Thirty-seven states were net importers of coal in 2012, sending billions of dollars to other states and nations for coal — money that could have instead been used to support local economies, according to a new report.

Missouri is ranked fourth among state most dependent on imported coal to generate power following Texas, North Carolina and Georgia.

Investor-owned utility Ameren will build a multi-million-dollar solar energy facility on a 19-acre site next to its electrical substation in O’Fallon, Mo., according to press reports.

Ameren should complete the solar facility by April.

The Kansas City Star reports that bitter cold winter and dwindling funds for utility assistance are making it difficult for many families.

Since 2009, federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance program funds have dropped from $115 million to $66.5 million.

Kansas City Power and Light announced a major plan to invest generate more power through wind and also help customers reduce energy consumption

The hope is the two developments - more wind energy and reducing demand - can help push off a rate increase for two to three years. 

Independence Power and Light expects to double its purchase of renewable energy by the end of 2017, according to a report a leading energy publication.

Megawatt Daily reports that IP&L wants to expand solar generated power favoring this approach over additional wind 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.

Independence Power & Light should have access to lower cost electricity through an agreement with the Southwest Power Pool. The new arrangement will allow IP&L "to match supply and demand at the lowest total production costs" from SPP utility members in the six-state the regional utility pool.

The energy options facing the city of Independence are outlined in a column by Lynn Youngblood in a column in The Independence Examiner. 

NPR reports who new exploration of domestic oil and natural gas are changing the US energy outlook.

One of the consequence is a shift away from coal.

Energy options for the City of Independence will be discussed at a community informational meeting Sat, Jan. 11 at 10 am at the North Independence Mid-Continent Public Library.
The meeting is being organized by Indy Energy, a citizen effort to promote broader understanding and discussion of energy issues facing the community including the environment, utility rates and economic development.

Hundreds of folks from the Midwest turned out recently for a regional public hearing by the Environmental Protection Agency on power plant regulations, the Kansas City Star reports.

New Environmental Protection Agency regulations may make it prohibitive to create new coal-fired power plants, according to a Washington Post story.

The U.S. says it won't provide financing for international coal-fired plants based on a recent policy decision as reported by the New York Times.

The Tennessee Valley Authority announced in November plans to retire three coal power plants.