HOK’s DeFreece Appointed to MO Environmental Agency

 LaRee DeFreece, JD, LEED AP, has been appointed a commissioner for the Missouri Environmental Improvement and Energy Resource Authority by Missouri Governor Jeremiah "Jay" Nixon. DeFreece joined HOK in 2009 as vice president and business director of global sustainability consulting services.

 EIERA is a quasi-governmental agency that serves as the financing arm for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Its primary mandate is to provide financial assistance for energy and environmental projects and protect the environment. The agency also conducts research, supports energy efficiency and energy alternatives and promotes economic development.

"During my tenure, I hope to encourage EIERA to identify new service offerings or financing opportunities to push the envelope in the areas of energy efficiency and water management," DeFreece said.

 In that role, she would like to influence the State's development of energy policy, particularly in light of the market-driven restrictions on carbon emissions and the state's reliance on coal. "I'm concerned that as manufacturers plan site selection over the next decade, they will migrate to regions with nuclear-generated electricity. The decision to abandon coal-powered electricity will do more to favorably enhance the manufacturer's carbon footprint than any other single activity it could undertake. If Missouri plans to attract industry and retain jobs, we need to look at these issues now."

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