In the recent year from June 2024 to May 2025, Missouri's electricity consumption has primarily been dominated by fossil energy, which includes coal and gas. Over half of Missouri’s electricity, or nearly 52%, comes from coal, while gas contributes nearly 13%, summing up to roughly 65% reliant on fossil fuels. Low-carbon energy, comprising nuclear, wind, and hydropower, accounts for a bit more than 20% of the electricity mix, with nuclear alone contributing over half of this clean energy portion at approximately 11%. Wind contributes almost 8%, while hydropower makes up close to 1%. Net imports fulfill around 15% of the electricity needs, highlighting that a significant part is still sourced from outside the state. The high dependency on fossil fuels and imports illustrates a need for increasing Missouri's self-sufficient clean energy generation.
Is Electricity Growing in Missouri?
Missouri's electricity consumption per capita in 2025, at 13,334 kWh, is noticeably below the 2011 high of 15,783 kWh, representing a decline of 2,449 kWh per person. This reduction is not necessarily a positive trend, as rising energy demand is crucial for both economic growth and technological advancements. In particular, the decline in low-carbon electricity generation from a previous record of 2,986 kWh/person in 2024 to 2,700 kWh/person in 2025 highlights a worrying stagnation in Missouri's transition to cleaner energy sources. To ensure sustainability while meeting future demands, Missouri must reverse this decline and focus on expanding its low-carbon energy capacity.
Suggestions
One pathway for Missouri to ramp up its low-carbon energy production is to expand its nuclear facilities, as already demonstrated by Illinois and South Carolina, where nuclear power constitutes more than half of the electricity mix. Such robust use of nuclear energy illustrates the potential for Missouri to enhance its own nuclear capacity. Additionally, states like Iowa and South Dakota have successfully leveraged wind energy, achieving wind generation levels of around 60%. Missouri can also draw lessons from these states to boost its wind energy portfolio. Furthermore, learning from regions with significant solar output, such as Lebanon with 31% and Nevada with nearly 30%, can help Missouri diversify its low-carbon energy mix through solar expansion. By adopting these proven strategies, Missouri can significantly enhance its clean energy contributions while reducing dependency on fossil fuels.
History
Examining Missouri's history of low-carbon electricity generation reveals notable fluctuations, especially within the nuclear sector. In the early 2000s, nuclear energy saw growth, with significant increases in 2006, but also faced setbacks, such as notable falls in 2010 and 2013. This inconsistency was problematic but, encouragingly, there was a considerable positive shift in 2022 marked by a substantial increase of 4.6 TWh. Wind energy showed a promising increase, particularly in 2021 with a 3.2 TWh rise, emphasizing the potential of this sustainable source. Hydropower experienced modest but positive changes over time. Unpredictability has been a challenge, especially with nuclear energy showing a significant decline in recent periods. For Missouri to fortify its clean energy transition, it must address these inconsistencies, especially in nuclear energy, celebrating growth and rectifying declines to secure a more sustainable and consistent low-carbon future.