who have shown support of this critical legislation. We’re confident that our state legislature understands the need for responsible regulations such as ISRS. If you haven’t already, please urge passage of this key economic developing bill in an effort to keep Missouri’s lights on.

-Irl

Irl Scissors, Executive Director

Westinghouse Supports MO Electric ISRS Legislation

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:06:12 -0500

Jefferson City, MO — The company behind the development of the next-generation in small modular reactor technology, Westinghouse Electric Company, is partnering with Missouri’s electric utilities in strong support of ISRS legislation to modernize the state’s aging electrical grid.

Westinghouse is focused on Missouri as a location to develop and manufacture cutting-edge small modular reactors. Over the past year, Westinghouse has worked with scientists at the University of Missouri and the Missouri University of Science and Technology researching SMRs. Just today, it was reported that Westinghouse will compete for a second Department of Energy funding opportunity supporting the development of small modular reactors.

“Missouri has an opportunity to be on the forefront of an emerging industry that will bring jobs and economic development to the Show-Me State, but currently, our state’s aging electrical infrastructure is holding us back,” said Irl Scissors, spokesman for Missourians for a Balanced Energy Future.

“We are proud to officially welcome Westinghouse to our coalition supporting this important ISRS legislation. Their support shows once again why updating our electrical grid and streamlining outdated regulations is critically important to Missouri’s future growth and opportunity presented by small modular reactors.”

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To schedule an interview with Irl Scissors, call (314) 368-4330 or email irl@moenergyfuture.org

Click here for more on why Westinghouse supports ISRS.

Continue to spread the word

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:34:19 -0500

As the Missouri General Assembly continues work on Infrastructure Strengthening and Regulatory Streamlining (ISRS) legislation, The Brattle Group, a financial and economic consulting firm, released a very encouraging report that helps quantify the economic impact that ISRS legislation will provide if it is passed.

The new study confirms that ISRS would mean direct cost savings for customers. Key findings estimate that:

- Reliability improvements from ISRS would create approximately $1 billion in economic benefits and reduced outages.

- For every $1.00 invested in electric infrastructure, $1.50 in direct customer benefits is created.

Similar findings will be detailed in an upcoming report by James R. Moody and Associates. Electric Utility Regulatory Practices in Missouri describes Missouri’s financial opportunities regarding electric infrastructure investment, citing ISRS as a proven solution that creates jobs and brings benefits to consumers. You can find a summary of the report by clicking here. Stay tuned next week for the full report.

We are edging closer to both chambers voting on ISRS, so it’s important to keep engaging stakeholders in this debate. As always, thank you for your continued support and commitment to bringing a more efficient energy infrastructure to our state. Please continue to spread the word on this crucial legislation.

-Irl

Irl Scissors, Executive Director

The new study confirms that ISRS would mean direct cost savings for customers. Key findings estimate that:

Reliability improvements from ISRS would create approximately $1 billion in economic benefits and reduced outages.

For every $1.00 invested in electric infrastructure, $1.50 in direct customer benefits is created.

The new study confirms that ISRS would mean direct cost savings for customers. Key findings estimate that:

- Reliability improvements from ISRS would create approximately $1 billion in economic benefits and reduced outages.

- For every $1.00 invested in electric infrastructure, $1.50 in direct customer benefits is created.

Why Missouri Needs ISRS

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:46:48 -0500

Missouri's electric infrastructure is aging while consumers' expectations for reliability are rising. A new report, Electric Utility Regulatory Practices in Missouri, details the challenges and opportunities we face.

About the Author:

James R. Moody is the owner and president of James R. Moody & Associates, a Jefferson City-based consulting firm. Moody spent the first 19 years of his career working in Missouri state government, with the first 14 spent at the Department of Social Services. Moody was the Director of the Division of Family Services, Assistant Director for Business Services at the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, and Executive Deputy Director of the Department of Social Services. He then became Missouri State Budget Director in 1987. In 1989, Moody was appointed the Commissioner of Administration by Gov. John Ashcroft, and he served in that capaticy through 1992.

