Senate joins the House in taking action on Missouri’s energy future
Encouraging progress continues taking shape for early site permit legislation in Jefferson City. On Tuesday, House Bill 124 passed the Utilities Committee and was moved to the floor for full consideration. And on Wednesday, Senator Mike Kehoe introduced Senate Bill 321, a measure that is similar to Senate Bill 50, but includes additional and stronger consumer protections:
- A hard cost cap: Senate Bill 321 sets a strict limit of $45 million on the amount of site permit costs that can be recovered from consumers.
- Clear conditions for returning costs to consumers: Under Senate bill 321, any costs recovered under this legislation would be returned to consumers if the utility sells or transfers the site permit, or if the permit expires without construction of a nuclear plant and the PSC determines that the site permit costs were imprudently incurred.
- Strict oversight by Missouri Public Service Commission: The Missouri Public Service Commission must agree that the costs were prudently incurred.
Kehoe’s new bill carries broad bipartisan support with a majority of the Senate, 20 Senators in all signing on as co-sponsors. Gov. Jay Nixon has also indicated his support for the legislation, stating that he intends to sign it into law once it passes the legislature.
Missouri is moving on the right path toward more jobs, clean energy and affordable rates.
