Missouri's solar rebate program, enacted by voters in Proposition C's Renewable Energy Standard, has survived legislative and legal challenges.
Missouri's Public Service Commission (PSC) voted unanimously to deny Ameren Fuels and Services Corp.'s and Kansas City Power and Light electric utility's requests to stop their solar rebate programs. The PSC ordered them to continue paying the rebates for at least 120 days, The Joplin Independent reported.
Another consumer victory occurred when Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green set aside his previous 29 June ruling that the $2 per watt solar rebates were unconstitutional. The Missouri Retailers Association brought a lawsuit against the PSC over the rebate. Attorneys for Renew Missouri and the Missouri Solar Energy Industries Association filed motions to intervene in the case, and Green announced he will consider their applications for intervention over the next month.
Missouri solar businesses feared massive layoffs if the rebates were rescinded.
Green's ruling voiding his earlier decision finding the rebates unconstitutional was also good news for all Missouri utility customers who will now, once again, be able to apply for up to $50,000 apiece in rebates to go towards solar systems of up to 25 kilowatts in size. Missouri Solar Energy Industries Association president Dane Glueck said, "So far, the solar rebate program has resulted in hundreds of new solar arrays on homes and businesses in the St Louis and Kansas City areas, and grown Missouri's solar industry from less than five companies in 2008 to over 35 today."
By. Joao Peixe, Deputy Editor OilPrice.com
Joao is a writer for Oilprice.com More