For the past 20 years, Moody has operated James R. Moody & Associates. His consulting work has included providing services related to taxes, transportation issues, budgetary analysis of the impacts of riverboat gaming, and fiscal analysis of ballot issues. Moody is a frequent expert witness in judicial proceedings relating to ballot issues.

If you'd like a copy of the entire report, email Irl Scissors at irl@moenergyfuture.org.

Click here to download the full PDF one-pager (as seen below).

Public Service Commission shouldn't duplicate Legislature

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:19:26 -0500

The Post-Dispatch editorial "Who’s afraid of facts?" (March 28) missed the bigger point and smeared a good public servant in the process.

Last week, the Public Service Commission opted out of holding a hearing, which they did not have the statutory authority to hold, but kept a docket open to receive comments from interested stakeholders and issue a requested response to a legislator. The editorial board implied this action was inappropriate when in fact it was exactly what the PSC should have done.

Throughout the legislative session, the PSC provides ample and prompt analyses at the request of legislators. They do not legislate. Legislators accountable to the people that elect them, not a government agency, represent and weigh the interests of their constituents.

The Legislature vetted SB207/HB398 like any other bill, in an open and transparent process. Two committees conducted 18 hours of public hearings, spending countless hours doing their own research and analyses.

The legislative process continues and the PSC should remain ready to provide further analyses, but not be drawn into the legislative process.

We commend Sen. Tom Dempsey for his leadership and fairness on the issue. He has brought both sides together several times to seek compromise, a better understanding of the legislation, and require changes to address his and other senators' concerns.

The ISRS legislation is important as it will lead to a more modern electric grid with higher reliability and good-paying jobs for many Missourians. Now let the Legislature do its job.

Irl Scissors • Olivette

Executive director, Missourians for a Balanced Energy Future

POLITICO Opinion: Modernize our outdated energy infrastructure

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:04:51 -0500

Imagine buying the latest computer with access to all the state-of-the-art games and programs — and then trying to access the Internet through a rotary phone. Forcing the latest technology to rely on outdated delivery systems doesn’t make sense in telecommunications, and it doesn’t make sense in energy either. Yet that is what America would essentially be trying to do if we don’t invest in our basic energy infrastructure.

Even as the national debate on carbon emissions rages on, our nation is undergoing a boom in clean energy innovation that is helping to reshape America’s energy future. President Obama seized on this progress in his State of the Union address and made a strong case for more investment in cleaner energy sources and better efficiency, from natural gas and renewables to smarter electric grids.

But if we are serious about speeding the transition to more sustainable technologies, as the president called for, we also need to get serious about making new investments in the nation’s basic energy infrastructure, which is still the backbone of our energy economy. It will do America little good to be the world leader in energy innovation if the other core components of the grid are not similarly advanced enough or reliable enough to get the power to the end user.

Yet the reality is that, a lot like our interstate highway system, vast portions of our power and natural gas networks were built in the post-World War II era. After half a century, critical parts of the system are reaching the limits of what they were designed to do. These limitations threaten to hold back progress toward our longer-term energy sustainability and security goals.

To his credit, the president touched on this challenge when he said America’s energy sector is part of an aging infrastructure badly in need of work. But while age is a crucial factor, it’s not the only reason we need to invest.

Integrating new technologies and new energy sources into our existing grid is not a simple matter of “plug and play.” Introducing technologies like distributed generation and electric cars on a large scale brings with it real-world engineering and operating challenges. Many of these can’t be addressed without upgrading or strengthening the supporting infrastructure.

Take renewables, for example. For all their benefits, power from solar and wind resources can be highly variable. As these resources become a bigger share of our overall energy mix, we need infrastructure to support them, from backup generation to new transmission and other technology that can keep power flows on the grid stable as renewable output fluctuates.

Vehicle electrification is another example. Charging an electric car can draw almost as much energy as a small home. Supporting large numbers of electric cars will require upgrading neighborhood electric distribution systems and installing new transformers and other equipment.

