Renewable energy developers are described as train robbers by a state utility regulator

"You may have to go back to that day when the James gang held up their first train on Gad's Hill to witness such a shameless attempt at plundering the innocent," one of the five members of the state's utility regulating commission told the Senate Rules Committee Thursday (Jan. 13). Jeff Davis urged the committee to reject a rule adopted by the Public Service Commission that would require electric utilities use only Missouri-generated renewable energy to comply with a 2008 voter-approved renewable energy requirement. Davis charged that would lead to higher electric bills because it would deny utilities the ability to meet their renewable energy requirements from cheaper non-Missouri sources. Davis told the Senate panel the rule was being pushed by a small group of Missouri renewable energy investors whom he equated to members of the James gang. "Only this time, the victims aren't train passengers, they are your constituents. They are the utility customers who are getting a lug put on their monthly electric bill to pay for someone else's largess." Davis was one of two members on the five-member PSC to vote against the Missouri-only requirement. The commission chairman, Robert Clayton, said that Proposition C requires Missouri-only renewable power. And he told the Senate committee that approach benefited the state. "I ask you whether that really is the will of the voters to create renewable energy in Arizona or Texas or Florida or South America or Africa or Europe. Or did they intend for development in Missouri?" The commission's legal counsel told the Senate committee the voter-approved measure was clear and left the commission with no choice but to require Missouri-only renewable energy. The Senate committee took no immediate action on the resolution to reject the PSC rule. Under state law, an administrative regulation can be struck down by a resolution adopted by both the House and Senate.