States approve green-energy measures

Voters in Missouri and Colorado voice approval for clean/renewable energy issues.

By Consulting Specifying Engineer Staff

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The Missouri Clean Energy Initiative —also known as Proposition C—passed overwhelmingly at the polls. The measure requires the state's investor-owned utilities to draw on renewable energy for 15% of their electricity supply by 2021.

Proposition C garnered approval from 66% of the state's voters, passing in every county but one. The statutory ballot measure defines renewable energy as wind power, solar thermal power, solar photovoltaic power, small hydropower, a variety of biomass energy sources, and fuel cells powered by hydrogen from renewable energy sources; it also allows the Missouri Dept. of Natural Resources to designate new renewable energy sources. The measure requires at least 2% of the requirement to be met with solar energy, and it requires the utilities to offer their retail customers rebates of $2 per watt for customer-owned solar power systems, up to a limit of $50,000.

In addition, voters in Boulder County, Colo., approved a ballot issue for the county to provide financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements to residential and commercial properties. Modeled on a similar measure adopted by Berkeley, Calif., Boulder County Ballot Issue 1A passed easily, with unofficial results showing 63.63% of voters approving the measure. It allows Boulder County to issue up to $40 million in special assessment bonds to finance the clean energy improvements.