One leading study estimates the power industry alone needs to make as much as $2 trillion in basic system investments over the next couple of decades. By any measure, that’s a sobering figure. Fortunately though, it also comes with some good news.

These investments can put tens of thousands of Americans back to work. One analysis estimates that modernizing and upgrading the electric transmission system alone could create an additional 150,000 to 200,000 jobs every year over the next two decades. Investments Pacific Gas and Electric plans to make in the next several years in California are expected to support as many as 30,000 jobs. Moreover, this work is laying the foundation for future growth in a world where affordable, reliable and clean energy is only going to become more vital if America intends to stay competitive.

The president is right that “no area holds more promise than our investments in American energy.” But if we hope to realize this promise, we need to reverse the trend of underinvesting in our basic energy infrastructure over the past 20 years. With our long-term clean energy and energy security goals hanging in the balance and a workforce ready to put its skills to the task, the time to start is now.

Tony Earley is chairman and CEO of PG&E, one of the country’s largest gas and electric utilities, serving 15 million people and with 21,000 employees. Edwin Hill is the International president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which represents approximately 750,000 union members and retirees.

New Consumer Protections Added to ISRS Legislation

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:47:40 -0500

Good news for Missouri consumers--The Infrastructure Strengthening and Regulatory Streamlining (ISRS) legislation just got better as new language is expected to be added that will bolster the already strong Public Service Commission oversight in SB207/HB398.

In most states, utilities can forecast expected future costs. ISRS will force utilities to account for all tracked business expenses and all will be reviewed by the full authority of the PSC. There is a 2% cap on these tracked costs and NO recovery will be automatic.

ISRS is tough, transparent legislation that will bring immediate economic relief and new jobs for our state. MBEF's 5,000 members and all of Missouri electric consumers will stay protected.

Stay tuned for more updates.

-Irl

Irl Scissors, Executive Director

Good news for Missouri consumers--The Infrastructure Streamlining Regulatory... just got better as new language is expected to be added that will bolster the already strong Public Service Commission oversight in SB207/HB398.

In most states, utilities can forecast expected future costs. ISRS will force utilities to account for all tracked business expenses and all will be reviewed by the full authority of the PSC. There is 2% cap on these tracked costs and NO recovery will be automatic.

ISRS is tough, transparent legislation that will bring immediate economic relief and new jobs for our state. MBEF's 5,000 members and all of Missouri electric consumers will stay protected.

Stay tuned for more updates.

In most states, utilities can forecast expected future costs. ISRS will force utilities to account for all tracked business expenses and all will be reviewed by the full authority of the PSC. There is 2% cap on these tracked costs and NO recovery will be automatic.

ISRS is tough, transparent legislation that will bring immediate economic relief and new jobs for our state. MBEF's 5,000 members and all of Missouri electric consumers will stay protected.

Stay tuned for more updates.

-Irl

Irl Scissors, Executive Director

Tell legislators you support ISRS - a vital jobs bill for Missouri

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 17:28:20 -0600

Exciting progress is taking place in the Missouri General Assembly, and we need your help! The House and Senate are expected to vote on Infrastructure Strengthening and Regulatory Streamlining (ISRS) in the coming weeks. Please act now and make sure your legislator knows you support this critical legislation for Missouri.

Many of MBEF’s members delivered testimony at the House Utilities Committee’s ISRS hearings over the last two weeks. These individuals represent Missouri-based companies that employ hundreds of Missouri workers. They all testified in support of Missouri’s energy future. Missouri business owner, Michael Zambrana, expressed the thoughts of Missourians across the state:

“Our company is not immune, nor is anyone immune, to this economic climate. Incentivizing this kind of infrastructure investment, which ultimately benefits the consumer, can create thousands of jobs in our field.”

Make your voice heard too!

ISRS is a sound compromise that will not only create jobs, but modernize Missouri's century old utility regulations, creating a process that will encourage significant investment in Missouri's electric infrastructure, which will in turn provide safe, reliable and efficient electricity.

