MOScout Daily Update: Merideth for SOS? - Turner for Senate 27 - Net Metering Task Force and more...

Merideth Considering SOS

I’ve previously written that Rep. Peter Merideth was a possible 2024 Democratic statewide candidate.  Word is that of those positions, it’s secretary of state which he’d be most likely to run for.

·       Merideth is from a heavy Democratic district (Joe Biden got 82% in 2020), with a lot of liberal votes that won’t play well outstate.

·       But Merideth is no stranger to the state.  He’s traveled to recruit candidates, campaign for candidates and fundraise during his time in the House.

·       And he’s managed a handful of viral videos of himself taking on Republicans that could excite the Dem base.

2024 Watch: Dem Ticket So Far

US Senate: Lucas Kunce

Gov: Crystal Quade

SOS: Peter Meridith

AG: Sarah Unsicker / Elad Gross

Treasurer: ?

LG: ?

·       Reminder: The consensus among the political class right now is that the state of Missouri is such that Democrats can only win statewide against a flawed Republican candidate (McCaskill over “legitimate rape” Akin, or Galloway over financially troubled McDowell).

Turner Forms Committee for Senate 27

Jacob Turner formed a candidate committee (see the paperwork here) to run for Senate 27 in 2024 as a Republican.  Turner ran against Congressman Jason Smith in the 2022 primary for 8-CD.  Turner nabbed 18% of the vote.

What It Means

If Sen. Holly Rehder runs for re-election, she won’t have any trouble beating Turner.  And if she doesn’t run, there won’t be any shortage of folks looking at her seat. 

There had been rumors that Rehder was considering a statewide race, though there hasn’t been much talk lately.  

Without Rehder, it would be a hot primary, drawing many serious candidates. Rep. Jamie Burger is mentioned. But you’d also probably have other state reps hopping in as well: maybe someone from Cape Girardeau like Rep. Barry Hovis or Rep. John Voss, or termed Rep. Rick Francis.  It could quickly become a free-for-all.

Driving the Day: Net Metering Task Force

The Task Force on Distributed Energy Resources and Net Metering was meet today (Noon, House Hearing Room 7).  This task force was established by statute and is charged with delivering a report to the general assembly by the end of the year.

The report parameters…

·       A distributed energy resources study, which shall include a value of solar study along with the practical and economic benefits, challenges, and drawbacks of increased distributed energy generation in the state;

·       Potential legislation regarding community solar as operated by nonutility entities and the fair and equitable setting of rates between distributed generation and nondistributed generation consumers; and

·       Potential legislation, including but not limited to changes to the net metering and easy connection act, if any, that would promote the overall public interest.

On the task force: Sens. Doug Beck and Mike Cierpiot, Reps. Bishop Davidson, and Betsy Fogle, PSC’s Scott Rupp, AMEC’s Caleb Jones, RenewMO’s James Owen, Greg Beavers, Mark Gardner, Jacqueline Hutchinson, Marc Poston, Craig Redmon, and Steve Wills.

These issues are a flashpoint between solar providers and advocates and the established utilities.

Quick explainers…

·       Distributed Energy Resources - Conventional power stations, such as coal-fired, gas, and nuclear powered plants, as well as hydroelectric dams and large-scale solar power stations, are centralized and often require electric energy to be transmitted over long distances. By contrast, DER systems are decentralized, modular, and more flexible technologies that are located close to the load they serve, albeit having capacities of only 10 megawatts or less.

·       Net Metering - Net metering is an electricity billing mechanism that allows consumers who generate some or all of their own electricity to use that electricity anytime, instead of when it is generated.

$5K+ Contributions

Missouri Agrees - $332,000 from Show Me Integrity.

Missourians for Healthy Families & Fair Wages - $25,000 from Jobs with Justice Ballot Fund.

Clay County Democratic Central Committee - $15,000 from Clay Dems Political Action Committee.

Lobbyists Registrations

David Sweeney added Greater St. Louis Inc.

John William Payne added Torch Electronics LLC.

Will Marrs and Kelli Richardson added RPCS, Inc.

Terry McCurren deleted Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc.

Noel Tropey deleted Dell Inc.

Aaron Baker and Hannah Beers Sutton deleted Missouri Civil Justice Reform Coalition Inc, Cass County, and KC Cops.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Stacy Reliford and Higdon Galen.