Missouri
Incentives/Policies for Renewable Energy
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Last DSIRE Review: 06/17/2009
| Incentive Type: |
Renewables Portfolio Standard |
| State: |
Missouri |
| Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: |
Solar Water Heat,
Solar Space Heat,
Solar Thermal Electric,
Solar Thermal Process Heat,
Photovoltaics,
Landfill Gas,
Wind,
Biomass,
Hydroelectric,
Geothermal Electric
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| Applicable Sectors: |
Utility
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| Standard: | 2% by 12/31/07; 15% by 12/31/22 |
| Technology Minimum: | Goal of 1% solar |
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Web Site: |
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/
WaterandLight/Electric/ElectricSupplyInformation.php
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Authority 1:
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Columbia Code of Ordinances, §27-106
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| Date Enacted: | 11/02/2004 |
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Summary:
In November 2004, voters in Columbia, Missouri approved a proposal to adopt a local renewables portfolio standard (RPS).* The initiative requires the city's municipal utility, Columbia Water & Light, to generate or purchase electricity generated from eligible renewable-energy resources at the following levels:- 2% by December 31, 2007
- 5% by December 31, 2012
- 10% by December 31, 2017
- 15% by December 31, 2022
Eligible renewable-energy resources outlined in the ordinance include solar energy (both electricity and heat), wind electricity, hydroelectricity, geothermal energy, and biomass sources, including landfill gas, paper based products, such as cardboard and newsprint, wood and wood wastes, cellulose based products that originate from trees or shrubbery; and other materials that come directly from trees or plants. Passive solar and geothermal heat pump energy systems are ineligible.
Columbia has also established a goal of meeting 1% of its RPS target using solar energy and is developing a new program, termed Solar One, to assist in achieving this goal.
Resources must meet the environmental criteria approved by the Columbia City Council, after review by the Columbia Environment and Energy Commission and the Columbia Water & Light Advisory Board. Electricity purchased from on-site renewable energy systems owned by Columbia Water & Light customers may be included to meet the standard. Resources must be close enough to Columbia that the power can be physically transmitted into the Water & Light system. In the future, however, the higher compliance requirements may force the utility to look at green tags (i.e. renewable energy credits) as an option. The Water and Light Department intends to pursue this avenue only as a last resort.
The standard will be met to the extent possible without increasing electric rates by more than 3% as a result of the standard. According to the 2009 Renewable Energy Report, in 2008 Columbia's renewable energy procurement (1.7%) fell slightly short of that year's goal (2%), largely due to shortfalls in wind energy production due to mechanical failures and delays in bringing other new resources online. However, with the resolution of these issues, the utility expects to exceed the 2% goal during 2009 and may in fact meet the 2012 goal of 5% renewable electricity. The utility's current energy portfolio is largely based on wind and landfill gas resources, with a small amount from biomass/coal co-firing.
By February 1 of each year, the Columbia Water & Light Department must issue a renewable-energy plan, detailing a proposal for how the city intends to comply with the RPS ordinance during the following year. The plan will explain the city's due diligence in pursuing renewable-energy opportunities and detail all cost assumptions and related utility rate calculations, except with regard to confidential information that may be withheld pursuant to state law. The plan will then be reviewed by the Columbia Environment and Energy Commission and the Columbia Water & Light Advisory Board, and submitted to the Columbia City Council for approval following a public hearing.
* The RPS was approved by 78% of voters, with no organized opposition.
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Please note: The information on the DSIRE web site provides an overview of incentives and other policies, but it should not be used as the only source of information when making purchasing decisions, investment decisions, tax decisions or other binding agreements. Please refer to the individual contact provided in each record to verify that a specific incentive or other policy is applicable to your specific project.
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