You can make an important difference in Missouri. This legislation will create jobs and attract economic development to Missouri. Please click here and make your voice heard.

-Irl Scissors, Executive Director

Exciting progress is taking place in the Missouri General Assembly, and we need your help!

The House and Senate are expected to vote on Infrastructure Strengthening and Regulatory

Streamlining (ISRS) in the coming weeks. Please act now and make sure your legislator

knows you support this critical legislation for Missouri.

Many of MBEF’s members delivered testimony at the House Utilities Committee’s ISRS

hearings over the last two weeks. These individuals represent Missouri-based companies that

employ hundreds of Missouri workers. They all testified in support of Missouri’s energy future.

Missouri business owner, Michael Zambrana, expressed the thoughts of Missourians across the

state:

“Our company is not immune, nor is anyone immune, to this economic climate. Incentivizing this

kind of infrastructure investment, which ultimately benefits the consumer, can create thousands

of jobs in our field.”

Make your voice heard too!

ISRS is a sound compromise that will not only create jobs, but modernize Missouri's century old

utility regulations, creating a process that will encourage significant investment in Missouri's

electric infrastructure, which will in turn provide safe, reliable and efficient electricity.

You can make an important difference in Missouri. This legislation will create jobs and attract

economic development to Missouri. Please click here and make your voice heard.

Sincerely,

Irl

Exciting progress is taking place in the Missouri General Assembly, and we need your help!

The House and Senate are expected to vote on Infrastructure Strengthening and Regulatory

Streamlining (ISRS) in the coming weeks. Please act now and make sure your legislator

knows you support this critical legislation for Missouri.

Many of MBEF’s members delivered testimony at the House Utilities Committee’s ISRS

hearings over the last two weeks. These individuals represent Missouri-based companies that

employ hundreds of Missouri workers. They all testified in support of Missouri’s energy future.

Missouri business owner, Michael Zambrana, expressed the thoughts of Missourians across the

state:

“Our company is not immune, nor is anyone immune, to this economic climate. Incentivizing this

kind of infrastructure investment, which ultimately benefits the consumer, can create thousands

of jobs in our field.”

Make your voice heard too!

ISRS is a sound compromise that will not only create jobs, but modernize Missouri's century old

utility regulations, creating a process that will encourage significant investment in Missouri's

electric infrastructure, which will in turn provide safe, reliable and efficient electricity.

You can make an important difference in Missouri. This legislation will create jobs and attract

economic development to Missouri. Please click here and make your voice heard.

-Irl

Irl Scissors, Executive Director

MBEF Notes Missouri PSC Analysis: NO Additional Cost to Electric Customers Under Power Infrastructure Legislation

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:01:07 -0600

(Jefferson City, Mo.) – A new Missouri Public Service Commission analysis says legislation to modernize power infrastructure won’t carry any extra costs for electric customers compared to current law.

“The Missouri PSC, which has final say on any utility case, is the recognized authority when it comes to electric rates. The independent Missouri PSC has ultimate credibility on this matter, especially versus opponents of the legislation who have a long history of misrepresenting facts and falling far short of the truth,” said Irl Scissors, Executive Director of Missourians for a Balanced Energy Future.

The bipartisan PSC and its professional staff made the conclusion in a report requested by Senator Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, sponsor of Senate Bill 207. The legislation would enable Missouri’s investor-owned electric companies to be reimbursed on a more timely basis for dollars already spent on power infrastructure. Five times in its report to Senator Kehoe about the potential cost of Senate Bill 207 for electric customers, the Public Service Commission said there is NO more impact on the costs than there would be after a larger, longer general rate case.

Scissors noted that SB207 will extend to electric utilities the same opportunity as water and gas utilities to recover costs from infrastructure investments. “For nearly a decade, our state’s gas and water utilities have used the procedure in the legislation to directly benefit consumers, stabilize rates and improve their infrastructure. It will modernize the current regulatory barrier for electric utilities across the state and allow for necessary upgrades to power generation facilities, substations and distribution systems. This legislation is a positive step in bringing the cost savings and benefits consumers deserve,” Scissors said.

