Energy future: Where do we stand?
I was surprised to learn Missouri has the best electric power rate record in the nation. Between 2000 and 2008, across the nation average rates per kilowatt hour went up 24.1 percent. Missouri was the only state actually showing a decrease.
But this happy day is not forever. In the next 20 years, Missouri’s demand for electricity is projected to increase about 25 percent, and 90 percent of our aging coal-fired power plants probably will have to be retired. Remaining coal-fired production will be increasingly expensive to cover clean-air requirements. Clearly, we need to look ahead.
That’s why the new planned construction proposed by a consortium of investor-owned power companies deserves support.
The companies are taking another run at Callaway II, the expansion of nuclear generating capacity in Callaway County. They want new legislation to allow the recovery of costs for only the site application process in the form of small rate increases over 20 years evaluated and granted by the state Public Service Commission.
Expansion of Callaway is the best answer to future energy needs. We should continue to explore alternative sources as well, but as we learned anew in the past few days, none offers the advantage and promise of nuclear generation. A promising-sounding plan to generate large-scale power by burning forest biomass fizzled under closer scrutiny. The supply could not be ensured, and costs were out of line.
We should start now preparing for an expansion of Callaway. Planning and construction will take 10 years. The site permit alone will take three years and cost $40 million, an outlay to be paid up front by state electric service providers and recovered through rate increases costing the average residential consumer less than a dollar per year.
Missouri lawmakers should pass this sensible legislation as a top priority next year.
HJW III
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
— PLATO (C. 427-347 B.C.)
philosopher and educator
