Renewable Energy Standard Facility Eligibility Certification Application Guide
This document may be used as a general guide to apply for certification of renewable energy facilities under the Missouri Renewable
Energy Standard (RES). Relevant statutes, rules and information related to the application for certification are provided as part of the
application form. The application form may be used to apply for certification of a renewable energy facility through the Missouri
Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Energy.
This guide should not be construed as providing legal advice or as guaranteeing the approval or denial of any application.
For additional information, please contact:
MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF ENERGY
573-751-2254 or 855-522-2796
Section 1. Applicable Statute and Rules
The RES is found at Sections 393.1020 through 1030, RSMo. The statute specifies percentages of investor-owned utilities’ retail electric
sales for which Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) must be retired, including a two percent (2%) carve-out for solar energy (Section
393.1030.1, RSMo). Eligible renewable resources are defined at Sections 393.1025(5) and 393.1030.5, RSMo, as well as at 10 CSR
140-8.010(2) and (3)(C). Per Section 393.1030.2, RSMo, the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) is responsible for selecting a
program for tracking and verifying the trading of RECs. The program chosen by the PSC is the North American Renewables Registry
(NAR). The PSC’s rules implementing the RES are found at
20 CSR 4240-20.100.
Section 393.1030.4, RSMo charges the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Energy with certifying the
eligibility of renewable energy facilities. Per that section of statute:
Certification criteria for renewable energy generation shall be determined by factors that include fuel type, technology,
and the environmental impacts of the generating facility. Renewable energy facilities shall not cause undue adverse air,
water, or land use impacts, including impacts associated with the gathering of generation feedstocks. If any amount of
fossil fuel is used with renewable energy resources, only the portion of electrical output attributable to renewable energy
resources shall be used to fulfill the portfolio requirements.
The Division of Energy’s rules for evaluating the eligibility of renewable energy facilities under the RES are available at
10 CSR 140-8.010.
Section 2. Missouri Eligibility vs. NAR Verification
The Division of Energy is not the entity responsible for quantifying, certifying or verifying the actual RECs associated with a facility or
project. Such activities are under the purview of the REC tracking system (NAR), the PSC, and other relevant professionals and
organizations. Please consult with NAR and/or the PSC for the applicable REC-related requirements.
The Division of Energy certifies the eligibility of facilities under the RES. The Division of Energy’s responsibility is also to evaluate
environmental impacts of these facilities and ensure that such facilities will not cause adverse air, water, or land use impacts, including
impacts associated with the gathering of generation feedstocks. The Division of Energy must also ensure that there is a method for
apportioning electrical output to only eligible renewable energy resources if any amount of fossil fuel is used at a facility as a part of the
generation process. A certification issued by the Division of Energy may reference a nameplate capacity of a facility, but such a
reference does not necessarily establish the amount of Missouri-qualified RECs associated with the facility’s production. The
requirements of NAR and the PSC apply in addition to the Division of Energy’s certification process.
Section 3. Applying for Certification by the Division of Energy
An application sent to the Division of Energy for certification of a renewable energy facility should be organized in a manner that
corresponds with 10 CSR 140-8.010(4)(C)3.A through E. The application must include statements complying with 10 CSR 140-8.010(4)
(C)3.D(I)-(VI) and an attestation required by 10 CSR 140-8.010(4)(C)3.E. See the certification application above.
The entity applying for certification by the Division of Energy must provide all relevant federal, state and local environmental permitting
documents. These documents should be provided as attachments to the application form. For example, environmental permitting
documents may include, but not be limited to, those described in an Environmental Site Assessment or Environmental Impact
Statement.
Additionally, facilities using biomass should provide documentation regarding impacts associated with the gathering of generation
feedstocks, including, but not limited to, the methods and practices adhered to when gathering the feedstocks. To maintain certification,
the Division of Energy may require that a biomass-fired facility producing RECs used for RES compliance provide information in the
future regarding the ongoing gathering of generation feedstocks.for facilities that use.
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