Data centers in Missouri

📜 State laws

Senate Bill 4 (2025): big power users must pay their own costs · 2025
SB 4 is a large utility law signed by Governor Kehoe in 2025. For data centers, the key part (section 393.130) says big electric utilities must create special rates for customers that use a lot of power: 100 megawatts or more for utilities with over 250,000 customers (Ameren Missouri, Evergy), and 50 megawatts or more for smaller ones (Liberty). These rates must make big users pay their share of costs, so other customers are not charged unfair costs. The same law lets utilities charge customers for new gas power plants while they are still being built (until 2035, maybe 2045), allows a 'future test year' in rate cases from July 1, 2026, and extends the hot- and cold-weather rules that stop shut-offs to 72 hours of forecast. SB 4 covers only the utilities the Public Service Commission regulates, not city-owned utilities or electric co-ops. Source

2026 session: no data center bill passed · May 2026
Lawmakers passed 100 bills in the 2026 session, but none was about data centers. HB 3362 (the 'AI Infrastructure Grid Integrity and Water Resources Protection Act') got the only hearing, in March 2026, and never came to a vote. Governor Kehoe supports more data centers and said he will not call a special session on them. New bills can be filed for the session that starts in January 2027. Source

HB 3362 (2026): water permits and costs for data centers (did not pass) · March 2026
HB 3362 would have made city-owned electric utilities and electric co-ops create special rates for customers of 50 megawatts or more, and made water systems do the same for customers using over 2 million gallons a day. It would have required a new state water permit from the Department of Natural Resources to use more than 2 million gallons a day, with notice to the county and a 30-day public comment period, and a plan to cut power to large users first in a grid emergency. It had a hearing in March 2026 with strong public support but no vote. Source

HB 3369 (2026): pause on data centers in the City of St. Louis (did not pass) · 2026
HB 3369 would have stopped the processing or approval of any new or bigger data center in the City of St. Louis until August 28, 2027. A second bill by the same sponsor would have required more environmental and health reports from data centers. Neither passed. Source

Ideas for 2027: ban secret deals, water permits, noise rules · Sept 17, 2026
Several lawmakers say they will file data center bills in January 2027. Rep. Tricia Byrnes wants to ban secret deals (NDAs) that keep officials from getting information, define 'hyperscale' data centers, and add noise standards and water permits. The House Future Caucus released a guide for towns weighing data center projects (August 2026). A House hearing planned for September 16, 2026, was canceled; about 200 people rallied at the Capitol that day for a statewide pause on data centers. Source

💡 Who pays for the power

Evergy large load rate plan (75 MW and up) · Nov 13, 2025
On November 13, 2025, the Public Service Commission approved Evergy's large load rate plan for Evergy Missouri Metro and Evergy Missouri West (case EO-2025-0154). It took effect December 13, 2025. It applies to new or growing customers of 75 megawatts or more. Contracts last at least 12 years, plus up to 5 years to ramp up. Customers post collateral equal to 2 years of minimum bills and pay exit fees if they leave early. Most parties signed the deal, including Google and the Sierra Club, but PSC staff and the Office of Public Counsel (which speaks for homes and small businesses) did not. Source

Ameren Missouri large load rate plan (75 MW and up) · Nov 24, 2025
On November 24, 2025, the Public Service Commission approved Ameren Missouri's large load customer rate plan (case ET-2025-0184). It applies to customers asking for 75 megawatts or more. Contracts last 12 years after a ramp-up period. Customers pay at least 80% of the power they signed up for each month, give 2 years' notice before leaving, pay exit fees, and post collateral equal to 2 years of minimum bills. Customers can pay extra to support solar, batteries or nuclear. Source

Liberty (Empire) large load rates: still being decided · Sept 14, 2026
Liberty, the third regulated electric utility, opened its large load case (ET-2026-0184) in January 2026 and filed its proposed rates on September 11, 2026. On September 14, 2026, the commission suspended the proposed rates while it reviews them and set a deadline for groups to join the case. The public can send comments online. Source

Smaller data centers and co-op areas are not covered · July 1, 2026
The special data center rates start at 75 megawatts. The Missouri Coalition for the Environment says projects below that size do not get these protections. The rates also apply only to Ameren, Evergy and Liberty, not to city-owned utilities or electric co-ops; a 2026 bill to cover those (HB 3362) did not pass. Source

Recent bill increases · Feb 6, 2026
Ameren Missouri: the commission approved a $355 million increase in April 2025; the average home bill went up about $14 a month from June 1, 2025. Evergy Missouri Metro (Kansas City area) asked on February 6, 2026, for a $140.4 million (15.19%) increase, about $17.70 a month for an average home, to start in January 2027. Evergy says no data center costs are in that request. Source

