St. Louis Today: Missouri must modernize its energy grid
As the owner of a car dealership, I pay attention to infrastructure issues all the time. It is no secret that Missouri’s highways are in abysmal condition. But it’s not just our highways.
The National Association of Civil Engineers rates Missouri’s electric grid as a D+, worse than the grade they give the Missouri highways that everyone agrees are failing. As a business owner, I know how important it is to keep our electricity reliable, and I am deeply concerned about Missouri’s aging electric infrastructure.
The editorial “ ‘Relentless’ ” (Sept. 9) took issue with Ameren trying to educate consumers about the reality of Missouri’s antiquated energy policies. The truth is if we continue to ignore this, we are going to be facing a real energy crisis.
Here are the facts:
• Today’s grid is approximately 50 years old and nearing its end of life.
• We need a modernized electric grid that: protects the system from hackers and cyberattacks; provides us with a smart grid to manage our energy usage more easily; uses more clean, renewable energy.
• Missouri’s energy grid laws were set up in 1913 and have not materially changed in the last century to keep up with the needs of modern technology.
The facts are clear. It’s time for Missouri to have a 21st century modernized energy grid.
William “Bill” Schicker • St. Louis
CEO, Schicker Automotive Group
