Readers address 'green? power, good advice in letters

Missouri leadership boosts 'green' power development

The energy that heats, cools and powers homes and businesses across the country is now, after years of relative tranquillity, again in the national spotlight. As utility customers reflect on the recent past and look to the future, higher prices and demand-and-supply issues have become a focus for local, state and national leaders.

Two goals virtually all stakeholders in the energy debate can agree upon: Future supplies must grow to satisfy ever-increasing customer demands, and renewable, or "green," power supply sources should play an important role in our energy future.

Renewable energy sources, including turbines powered by the wind and photovoltaics that convert the sun's energy into electricity, often are considerably more expensive than coal or natural gas generation.

It is hoped that, over time, advances in technologies, combined with appropriate financial incentives to communities and utilities, may make these "green" power sources a more viable part of the nation's energy supply.

The Renewable Energy Production Incentive (REPI) program provides financial incentives to consumer-owned utilities for electricity produced by new, qualifying, renewable energy generation facilities.

Qualifying facilities include those using wind, solar, biomass and some geothermal resources. REPI, although it did not make its first incentive payments until 1995, was set to expire in 2003.

However, through the leadership of U.S. Reps. Karen McCarthy, D-Kansas City, and Roy Blunt, R-Strafford, the extension and improvement of REPI is now part of House Resolution 4, recently approved by the U.S. House of Representatives.

With this bipartisan legislative effort from Missouri, renewables can now continue to make progress toward becoming an integral part of America's energy mix.

The Blunt and McCarthy efforts extend REPI for another 10 years and improve the program by providing funds in advance of construction and allowing multiple-year financing, key elements to encourage new project start-ups and financial stability.

The REPI improvements also recognize landfill gas-to-energy projects as "green" and include incentives for incremental additions of hydropower. A vast amount of untapped hydropower capacity is available at existing dams. This legislation helps motivate the development of this important renewable resource.

With the bipartisan leadership of Missouri's congressional delegation, our nation is poised to move decisively to another level in establishing cleaner power generation sources.

In doing so, customers and communities throughout Missouri and the nation will gain not only new supplies of energy, but also benefit from development of new technologies with the potential to provide responsible energy for future generations.

Ken McClure

Associate general manager,

customer relations

City Utilities of Springfield

'Rational Investing' makes

good point, especially for youth

I hope Mr. Clark Davis' column titled "You don't see armored cars following hearses" is read and heeded by all, especially young businesspeople who, hopefully, still have a lot of time to create memories. If you missed it, dig it out and read it. And then, keep it and read it again from time to time as a reminder.

The pursuit of money, fame, fortune, success, position and all of the other rewards of a career are admirable, but don't forget to take the time lots of it! to make the memories that will be with you throughout your lives. This could well be the best investment advice that you will ever get!

Ed Smith

Springfield