Until this year the bulk of my knowledge about nuclear power plants came from the Simpsons and Silkwood. As a new member of the Senate's Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy & the Environment Committee, I find myself in the middle of what may be the most contentious issue, other than the budget, to face the legislature this session -- CWIP -- Construction Work in Progress.Right now utility companies cannot raise energy rates to pay for power plants under construction. Instead, the companies must wait until the plant is completed, then apply to the Public Service Commission (PSC) to raise rates to cover the cost of the plant construction. This law was approved by the people of the state of Missouri in 1976. Senate Bill 228, filed by Senator Delbert Scott (R-Lowry City), would repeal that law and allow AmerenUE to raise utility rates now to finance the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Callaway County.
AmerenUE says CWIP is necessary because there is a need for the increased energy capacity and they would not be able to get the financing without CWIP. Opponents say CWIP is unfair to ratepayers and environmentally unsound.
I've met with lobbyists on both sides of the issue. I'm doing my research and preparing for the upcoming hearing and inevitable debate on the Senate floor. I will provide updates as the session progresses.
In addition to reading this blog, you can keep track of CWIP and all the latest news in Jefferson City, on Facebook and Twitter, or you can always join me any Friday for coffee and conversation at Coffee Break (5400 Troost Ave).
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8 comments:
You beat me to the punch!
Nice post. Please keep us all up to date and let us know whom to contact to try and stop this nightmare.
Please note that this bill -sb228- also redefines all coal as "clean"...among its other unwise, shortsighted, and expensive provisions.
Raising peoples rates during the worst recession in sixty years is among the more daft things I've ever heard of.
Sweden is now reconsidering their movement toward abolishing nuclear power.
If nuclear is so great, why won't Ameren pay for it themselves -- oh yeah, no one will fund it because it's such a boondoggle. Every nuclear plant built recently ran billions overbudget and years overschedule. If people think this is a good way to create jobs in Missouri, they are crazy. We should use a FRACTION of the money it would take to build Callaway II and invest in energy efficiency retrofits for public buildings and rental properties alike.
Forgive me if I'm just missing it... but I can't seem to find an RSS feed link on your blog.
smays.com
Steve - thanks for the heads up. RSS feed links have been added
There are two requirements I'd add to this to support anything like this:
1) Any rate increases authorized by this legislation must still go through the PSC and be clearly stated in advance.
2) Should, for any reason, construction be halted or in some other way delayed, consumers must see a commensurate decrease in their bills to repay them.
I understand how difficult funding is to get with the current economic climate, so in order to expand capacity they need another source of income, but they need to be firmly committed to using any rate increase properly.
Thanks for opening up this forum.
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