The Washington Times: 2 Missouri cities consider solar energy farms
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Two cities near Kansas City are considering making more use of solar energy, a trend that energy industry experts say is growing in the Midwest as costs to install facilities decline.
Solar energy firms have been wooing Sugar Creek and Independence to build solar farms to replace carbon-based facilities, The Kansas City Star reported (https://bit.ly/1B3St6c ). Independence officials asked for proposals from energy developers last month, and Sugar Creek already has an agreement with one company.
If plans move forward, the two cities would join a number of Missouri municipalities that have opened solar farms.
Springfield’s City Utilities solar farm started generating power last summer, and an Ameren Missouri facility near St. Louis opened in December. MC Power Companies of Lee’s Summit opened a utility-grade farm near Butler and has plans for others in Macon and Trenton.
Industry figures released last month rank Missouri 10th nationally in solar-power use, Mid-America Regional Council’s solar energy coordinator Laura Machala said.
