SPONSOR: Hurlbert
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass with HCS" by the Standing Committee on Utilities by a vote of 18 to 1.
The following is a summary of the House Committee Substitute for HB 2807.
This bill removes nuclear energy from the type of energy the Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority can finance the development and marketing of and adds "battery energy storage systems", as that term is defined in the bill, to the definition of renewable energy resources for the purposes of the Renewable Energy Standard. Currently, an electrical corporation's renewable energy portfolio requirement requires no less than 15% of energy to be generated from renewable energy resources beginning in 2021. The bill adds nuclear energy sources generated after August 28, 2026, as part of the portfolio requirement and lowers the portfolio requirement to 7.5% beginning in 2027. An electric utilities can comply with the renewable energy standard by purchasing "nuclear energy credits", as defined in the bill. The Public Service Commission will select a program for tracking and verifying the trading of nuclear energy credits. An electric utility may comply with the portfolio requirements using energy captured due to energy efficiency or demand-side measures. As part of the Commission's rulemaking authority, the Commission must allow by rule an electric utility to comply with the portfolio requirements using verified megawatt-hour savings. The bill adds nuclear energy certificates to the provisions relating to the retirement of certain energy certificates by an accelerated renewable buyer. This bill is similar to HB 2657 and SB 838(2026).
The following is a summary of the public testimony from the committee hearing. The testimony was based on the introduced version of the bill.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this legislation is a forward thinking pragmatic approach to diversification of energy resources, especially including new nuclear resources and battery storage. This bill helps utilities to reach the renewable energy standard goals while still providing reliable, dispatchable power. Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Hurlbert; Associated Industries of Missouri; Renew Missouri; and Missouri Farm Bureau.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that this bill will unfairly increase utility rates. Currently, utilities can charge a surcharge for the cost of meeting the renewable energy standard. This would allow them to include the cost of new nuclear resources in the surcharge.
Testifying in person against the bill were Consumers Council of Missouri.
OTHERS: Others testifying on the bill say the bill needs to be limited to new nuclear or it would include current nuclear assets in the State. Those testifying said that certain utilities are currently meeting the 15% requirement.
Testifying in person on the bill was Ameren Corporation - Missouri.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: