Election Day is Tuesday, November 4. There is fair reason to expect that turnout will be high for what has become an historic poll. If the races for national, state, county and local offices aren't enough to get voters interested, there are a number of high-profile initiatives on the ballot to add allure. In fact, the list of ballot issues and races is almost as long as Caribou Barbie's hair extensions. Among the ballot initiatives is Proposition C.

Proposition C, the Missouri Clean Energy Initiative, requires Missouri investor-owned electric utilities (Ameren, Empire, Aquila, and KCP&L) to get 15 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2021. For the purpose of this initiative, renewable sources are defined as clean sources of energy like wind, solar, landfill gas, biomass, and small hydroelectric projects.

Twenty-six other states have passed a measure similar to this one. Missouri elected officials have introduced, but failed to pass, a renewable electric standard (such as the Clean Energy Initiative) in the past eight years. Now voters have the opportunity to address directly, though ballot initiative, this vital issue.

The Missouri Clean Energy Initiative will promote Missouri's economy through investment and job creation. It will advance energy independence and security through power-generation diversification with a local focus.

And clean energy is good for all of us. Right now, 86 percent of Missouri's electricity is generated by burning coal, which pollutes (despite pollution control standards). That pollution contributes to thousands of cases of asthma and lung disease each year, as well as putting thousands of tons of carbon dioxide (which contributes to global warming) into the atmosphere.

A large and diverse cross-section of the state has endorsed the Missouri Clean Energy Initiative, including many community groups, faith-based groups, industry groups (including KCP&L), labor groups, environmental groups (including the Sierra Club), and elected officials of both major parties. This diversity of support demonstrates the broad base of patronage the Clean Energy Initiative enjoys. As a matter of fact, there is little or no organized opposition to the initiative.

Can you see the light?  Given the wealth of documented evidence that the Clean Energy Initiative is worthy of support, and the fact that many in our community will be voting on November 4 anyway, this pitch resounds.  See the light of need shining on the ballot box - go vote!  And when you do, please vote YES on Proposition C to bring clean energy to Missouri.