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MBEF Statement on Passage of ISRS in Senate Committee

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 12:04:00 -0600

Statement by Executive Director Irl Scissors on Senate Committee Passage of ISRS Legislation

The Senate Commerce and Energy Committee took a step forward for Missouri today by overwhelmingly voting to support Senate Bill 207, the Infrastructure Strengthening and Regulatory Streamlining Act. The committee took input from a wide range of consumer groups, businesses and energy supporters. The resulting legislation is a sound compromise that will spur needed investment in electric infrastructure and implement strong consumer protections.

In the coming weeks, MBEF’s membership will ask the full Senate to vote in favor of this important legislation. The benefits are clear. The legislation will immediately create good paying jobs, position Missouri to attract high tech industry and improve reliability for consumers.

Thank you to Senator Mike Kehoe, his co-sponsors and the committee members for working hard to create this compromise legislation. Their forward thinking legislation will be a great benefit for Missouri’s economic future.

Statement by Executive Director Irl Scissors on Senate Committee Passage of ISRS Legislation

Statement by Executive Director Irl Scissors on Senate Committee Passage of ISRS Legislation

More progress this week for ISRS legislation

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 09:00:00 -0600

Major happenings on the energy front in Missouri this week.

Important legislation to make our electric regulatory process more efficient and allow $1 billion in upgrades to our energy infrastructure – creating jobs in the process – made significant progress this week! The Infrastructure Strengthening and Regulatory Streamlining (ISRS) bill was discussed at a hearing of the Senate Energy & Environment Committee on Tuesday.

Introduced by Sen. Mike Kehoe and Rep. Jeanie Riddle, Senate Bill 207 and its companion House Bill 398, have widespread bipartisan support with 105 General Assembly members backing the legislation. Small and large business owners, the academic community and Missouri's well-trained workforce have also all rallied in support of each bill.

The Senate committee hearing room was packed with supporters as Missourians from across the state testified in support of this critical bill. Witnesses shared the key benefits of ISRS, like the construction jobs that will almost immediately be created, the manufacturing jobs our state will be positioned to attract and the improved reliability of our electricity infrastructure.

Click here to read news accounts and letters to the editor on the ISRS bill.

Also in the news, Missouri based company Burns and McDonnell and Westinghouse agreed to join in partnership to further the design and development of Small Modular Reactors. As you know, this could bring thousands of new jobs and make Missouri a global leader and exporter in the manufacturing and technology of SMRs. The first of these plants and many more could be manufactured right here in our state.

See more on this here.

We’ve seen promising progress on these issues but we have a long way to go. MBEF will continue to provide updates as the ISRS legislation moves through the process. Thank you for your continued support of Missouri’s energy future.

Exciting news: ISRS legislation progresses to the MO House

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:00:00 -0600

Exciting progress to report in the Missouri General Assembly this week! Rep. Jeanie Riddle introduced House Bill 398 with 87 co-sponsors (more than half the House). Rep. Riddle’s legislation, the Infrastructure Strengthening and Regulator Streamlining (ISRS) bill, makes a burdensome regulatory process more efficient and allows and encourages electric utilities to invest $1 billion in vital upgrades over the next decade – creating much needed jobs in the process.

As you know, last week Sen. Mike Kehoe and 16 cosponsors introduced Senate Bill 207. We are grateful to see the overwhelming and bi-partisan support for this crucial piece of legislation. Our state’s leaders have clearly heard your voices in support of an upgraded electricity infrastructure.

Senator Kehoe’s bill is scheduled to be heard on Tuesday afternoon in the Senate Commerce Committee. Please join us and show your support! We’ll be at the Senate Lounge at 3:00 on Tuesday and hope to see our MBEF members in large numbers.

