Missouri unveils plan to keep up with rising energy demands
Missouri released a long-range energy plan to increase in-state electricity production as data centers and other large users drive expected demand growth. The state is also examining nuclear power expansion and whether data centers should bear more of the infrastructure costs associated with their electricity use.
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources unveiled a long-range State Energy Plan after a meeting of the Missouri Advanced Nuclear Energy Task Force. The plan, developed with Guidehouse, models future electricity needs and recommends steps to improve reliability, control costs and expand in-state generation as data centers become the state’s largest expected source of demand growth.
The state is considering advanced nuclear technology, though no new nuclear plant has been approved. Missouri officials are also reviewing whether large data centers could shift power infrastructure costs to households and small businesses; the Department of Natural Resources and Missouri Public Service Commission are expected to report on that issue by Nov. 30.