New gas plant approved partly for data centers · Feb 11, 2026
On February 11, 2026, the Public Service Commission let Ameren Missouri build the Big Hollow Energy Center at the old Rush Island coal plant in Jefferson County: an 800-megawatt gas plant plus 400 megawatts of batteries. Ameren said it is needed partly for new large data centers. Its cost was kept secret (redacted) in the filing. Under SB 4, Ameren can ask to charge customers for it while it is being built. Source

💵 Tax breaks

State and local sales tax break for data centers · 2018
Since 2015, a new data center can skip 100% of state and local sales and use taxes on its electricity, gas, water and internet service, its machines and computers, and its building materials, for up to 15 years. To qualify, it must invest at least $25 million within 3 years and create at least 10 new jobs paying at least 150% of the county average wage. Expansions need $5 million and 5 jobs, for up to 10 years. The break is capped at the state's projected 'net fiscal benefit' over 10 years. The Department of Economic Development approves it. The state does not publish how much it costs, because the amounts are kept confidential. Source

Local property tax breaks through 'Chapter 100' bonds · June 11, 2026
Cities and counties can cut a data center's property taxes by issuing 'Chapter 100' industrial revenue bonds: the local government owns the property on paper and leases it back, and the company pays smaller 'payments in lieu of taxes' (PILOTs) instead. Examples: Montgomery County approved up to $100 billion in bonds for Google in June 2026 (a 70% cut on equipment taxes for 25 years, full tax on land and buildings); In March 2026 Independence approved Chapter 100 bonds for the Nebius project with a 20-year cut on real and personal property taxes and no sales tax on building materials. Each deal is voted on by the local council or county commission. Source

🤐 Secret deals and public records

Missouri Sunshine Law: how to get public records · 2004
Anyone can ask a Missouri city, county, school district or state agency for public records. The office must act on the request as soon as possible and no later than the end of the third business day after it gets it. If it needs more time it must explain why and give a date. If it says no, you can ask for a written reason citing the law. Copies cost up to 10 cents a page, plus staff time; you can ask for a cost estimate first. Source

If an office breaks the Sunshine Law · Feb 17, 2026
You can sue in circuit court. You must sue within one year after you could find out about the violation, and no later than two years after it happened. A court can fine an office or official up to $1,000 for a knowing violation and up to $5,000 for a purposeful one, and order it to pay your legal costs. The Attorney General can also enforce the law. Example: in February 2026 a Montgomery County residents' group sued the county over its data center approvals, saying it held unlawful closed meetings, gave poor notice of meetings, and charged $200 to $700 for records requests. Source

What officials may keep secret during data center talks · Oct 7, 2026
Local bodies can meet and keep records closed about buying, selling or leasing land when publicity could change the price, but the final vote and contract must be made public once signed. Sealed bids and papers about a negotiated contract can stay closed until the contract is signed. Records given to the state Department of Economic Development about a company's investment or business plans, or about a company it is negotiating with, may be closed. Source

Secret deals (NDAs) are not banned · June 23, 2026
No Missouri law bans local officials from signing secret deals (NDAs) about data centers. In Montgomery County, where Google and Amazon are building, all three county commissioners signed NDAs in July 2025; a lawyer for residents says state law does not let county commissioners sign NDAs, while a commissioner says the NDAs were about a road move, not the data centers. Rep. Tricia Byrnes plans a 2027 bill to ban NDAs that block officials from information. Source

💧 Water

No state permit is needed to use large amounts of water · July 1, 2026
Missouri does not require a state permit to pump or take large amounts of water. Anyone able to take 100,000 gallons or more a day from a stream, lake or well must only register with the Department of Natural Resources (a 'major water user'). A 2026 bill (HB 3362) would have required a permit to use more than 2 million gallons a day, but it did not pass. Example: Amazon says its Montgomery County data centers will need about 49 million gallons of well water a year. Source

Water from a city or water district · Oct 7, 2026
Many data centers buy water from a city utility, a public water supply district or a private water company. The city council or district board decides whether to serve them and at what price. The Department of Natural Resources posts draft water permits, such as wastewater (state operating) permits, for public comment. Source

