Missouri Says Show Me Renewables

In a landslide, the people of Missouri voted for mandatory renewable energy requirements for state utilities. It's called a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and is a regulatory policy that requires increased production of renewable energy sources such as solar, biomass, wind, and hydropower. There is no national policy in place and Missouri's former RPS was voluntary but in November the state overwhelmingly supported the adoption of a mandatory mechanism at the polls. Missouri joins 27 other states which also have RPS's in place. Each state's RPS is different and Missouri's will require the state's three largest electric utilities to purchase or generate at least 15 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2021. RPS mechanisms are widely supported as they are thought to result in competition, efficiency and innovation which will allow renewable energy to compete with less expensive fossil fuel energy sources. You can read more about Missouri's commitment to renewable energy here.