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Missouri Senate deadlocks, looks for solution on nuclear bill

AmerenUE, along with key industrial users and a Missouri state official representing consumers, were headed to the State Capitol April 8 to try to break a logjam over legislation associated with the construction of a new nuclear reactor at the Callaway Power Plant, the Associated Press reported. Missouri State Senators debated legislation (S.B. 228) for more than 10 hours, beginning on April 7, but could not reach a conclusion.

Wrote the AP: "The contentious proposal would let utilities pass on to customers the financing costs of new renewable-energy and reduced-emission power plants while they are being built, rather than waiting until the plants start producing energy as required by a 1976 state law approved by voters. But critics argued that it's unfair to force electric customers to pay for plants that aren't producing and might not ever be built. They also said the legislation also doesn't give state utility regulators enough authority."

Missouri State Sen. Delbert Scott, R-Lowry City, told colleagues that his bill would save money for consumers and that the state should adjust how it produces electricity, particularly in anticipation of federal legislation to cap CO2 emissions. Associated Press, April 8