🌫️ Air and generators

Air permits for backup diesel generators (DNR) · May 2026
The Department of Natural Resources Air Pollution Control Program issues construction permits for data center backup generators. Example: in March 2026 Amazon applied for a 'Section 6' minor construction permit for its New Florence data center with 476 large (2.75 MW) diesel generators plus smaller ones, asking for a site-wide limit of 99 tons of nitrogen oxides a year to stay below the 100-ton level that needs a stricter federal (Title V) permit. DNR posts draft permits for comment on its Air Public Notices page; draft construction permits are usually open for 40 days. Source

New utility power plants: approved by the Public Service Commission · Feb 11, 2026
When Ameren, Evergy or Liberty wants to build a new power plant, the Public Service Commission must grant a certificate (CCN) and holds public hearings. Example: the Big Hollow gas plant (800 MW) and batteries in Jefferson County, approved February 11, 2026, after a virtual public hearing. Source

🙋 How to have your say

Who decides a data center near you · Oct 7, 2026
Inside a city, town or village, the city council or board of aldermen decides zoning, usually after the planning and zoning commission. Outside city limits, the county commission decides, but only if the county has adopted zoning. In most counties, zoning must first be approved by county voters, and many rural counties have none, so there may be no local zoning vote at all. In counties with township government, a township can adopt its own zoning only by a public vote, where the county has no zoning. Source

How rezoning hearings work · Oct 7, 2026
A city must hold a public hearing before it changes zoning, with at least 15 days' notice in a local newspaper. Anyone can speak. If owners of 30% or more of the land being rezoned, or of the land within 185 feet of it, sign a formal protest, the change needs a two-thirds vote of the full council. Counties have a similar rule: a written protest by owners of 30% of nearby frontage means the county commission needs a two-thirds vote. Source

Appeal deadlines · Oct 7, 2026
If a city board of adjustment grants or denies a variance or permit, anyone harmed by the decision can ask the circuit court to review it within 30 days after the decision is filed. Sunshine Law lawsuits must be filed within one year after the problem could be found, and no later than two years. Source

How to ask for records (Sunshine request) · Oct 7, 2026
Write to the city clerk, county clerk or agency records custodian. Name the records you want (for example: 'all agreements, NDAs, emails and letters with [company] about the proposed data center since January 2025'). Anyone may ask. They must answer by the end of the third business day. Ask for a cost estimate first. Source

How to comment at the Public Service Commission · Oct 7, 2026
Every utility case has a number (for example ET-2026-0184 for Liberty's data center rates). You can send a public comment online through the commission's EFIS system or its website, and attend local public hearings in rate cases. The Office of the Public Counsel represents homes and small businesses in these cases. Source

How to comment on air permits · Oct 7, 2026
Check DNR's Air Public Notices page for draft permits near you. Most comment periods are 30 days; draft construction permits are usually 40 days. The notice lists who to email or call. Source

🧾 Help with your bills

LIHEAP: help paying heating and cooling bills · Oct 7, 2026
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program gives a one-time payment for heating or cooling costs from October to May. The Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) helps if you have a shut-off notice or are almost out of fuel: up to $800 in winter (November to May) and $300 in summer (June to September), while money lasts. Apply online, by mail or in person through your local contracted agency, or call 855-373-4636. Decisions take about 30 business days unless it is a crisis. Source

Hot and cold weather shut-off protection · 2025
Utilities may not shut off home electric or gas service for unpaid bills from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. when the weather service forecasts above 95°F in the next 72 hours (June 1 to September 30), or below 32°F in the next 72 hours (November 1 to March 31). SB 4 (2025) set these 72-hour rules. Source

📞 Who to contact

Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) · Oct 7, 2026
Sets rates and rules for the regulated utilities Ameren Missouri, Evergy and Liberty, including data center rates. Takes public comments and consumer complaints. Source

PSC case filings (EFIS) · Oct 7, 2026
Online system with every utility case file, order and public comment. Source

Office of the Public Counsel · Oct 7, 2026
State office that speaks for homes and small businesses in utility cases. Source

Department of Natural Resources: Air Pollution Control Program · Oct 7, 2026
Issues air permits for data center generators and power plants; posts draft permits for comment. Source

Department of Natural Resources: water · Oct 7, 2026
Keeps the major water user registry and issues water discharge permits; posts water notices. Source

Department of Economic Development · Oct 7, 2026
Approves the state data center sales tax break. Source

Attorney General: Sunshine Law · Oct 7, 2026
Can enforce the Sunshine Law and publishes guidance on records requests. Source

Missouri House of Representatives · Oct 7, 2026
Bill text, summaries and hearing schedules. Source

Missouri Senate · Oct 7, 2026
Bill text and status for Senate bills. Source

Department of Social Services: LIHEAP · Oct 7, 2026
Runs energy bill help (LIHEAP and ECIP). Source