If we seize this opportunity presented by Sen. Kehoe and State Rep. Riddle, Missouri will:

*Be well positioned to attract well-paying manufacturing jobs

*Make necessary infrastructure upgrades

*Improve reliability of utilities

*Reduce outages

*Assure direct benefits and cost savings for Missourians

*Become more competitive with surrounding states

MBEF will continue to provide updates as the ISRS legislation moves through the process. Thank you for making ISRS legislation a priority and supporting Missouri’s energy future.

Kehoe: Infrastructure is Critical to Jobs

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 09:00:00 -0600

Below is an excerpt from Sen. Mike Kehoe's Capitol Report:

I believe that infrastructure improvements and maintenance are critical to Missouri and provide good, long-term, boots-on-the-ground jobs whether that infrastructure is above ground, below ground, or on the ground. Accordingly, on Thursday I filed Senate Bill 207 relating to electrical Infrastructure Strengthening and Regulatory Streamlining (ISRS). Missouri’s electrical infrastructure is aging, and Missouri’s century old regulatory processes make efficient and cost-effective electrical infrastructure improvements almost impossible.

ISRS has been in place for over a decade in the gas and water industry and has proven very successful. All the consumer protections which have proven more than adequate in gas and water ISRS are in place in SB207. These changes will immediately improve Missouri’s standing on the bond market as well as ensure that Missouri is well positioned for large manufacturing investment in areas such as Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology that Westinghouse and the utility alliance are working hard bring to the state. Old and outdated regulatory processes should not stifle much needed infrastructure investment.

Making energy, jobs and economic growth a priority in 2013

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 09:00:00 -0600

Affordable and reliable energy is a critical component of our state’s economy. It powers our homes and businesses, attracts industry to our state and creates jobs for our citizens. But while Missouri is home to some of the most affordable electric rates in the nation, we face dramatic problems.

Right now, many of our coal plants – which provide 80% of Missouri’s electric power – are more than 45 years old. The average life of a coal plant is 60 years. Likewise, the substations key to getting power from those plants to our homes also are aging – and in need of more than $1 billion in upgrades. Making these investments creates jobs and helps make opportunities like smart grid, increased energy efficiency and SMR technology a reality.

Right now, our state’s century-old electricity regulations are slowing the state’s progress and investment in our infrastructure. Our neighboring states are pulling ahead, reaping key benefits of more efficient and updated infrastructure, while our state becomes less competitive with an outdated and uncertain system in place. With your support, MBEF seeks to change that and make energy, jobs and economic growth a state priority for 2013. Please keep checking back to learn more and find out about how you can get involved.

Good News Ahead in 2013

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 10:15:00 -0600

For those of us who are concerned about Missouri’s energy future, this year holds great promise. As the 2013 legislative session gets underway, we are looking forward to seeing how legislative proposals will unfold. We are encouraged as both House Speaker Jones and Senate President Pro Tem Dempsey list policy reforms that support investment and upgrades to Missouri’s energy infrastructure, as top policy priorities for 2013

The continued support of Missouri’s alliance to bring Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology and manufacturing to our state will remain very much a priority in 2013. With U.S. Department of Energy funding still in play, and Missouri’s alliance, led by Governor Nixon, all of the state’s utility providers and Westinghouse Electric Company prepared to support this effort, Missouri remains in position to be a global leader in SMR research, technology and manufacturing.

MBEF remains focused on these issues and looks forward to supporting legislation that aims to create new jobs, boost our economy and keep Missouri energy rates low and predictable to help attract new businesses to our state.

If you have not already done so, please take a minute to update your contact information with us, to ensure we can create customized advocacy alerts just for you in 2013.

Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, sign up to receive updates on your cell phone or share this message with your friends.

Nuclear Power Garners Bipartisan Support

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 10:15:00 -0500

It’s clear from the debate around the merits and drawbacks of various electricity and fuel sources that energy policy can be a highly polarizing topic. In fact, it’s arguable that there is no energy option that holds a truly bipartisan appeal: Every form of energy faces pockets of dissent. This makes crafting universally accepted energy policy particularly challenging.

