MBEF Fall Update 2024
Greetings MBEF Members:
Fall is definitely here. The hot and dry September put much of the state under abnormal drought conditions. The wet weather due to Hurricane Helene provided some relief, however drought conditions remain over much of Missouri. Good news though, as it is harvest time, so the clear weather allows everything from beans to cotton to be pulled from our fields.
Hurricanes and the Grid
The dramatic images of the storms wreaking havoc in the Southeast region have everyone on edge. While the effects can often reach Missouri, our state’s electric utilities battle to meet the non-stop challenge of maintaining reliability in light of these events. Missouri boots are on the ground in hurricane country to help restore power and repair power damages – Newstalk KZRG, while here at home Ameren Missouri continues its effort to boost our power grid. New poles are being installed (some are 70 years old!) throughout Missouri, improving reliability and significantly reducing outage times. These improvements have saved over 65,000 outages annually!
Business Growth and Energy Demand
As weather continues to impact our energy grid, growth and demand also continue to increase nationwide. In order to keep up with customer needs, Missouri is exploring options to streamline the regulatory process to build more energy projects. Missouri is an attractive location for data center and advanced manufacturing development bringing new jobs and economic growth, but do we have the capacity to power new customers? The Missouri Public Service Commission seeks to answer those questions.
Solar Projects and Property Values
There are a lot of opinions on the impacts of solar projects dotting the rural landscape of Missouri. These projects are locally sourced renewable power offsetting the need to import energy and in many cases, providing a much needed revenue source for rural communities. Some argue that they reduce property values. A recent study out of Loyola University finds that solar projects actually increase property values in many cases. The positive impacts: construction job creation, tax revenue, and economic growth, all outweigh any negative connotations.
Be safe out there and enjoy the fall foliage!
