Brad Lager's Capitol Report: Missouri’s Energy Future

This past session, Missouri’s energy challenges and the public policy surrounding these challenges were once again at the forefront. The cost and availability of energy impacts nearly every aspect of our lives, therefore we must work to develop solutions today so that we are able to meet the growing demands of the future. If we fail to develop a comprehensive plan for affordable energy, emerging trends in both production and consumption may lead to detrimental impacts on our state’s economic health and prosperity.

The global demand for energy has exploded. As Asia and other parts of the world continue to become more industrialized, their energy consumption continues to increase dramatically. As this worldwide demand grows, the price of energy generation grows which underscores the need for Americans to achieve greater energy independence. Currently, we meet the majority of our energy needs through the burning of fossil fuels. This traditional source of power has been highly reliable at relatively affordable prices. As we move forward, these traditional methods are expected to become more costly, thereby motivating us to utilize a more balanced energy portfolio.

In northwest Missouri, these emerging technologies have become a new source of jobs and revenue to our local economies. While wind and solar-generated power are currently more expensive to produce than traditional sources of energy, continued development and innovation in these areas will allow them to meet a larger portion of our energy demand in the future. At the same time, we must continue working to be more efficient with our energy consumption thereby making it easier to meet our base load demand.

As we move forward, we must continue working to lessen our independence on outside sources while fully utilizing the production resources that maintain the lowest rates possible. There is no quick or easy solution to this complex problem. However, with careful planning and a firm commitment, we will develop a strategy that ensures reliable and affordable energy for Missouri’s homes, businesses and future.

As always, please feel free to call, email, or write with your ideas or concerns. The Capitol number is (573) 751-1415, my email is brad.lager@senate.mo.gov and my mailing address is Room 422, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.