States approve green-energy measures

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

By Consulting Specifying Engineer Staff November 17, 2008

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.