May 22, 2012

You are here: Home / Archives for Energy

Sponsor says Ameren bill’s backers ready if bill brought up in special session

July 27, 2011 By

The Senate sponsor of the Ameren site permit bill thinks the alliance that backed it is ready to support it in the special session in September.  Senator Mike Kehoe’s legislation would allow electric companies to pass along to customers the cost of getting a new site permit.

In addition to Ameren, it was supported by Empire District Electric, Kansas City Power and Light, the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Associated Electric Cooperative and the Missouri Public Utility Alliance. Kehoe says those entities are still talking daily and are in agreement on a balanced approach.

Kehoe thinks the bill fits in with the economic development package already being discussed because the project to build a new nuclear power plant at the Callaway County site would create jobs.

The Senator believes passing the site permit bill in special session could also make the project eligible for grants being considered now in Washington D.C. He says the grants would further reduce the amount ratepayers incur.

So far the special session will deal with the economic development bill and a change in the date of Missouri’s presidential primary.

Filed Under: Business, Energy, Environment & Conservation, Legislature, News, Politics & Government

Supreme Court upholds energy company merger

July 20, 2011 By

The Missouri Supreme Court has upheld the state Public Service Commission’s approval of a 2008 merger between Great Plains Energy and Aquilia. Great Plains Energy spokesperson Chuck Caisley says customers will not notice anything different.

The court ruled the possible concerns about gift policies and private meetings were not sufficient reasons to reject the merger.

Great Plains Energy is the parent company of Kansas City Power and Light.

Ray Read of KCMO contributed to this report.

Filed Under: Briefs, Energy

Ameren customers to pay for filtration systems, but not Tom Sauk

July 14, 2011 By

Ameren Missouri customers will see a rate increase as the utility provider works to filter emissions and abide by environmental standards.

The average residential ratepayer will see their utility bill go up about 8 dollars a month, says Public Service Chairman Kevin Gunn. The cost is to install scrubbers, air filtration systems that remove more than 95 percent of a plant’s sulfur dioxide emissions.

The Sioux Plant near St. Louis is one that will benefit from the new filtration systems, resulting in cleaner burning energy.

However, Gunn says the PSC denied Ameren’s request to charge customers for work on the Taum Sauk reservoir. He says the Taum Sauk reservoir failed in 2005 due to faulty construction and equipment on Ameren’s part, and the company agreed then to hold ratepayers harmless in rebuilding. In they plan submitted, he says, commissioners had a hard time differentiating between reconstruction and enhancements, so they denied that request.

Ameren Missouri utility customers will pay about $8 a month more each month when a recently approved rate hike goes into effect. That will help pay for the $172 million Ameren Missouri is recouping for the filtration systems.

The commission approved the increase and denied the Taum Sauk enhancement costs on a 5-0 vote. Gunn says enhancements only would qualify for a rate hike, but because it was unclear if they were true enhancements, not part of the rebuild, the commission said “no.”

AUDIO: Jessica Machetta reports [Mp3, 1:17 min.]

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Environment & Conservation, News, Politics & Government, Science & Technology

Smarter energy use could lead to more business in Missouri (AUDIO)

June 23, 2011 By

The Public Service Commission is partnering with the federal government to make Missouri’s energy grid smarter. This means making appliances able to send information to each other – so that they can turn off or turn down if they’re using too much energy, saving Missourians money. Commission Chairman Kevin Gunn says there’s an added bonus.

Gunn says businesses, such as IBM need data storage centers. These are large buildings that house computer servers, and they use a lot of power.

Gunn says Missouri can up the amount of power it gets from water or nuclear; currently 85 percent of Missouri’s energy use comes from coal.

Gunn says giving companies choices in how they use energy is what will drive them to Missouri. He says the PSC will be taking advantage of grants to update the energy grid and install smart meters These allow companies to set up a smart meter, to turn lights and air conditioning off automatically. In that way, they can use energy more effectively.

(AUDIO) Allison Blood reports on how Missouri could attract more business. Mp3 1:00

Filed Under: Business, Energy

EPA Administrator says administration has nothing against coal (AUDIO)

June 19, 2011 By

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson/ EPA photo

The administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency insists the EPA isn’t out to get coal, but does want to address the pollution emitted from coal-fired power plants.

Jackson claims in an interview with the Missourinet that the proposed rules regulating coal-fired plants places all such plants on the same level, both old plants without scrubbers and the new ones with. Jackson says coal is fine as long as pollution is addressed.

“We’re not against coal, but if you want to burn coal you need to do it in a way that it doesn’t add more pollution to our air. And, again, remember that pollution results in our children getting sicker and our elderly residents perhaps dying prematurely, because of air pollution,” Jackson tells the Missourinet. “Air pollution, fine particles are killers.”

Jackson says those who claim the proposed EPA rules on coal costs too much have too narrow a focus.

“The recent rule that we proposed, the mercury and air toxic rules, have benefits of about $10 of health benefits for every dollar spent,” Jackson says. “So, it’s ten-to-one health benefits that you get from investing in pollution controls.”

Jackson denies the Obama Administration wants to get rid of coal. She insists that coal remains a part of the nation’s energy future.

AUDIO: Brent Martin reports [:60 MP3]

AUDIO: Brent Martin interviews EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson [4:15 MP3]

Filed Under: Energy, Environment & Conservation
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »