Columbia Mo. urged to increase solar power

Columbia Mo is looking at ways to increase solar power generated in the community, according to the Columbia Daily Tribune.

Columbia Water and Light is proposing to spend $500,000 on a community solar program in which electric customers who could not install panels on their own properties would be able to invest in energy from a centralized array and would be able to use the power generated as credit for their utility bill.

In a letter issued to the Columbia City Council earlier this month, the Water and Light Advisory Board wrote that with the right investments, the city's "next power plant" might be built on the roofs of homes, businesses and schools, and the city should install 100 kilowatts of solar capacity each year, including on its own buildings.

Here are some documents related to the Columbia solar project.

Memo to Columbia City Council, Utility Rates, September 2012

Memo to Columbia City Council, December 2013.

Graphic illustration of solar power and economic development options.