Pund declares “Energy Independence”

Bob Pund, a candidate in Missouri’s 25th House district, gathered with supporters Friday on the MU campus to talk about energy independence in Missouri. Although all the Democratic candidates for Columbia (23rd, 24th and 25th district) were invited to sign on and work for the initiative, none were able to attend.

“We’re just trying to get everyone on board and make this an issue voters care about,” Pund’s campaign manager, Stephen Rooke, said.

Rooke, gave a short presentation on some energy facts, handing out information and a flyer stating Pund’s positions on energy issues. He and Pund then spoke on the document they drafted, the “Declaration of Energy Independence.”

The document pointed out Missouri’s reliance on non-renewable and unclean energy, and its dependence on out-of-state sources for those fuels. Pund proposed establishing a renewable energy standard of 15% by 2021 for utilities, more grants for academic research and promoting “green building” in the state.

“We have to start out with baby steps, but pretty soon we’ll be sprinting,” Pund said.