Rep. Josh Hurlburt proposes cutting renewable-energy standard to 7.5% and adding nuclear as eligible resource

Representative Josh Hurlburt introduced House Bill 2807 to the House Committee on Utilities, saying the bill would “reduce the renewable energy standard from, the 15% that it's at now down to 7 and a half percent and would add, nuclear generation to that as well, as an applicable energy source to meet this standard.” Hurlburt said the purpose is to give utilities more flexibility and to recognize the need for dispatchable generation on the grid.

Hurlburt told members he supports language—mirroring a Senate committee substitute—clarifying that any nuclear credit should apply only to new nuclear resources. “The intention was new nuclear,” he said, and he asked the committee to adopt clarifying language so the House and Senate bills would match.

Tyler Travers, policy director for Renew Missouri, said his organization worked on the Senate language and could support a version that treats new nuclear via a separate credit and that also contemplates battery storage. “If we're going to be adding nuclear as well as potentially battery storage, that this becomes an overall forward thinking and pragmatic piece of legislation that we are willing to support,” Travers said.

Opponents cautioned about consumer costs. John Kaufman of the Consumers Council of Missouri said the measure, as drafted, raises the risk that new nuclear credits could be allowed to pass through the renewable-energy surcharge (RESRAM), which appears on customer bills. He testified the bill “could unfairly increase what we pay on our electric rates” unless the legislation explicitly prevents nuclear from being eligible for surcharge pass-through.

Zach Monroe of Ameren Missouri testified for informational purposes that utilities have generally been meeting the 15% standard but that language matters for how credits are counted. He explained the origin of the RESRAM surcharge, tied to Prop C (2008), and said existing assets in rate base are treated differently than new projects captured by RESRAM.

Other supporters at the hearing, including the Missouri Farm Bureau and Associated Industries of Missouri, framed the change as a reliability and economic-competitiveness issue, arguing that dispatchable sources such as nuclear can help meet rising demand for large industrial customers.

The committee closed the public hearing after taking testimony for and against HB 2807. No committee vote was recorded at the close of the hearing; the sponsor and witnesses signaled willingness to refine language on new-nuclear credits and surcharge treatment as the bill proceeds.