How Missouri Can Meet Its Clean Power Plan Targets

Missouri can achieve 90 percent of its Clean Power Plan emission reductions by meeting voluntary energy efficiency goals, adhering to its 15 percent renewable energy standard by 2021, increasing the utilization of existing natural gas combined cycle plants, and improving coal plant efficiency. To close the remaining gap and exceed targets by 14 percent, the state could increase renewable energy to 20 percent of all state sales by 2030. The document suggests maximizing economic benefits through a market-based carbon pricing program—potentially generating over $40 million annually from out-of-state sources at $10 per short ton—and continued investment in energy efficiency, noting that Ameren's 2013 programs returned over $3 in benefits for every dollar invested.

• Missouri can achieve 90 percent of its required emission reductions through four primary actions: meeting voluntary energy efficiency benchmarks (reaching 1.9 percent of electricity sales in 2019 and beyond), meeting the renewable energy standard of 15 percent for investor-owned utilities by 2021, increasing the use of existing natural gas plants (which operated at less than one-fourth capacity in 2012), and implementing low- and no-cost operational improvements at coal plants.
• By increasing renewable energy from 15 percent of investor-owned utility sales in 2021 to 20 percent of all state sales by 2030, Missouri would exceed its mass-based target reductions by 14 percent.
• The state could generate an average of more than $40 million per year in revenue between 2022 and 2030 from out-of-state sources by adopting a market-based carbon pricing program and surpassing its targets, assuming a price of $10 per short ton for interstate emissions allowances.
• Energy efficiency is identified as a cost-effective tool for reducing emissions and lowering energy bills, with evidence that Ameren's 2013 efficiency programs provided over $3 in benefits to electricity customers for every dollar invested.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). How Missouri Can Meet Its Clean Power Plan Targets. https://www.wri.org/research/how-missouri-can-meet-its-clean-power-plan-targets

Chicago

World Resources Institute. How Missouri Can Meet Its Clean Power Plan Targets. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/how-missouri-can-meet-its-clean-power-plan-targets.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=How Missouri Can Meet Its Clean Power Plan Targets |url=https://www.wri.org/research/how-missouri-can-meet-its-clean-power-plan-targets |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendhow, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{How Missouri Can Meet Its Clean Power Plan Targets}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/how-missouri-can-meet-its-clean-power-plan-targets}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }