THERE IS A BETTER SOLUTION

• to our health needs, economic needs, and energy needs. Take advantage of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources like Wind, Solar, and Biomass.
  
  Missouri's Governor's Energy Policy Council (MGEPC - 6/1/03) recommends we "aggressively develop, produce, and use Missouri renewable energy and energy-efficiency resources to achieve the public benefits of economic growth, environmental quality and public health." The newest Governors Energy Task Force appointed by republican Matt Blunt in 2006, also recommends efficiency & renewables.
  
  Is it really possible to use energy efficiency to "generate" power? Yes, and here are some examples:
  
  



• The Rocky Mountain Institute (rmi.org) reports that electric demand can be cut in half today just by using the energy efficiency technology now on the market.



• Just one federal rule requiring that heat pumps be a minimum Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ration (SEER) 13 vs. 10 will reduce expected peak electric demand in the US by 14,500 MW by 2020 - avoiding the need to construct 48 average sized (300 mw) fossil fuel power plants.



• The new energy efficient MO Dept. of Natural Resources office buliding in Jeff City will save up to $92,000 in energy costs to taxpayers each year using 53% less energy.



• A utility can give away a compact fluorescent lamp more cheaply than it can fuel it's existing power plants-which is why Southern Calif. Edison has given away more than a million such lamps (RMI)

Efficiency and renewables are better for public health, jobs, rural economies, the state business and consumers.

• According to the Apollo Alliance (an alliance of environmental groups and labor unions) investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy create more jobs than fossil fuel investments.



• "Using rewable sources to meet new energy needs would create 3 times as many jobs as relying on fossil fuels" (UC Berkeley, 4/04).



• Farmers can earn lease income from wind farms and turn crops into biomass energy. Just reducing the state's



• energy bill by 10% could save $7.8 million.