Jan. 25 Energy Cafe Looks at Proposed New Renewable Energy Standard for November Ballot

Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012, 6-7:30 p.m., Farmers Gastropub, 431 S. Jefferson, Springfield

Our next Energy Cafe introduces us to Power to the People, the Renew Missouri campaign to place a new, tougher renewable energy standard on the November ballot in Missouri. Volunteers will be gathering 180,000 signatures by early May to qualify the new renewable energy standard petition for voters to approve or disapprove in November.

The new RES will require investor-owned utilities (Ameren, KCP&L and Empire District Electric) to generate at least 25% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2025. Those renewable sources, solar, wind, biomass, etc. must come from Missouri or nearby states. 

The RES will not affect municipal utilities and electric cooperatives.

Learn the details of the campaign at our Cafe and how Renew Missouri seeks to transform Missouri into a leading state in energy efficiency and renewable energy by 2016.  Register to attend this free event at 417-581-4018 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

You also may wish to register for volunteer training with Renew Missouri Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 6 p.m. at Springfield Brewing Co., Springfield. Register at http://www.renewmo.org.

Give to ONE

Consider a gift to ONE to help us fund the redesign of our website and the development of our ONE Spotlight profiles, featuring real-life examples of Missourians who have made energy improvements in their homes and businesses and the results to prove that you can reduce your energy consumption and still live comfortably.

To give online through PayPal, click Donate in the right column. To give by check and mail, go to http://www.ozarksnewenergy.org/site/give-to-one-mail-page.

We appreciate your support!

Our new phone number is 417-581-4018.

MOSEIA Sponsors Solar Seminar Jan. 27, 2012

"Innovative Solar Technologies and Best Practices for Building Green Communities"  *  Town Pavilion Conference Center, Kansas City, Mo.  *  Jan. 15 Deadline for Early Bird Rates

The Missouri Solar Energy Industries Association is a planning a full-day professional development seminar, featuring six sessions.  Click here for details about speakers, sessions and online registration. Or contact Heidi Schoen, executive director, at 314-677-4076 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Member rates are $100 per attendee or $75 per attendee for three or more members. Nonmember early bird rates are $125 per attendee and $100 per attendee with three or more attendees. Nonmember rates after Jan. 15 are $150 per attendee and $125 per attendee with three or more attendees. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

Programming highlights include:

Pierre Moses and Tim Duggan, Make It Right Foundation - "Best Practices in Building Green Communities"

Craig Scranton, BNIM - "Desigining for Solar: What Every Architect Should Know"

Desmond Wheatley, Envision Solar - "The Solar Tree and Solar Grove Array Structures" (award-winning, high-quality, iconic solar design)

Gary Steps, Butterfly Energy Works - "Net Zero Energy Homes"

Terrence Parker, Solar Bridge Technologies - "AC Solar: Here to Stay - a New Generation of AC Solar Modules with Integrated Micro-inverters" (the buzz at Solar Power International this year)

Johan Alfsen, Quick Mount PV - "State-of-the-Art Waterproof Solar Mounting Systems"

Ozarks Biomass Energy Society to Meet Jan. 5

Twenty-one people attended a recent organizational meeting for the Ozarks Biomass Energy Society. Next meeting is Jan. 5. For time and location, contact Doug Brethower, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Here's a link to OBES's developing website.

Good News on Solar But Bad News on Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Solyndra's bankruptcy has dulled solar's shine, no doubt about it. But Keith Drum reports in "Solar Power's Good News" that a new technology in solar panels has been announced by the National Renewable energy Laboratory. It could be a game changer. Called the Optical Cavity Furnace, it uses optics instead of radiant or infrared heat for solar cells. The optics lower the cost and speed up the process of manufacturing solar panels. The panels also are more efficient.

The cost of solar already is 50% less than it was two years ago and is on track to meet the Obama Administration's goal of $1 a watt by 2013. By 2030, solar electricity could cost half that of coal. Read the article at here.

On another front, Associated Press reporter Seth Borenstein in "Biggest jump ever seen in global warming gases," reported that heat-trapping carbon dioxide jumped by the biggest amount on record, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. In 2010, the world pumped about 564 million more tons than in 2009, an increase of 6%. The latest figures put global emissions higher than the worst-case projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change made in 2007. Scientists have generally found the panel's predictions too conservative.

One piece of good news: the developed countries that ratified the 1997 Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gas limiting treaty have reduced emissions by about 8% below 1990 levels.

Read the article here.