Press release
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Renew Missouri, a not-for-profit group focused on renewable energy and energy efficiency policy around the Show-Me State, is proud to highlight that Missouri now ranks 23rd in the nation for renewable energy progress. As lawmakers are sworn in and formally convene this Wednesday, Renew Missouri remains committed to advocating for the adoption of more renewable energy and to fight for laws that will promote more sustainable power and enable customer freedom.
Since there is no singular list that definitively ranks state’s on renewable energy and energy efficiency progress, RenewMissouri takes a number of organization’s scoring and aggregates them. This includes:
- Renewable Energy Production by State (17) – Department of Energy (DOE)
- ACEEE State Scorecard (33) – American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) – Renewable Energy Jobs (27) – CleanJobsCount.org
- Energy Efficiency Jobs (21) – CleanJobsCount.org
- Installed Solar by MW (17) – National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
- Net Metering Policy Score (20) – FreeingTheGrid.org
- Energy Consumption Per Capita (27) – Energy Information Administration
Executive Director James Owen comments on Missouri’s progress: “In 2006, our state was ranked 34th according to these metrics. In 2017, we were 27th. This jump shows that Missouri lawmakers and policymakers are making strides to keep these vital industries moving forward.”
Owen notes that the Missouri Legislature will have several positive pieces of legislation to consider this session regarding renewable energy but also signals concern that problematic proposals are being floated.
“There is a very real threat that parties wanting to see the demise of rooftop solar are going to put forward legislation
that will lead to the end of that industry in our state. These special interests want Missouri to resemble Kansas, whofroze out customers’ choices to get part of their power from the sun.
“If this comes up, lawmakers need to decide if our state will pursue policies to make us more like Kansas or if they want Missouri to move forward and give customers real choices in where they get their energy.”
Renew Missouri has detailed their work before the Legislature and the Public Service Commission in 2018 on their website.
