The Renew Gurus

You might assume Renew Missouri would have taken the week off and not bothered you with the latest and greatest on renewable energy policy and politics in the Show-Me State. But no! In fact, we are starting back up with our Legislative Series where we aren't necessarily talking about renewables but helping our audience get to know people who serve in the Missouri Legislature. Which is a really har...

We're covering breaking news on Renew Gurus this week. As you might have seen in yesterday's press release, the Public Service Commission (PSC) approved Evergy's (formerly KCP&L's) MEEIA programs that promises to save customers a lot of money and to cut significantly on the amount of power Evergy has to produce. The decision is a big win for Missouri.

A special, early version of Renew Gurus this week. Perhaps you can plug this in on your long car ride or gather the family around the fireplace and listen to the smooth sounds of General Counsel Tim Opitz and I discussing Court of Appeal decisions brought down last week on the Infrastructure System Replacement Surcharge (ISRS) law. What does this have to do with renewable energy or efficiency? Not...

This week, Renew Gurus talks about an issue we deal with A LOT at Renew Missouri: Homeowner Associations restrictions on rooftop solar panels. General Counsel Tim Opitz and I talk about why these onerous restrictions are so common, whether they are legal, and how to deal with them if you want to put solar panels on your roof. Tim and I also get into a weird jurisprudence discussion for you legal n...

We are joined this week by Matt Forck, Ameren Missouri's Vice-President for Community, Economic Development, and Energy Solutions. We talk about some of Ameren Missouri's exciting solar programs, but also about recent news that the PSC approved the utility's Charges Ahead program that promises to kick-start the electric vehicle (EV) market in the Show-Me State. We also talk about the company's Com...

This week, we're looking at a case that's made quite a splash at the Public Service Commission (PSC) the past week. It involves Kansas City Power & Light's (KCPL) decision to close one of their coal plants. Which is good! We like that and want to see more utility companies do the same thing.

This week, we're looking at a case that's made quite a splash at the Public Service Commission (PSC) the past week. It involves Kansas City Power & Light's (KCPL) decision to close one of their coal plants. Which is good! We like that and want to see more utility companies do the same thing.

We have an honest-to-goodness Renew Guru on this week. Mark Cayce, the Director of the Ouachita Electric Cooperative in southern Arkansas, is our guest to talk about his coop's experience with the Pay As You Save (PAYS), a program where energy efficiency measures are paid back to the utility through your bill every month. This has worked in places like North Carolina and New Hampshire and, yes, Ar...

This is not a repeat. We're talking about PACE again. But now we are focused on the Greene County Commission's decision to back out of the clean energy financing policy and the City of Springfield's pending decision to back out of this. Much of the rationale for this is based on incorrect information and rhetoric pushed by opponents of the legislation. We also go over some of these anti-PACE talki...

A very special edition of Renew Gurus is in your inbox this week. We welcome the return of Office of Public Counsel Chief Economist Geoff Marke to discuss Urban Heat Islands and how mitigating them will lead to great energy efficiency. This leads into the Kansas City Power & Light (KCPL) Missouri Energy Efficiency Investment Act (MEEIA) hearing being conducted on September 23rd and 24th at the PSC...

This week's Renew Gurus digs into the Ameren Gas Rate Case that just concluded before the PSC. General Counsel Tim Optiz and I talk about the energy efficiency programs tied into the case as well as other relevant decisions involving conservation and fixed charges. We also explain why in the Heck Renew Missouri is interested in a gas utility case to begin with. You may also notice this is the seco...

Renew Missouri has been working very hard on wind farm projects all over the state. From the southwest to the northeast and all other points and beyond, Renew Missouri has advocated for these clean energy sources before the Public Service Commission and local planning & zoning commissions. In this effort, our staff has come across some...interesting arguments from anti-wind activists about the "da...

This week, Renew Missouri Counsel Tim Opitz and I discuss a rulemaking change our organization filed with the Public Service Commission (PSC). This involves changing the regulations involving the co-generation of solar onto the grid. Congress passed the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) in 1978 with the purpose of diversifying the types of power sources used by our utilities. Missouri...

This week, we talk with Ygrene's Byron DeLear about the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) district in Missouri. What is PACE, how has it impacted the Missouri economy, and why legislative efforts must be taken to make PACE stronger and better.

We're back on track this week as the Renew Gurus tackle House Bill 220, which changes the ways counties assess the value of wind farms. This is a very big deal in removing a hurdle for utility companies in building out their renewable production.

Renew Gurus on EV Charging Stations and how recent case law required the Legislature to act this year to make it easier for municipal utilities and rural electric cooperatives to build EV charging stations.

This week. we get a chance to talk about the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) here in Missouri. This is a crucial program for housing, poverty, and energy efficiency. No one knows more about this than Andrew Linhares who, in addition to being our St. Louis Director, is also the state lead for Energy Efficiency For All (EEFA).

This week, we travel to Kansas City to talk with Keith Murphy of RisingSun Solar. The Renew Gurus take over the KC office of Renew Missouri...

This week, Renew Gurus takes a look at the City of Columbia's Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. While this focuses on many issues, we talked specifically about renewable energy and energy efficiency with Climate Action Task Force Member, Alexander Antel on what it means, why it matters, and how you can weigh in.

Episode 19 -Our Guest Needs No Introduction by Renew Missouri

Episode 18 - Due Process is in the Top 5 List by Renew Missouri

Link to House Resolution 109 (submitted by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez):https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hres109/BILLS-116hres109ih.pdf Article describing Noranda's history & aluminum smeltering plant closure: https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/noranda-aluminum-closure-marks-the-end-of-an-era-in/article_335027a8-2a8b-591f-9f9c-aaabbffab0a0.html

Episode 16- On Location with Rep. Shane Roden by Renew Missouri

Episode 15- On Location with Representative Bill Kidd by Renew Missouri

Episode 14 - On Location with Rocky Miller by Renew Missouri