Fortunately, there are rare areas for bipartisan agreement among policymakers around specific energy policy issues that must be central to future investment in America’s energy portfolio.

Policymakers agree that whatever sources we invest in, they must be sufficient both to meet growing energy demand and environmental requirements. They agree that the energy we invest in should support growth in American jobs and in the economy. They agree that our energy portfolio should be sustainable over time, aligned with our broader national goals.

The energy policy that I’ve seen garner consistent support from the left and the right over the years is also one with which I’m deeply familiar. This policy involves building a diverse portfolio of low-carbon energy sources, featuring a renewed investment in nuclear energy. And it’s not just policymakers from both sides of the aisle who support nuclear energy – it’s everyday energy consumers as well. According to a Gallup pollconducted in March of this year, nearly 60 percent of Americans support the use of nuclear energy to meet our nation’s electricity needs, and a majority support expanding America’s use of nuclear power.

Next-generation nuclear energy projects are underway in Georgia, South Carolina andTennessee, thanks in part to steady popular support, as well as support from President Obama, bipartisan congressional leaders and other policymakers at the federal and state levels. An additional 10 combined construction and operating licenses for 16 plants are under review by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

This support is founded in the fact that nuclear energy, safely managed, provides an efficient, reliable source of energy. In fact, nuclear power is the only baseload source of carbon-free electricity. It provides nearly two-thirds of the nation’s low-carbon electricity, and will continue to be an important source of energy well into the future given the advent of innovative large and small reactor designs. The use of nuclear energy prevents more than 613 million metric tons of carbon dioxide every year – as much CO2 as is emitted by every passenger car in America.

Bipartisan support for nuclear energy also stems from the boost that it provides to local job markets and to local and state economies. As nuclear energy expands and as more than half of the industry workforce approaches retirement, the industry offers growing opportunities for well-paying careers. The industry already supports more than 100,000 jobs, and the combination of retirements and the construction of new facilities could create as many as 25,000 new jobs in the near term. What’s more, the construction of a nuclear facility spurs the creation of other local jobs in industries ranging from manufacturing to hospitality. The industry generates between $40 and $50 billion in revenue and electricity sales, or some $470 million in total economic output and $40 million in labor wages at each U.S. facility every year. That’s a powerful economic engine and a positive impact that leaders are embracing.

As America refocuses on cleaner energy policies that help boost our economy, nuclear power is becoming a clear and critical part of a secure, sustainable energy portfolio. We need electricity and we want clean air; with nuclear energy we can have both. It’s a source of power that leaders on both sides of the aisle can support.

Tuesday's primary results are in! Where does your candidate stand on energy issues?

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 10:15:00 -0500

Tuesday’s primary election marked an important day in Missouri. Some races determined the new state Senators and Representatives headed to Jefferson City in January; others narrowed the competition down to two final candidates who’ll compete to win in November.

Congratulations to all the winners and good luck to those facing challenges in November.

Special congratulations go out to former state Representatives and soon-to-be state Senators-elect Ed Emery and Gina Walsh. As House members, they previously served as Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the House Utilities Committee, respectively. Congratulations are also in order for Representative Jason Holsman, another state Senator-elect who served as Chair of the House Special Standing Committee on Renewable Energy.

I look forward to working with these new state Senators, the other victors from Tuesday's primary and those yet to be decided in November.

As record-high summer temperatures and ever-changing job numbers continue to dominate the headlines, now is the time to remind new, incumbent and future elected officials that energy issues are top of mind to today's voters. And with the pending Department of Energy announcement relating to investment funding for Small Modular Reactors expected any time now, Missouri is at a critical moment in terms of our energy future.

Winning the $452 investment funding for SMRs would position Missouri to become a global leader in energy technology and manufacturing – and our legislators should be educated and prepared for this and other major decisions that will shape our energy future. With that in mind, we asked candidates to complete a survey regarding important energy issues facing our state.

Please review our MBEF 2012 Voter Guide so that you can see just where our newly-elected and future legislators stand on energy issues. Make sure to check back often in the coming weeks, as new candidates are weighing in every day.

