Representatives from three local utility companies promoted energy conservation and joined forces as they spoke about the proposed national clean-energy bill to members of the Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday at its monthly meeting.

Acting General Manager Rodney Bourne, with Rolla Municipal Utilities, said passage of the bill, H.R. 2454, as it presently stood, could result in a 55-percent increase in energy costs, which would be passed on to consumers.

Already reported out of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee in May and discharged by the Committee on Foreign Affairs in June, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, sponsored by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), has been referred to 15 other House committees before it heads for a vote in the House and Senate.

The major thrust of the bill is to create clean-energy jobs, achieve energy independence, reduce global warming and affect a clean-energy economy.

Bourne explained the bill is referred to as a “climate-change bill,” in which caps on carbon emissions has the potential to be particularly detrimental to Midwest consumers, as Missouri consumers primarily rely upon coal-powered plants for their energy needs.

Leisa Stilley, of Intercounty Electric Cooperative, concurred with Bourne and said, “We’re all seeking to promote the same message.”

Although the demand for energy is increasing, Stilley said, currently the state has enough power to meet consumer needs.

Stilley said consumers should contact their legislators, educate them and ask them to “. . . do the right thing . . .,” work on the bill’s timelines and develop new energy technologies.

“When energy costs go up, it affects all of our buying power,” Stilley said.

Lonna Trammel, with Ameren UE, referred to the bill as “cap and trade legislation” that is primarily a “massive energy tax.”

Instead of “taxing” energy companies, Trammel said, legislators should concentrate on promoting energy conservation.

Attending the RACC luncheon, Missouri Rep. Dan Brown (R-District 149) was called upon by members of the audience to comment on the proposed energy bill.

“Cap and trade is a serious issue,” Brown said, “and global warming is a world problem.

“We really don’t know what to do with the carbon we capture. We are energy producers in the Midwest, and to generate power, we would need to buy carbon credits from New York (if H.R. 2454 is enacted).

“We’ve got to become a lot more energy efficient,” Brown said.

Stevie Kearse, director of the RACC, told the audience other questions submitted to the utility company representatives would be posted and answered on the Chamber’s Web site at rollachamber.org.