Stay tuned for news on the upcoming SMR announcement. As always, you can count on MBEF for updates and resources to help us better plan a clean, reliable and affordable energy future for Missouri.

Guest Blog: Industry has power to change

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 10:15:00 -0500

Our nation is on the cusp of a nuclear energy revolution driven by technology innovators and university researchers alike. New small module reactor designs, (SMRs) — built in modules with the capability of producing power anywhere in the world — have the power to change the way we use nuclear energy. For the revolution to advance, a new generation of energy pioneers must lead the charge. Thanks in part to the support of strong leaders who are committed to expanding nuclear energy, Missouri might be that pioneer.

Missouri is competing for a $45.2 million grant from the Department of Energy to build the first SMRs. If successful, Ameren Missouri and Westinghouse Electric could build as many as five micro-reactors in the state.

Building the first SMR represents more than just a milestone in nuclear technology advancement. It represents a significant economic opportunity for Missouri and for the nation.

NexStart SMR Alliance held an economic summit Monday in Columbia that focused on the potential economic outcomes should the grant to build SMRs be awarded to Missouri. The summit recognized the value of innovative nuclear energy production in creating jobs and, more broadly, for economic growth across the state in a broad range of manufacturing and service industries.

SMRs are smaller-scale reactors that have a minimal footprint and smaller electric generating capacity than their larger counterparts. Typical small designs are 300 megawatts or less, compared to the 1,000-megawatt output of the typical large reactor. Because they're more compact, they can be added to the power grid incrementally as electricity demand rises or used for myriad other uses, such as water desalination, hydrogen production or to generate processed heat for manufacturing facilities.

SMRs are also quicker and more cost-efficient to build. They're small enough to manufacture and even pre-assemble in a factory setting. By shaving years of construction and hundreds of millions of dollars in cost off the investment in nuclear energy, SMRs put nuclear power within easier reach of smaller American energy companies and emerging economies.

SMRs can help states more easily increase their use of reliable energy options that do not produce greenhouse gases or air pollution, reducing their carbon footprint and improving air quality. In Missouri, which uses nuclear energy to meet 10 percent of its electricity needs, increasing the use of carbon-free energy would result in cleaner air.

Building modular reactors in Missouri will create well-paying jobs for hardworking Missourians in a wide range of disciplines. Jobs in the nuclear energy industry also mean new training and education opportunities in a range of sectors, from design and construction to operations and support of the facilities. Missouri's education system is well prepared to meet this need.

What's more, if Missouri builds the first SMRs, other states interested in SMR development — such as South Carolina and Washington — might follow suit. Not only might they look to Missouri as a model for how to build their own, but the state could play a leading role in manufacturing to support construction and maintenance of these new designs. As a pioneer in building SMRs and with an ongoing commitment to nuclear energy, Missouri could become the SMR hub of the nation. As an added benefit, building factories in Missouri or other states to produce and distribute SMRs means that the nuclear energy industry is creating new manufacturing jobs right here in the United States, where they're badly needed.

As well-established and reliable large reactors continue to produce one-fifth of America's electricity, the development of innovative small reactor designs could lead the industry into an era of significant change and opportunity. They also will drive economic growth in the communities and states that build them. Every Missourian should be eager to see what the future holds for nuclear energy, and for the state, as the outcome of this grant award is decided.

Christine Todd Whitman, former EPA administrator and New Jersey governor, is the co-chair of the Clean and Safe Energy (CASEnergy) Coalition, an organization funded by the Nuclear Energy Institute that promotes the inclusion and expansion of nuclear energy as part of a sustainable, clean energy portfolio.

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About the Author:

If you'd like a copy of the entire report, email Irl Scissors at irl@moenergyfuture.org. Click here to download the full PDF one-pager (as seen below).

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Guest Blog: Industry has power to change

If you'd like a copy of the entire report, email Irl Scissors at irl@moenergyfuture.org.

Click here to download the full PDF one-pager (as seen below).