Department of Natural Resources Awards More Than $183,000 Loan for Energ…

Midway R-I School District to build solar project

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, SEPT. 23, 2025 - The Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Energy Loan Program has awarded a low-interest loan of $183,486 to assist the Midway R-I School District with an energy efficiency project. It will include eight ground-mounted solar arrays totaling 155 kilowatt capacity to help offset electricity use in the K-12 facility.

The project, which is expected to benefit more than 530 Missourians, is anticipated to result in annual energy savings of approximately $20,977. The applicant will repay the loan with money saved on energy costs as a result of the energy efficiency project. In addition, the project will reduce electricity use by more than 218,146 kilowatt hours and avoiding nearly 203 metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution. This equates to removing 47.3 passenger cars from the road for a year.

"The Energy Loan Program provides the opportunity to make improvements by installing energy efficient innovations," said Emily Wilbur, director of MoDNR's Division of Energy. "The program stimulates Missouri's economy by saving taxpayer money, allowing the applicants to redirect savings toward other priorities."

Since the Energy Loan Program's inception in 1989, the department's Division of Energy has awarded more than 630 loans representing more than $120 million in completed energy efficiency projects and more than $235 million in estimated cumulative energy savings. Through the Division of Energy, low-interest loans for the fiscal year 2025 cycle were provided to public schools, public higher education institutions and local governments to help reduce energy costs. Loan financing may be used for various energy-saving investments such as insulation, lighting systems, heating and cooling systems, combined heat and power systems, pumps, motors, aerators, renewable energy systems and other measures that reduce energy use and cost.

To learn more about the Energy Loan Program, please visit dnr.mo.gov/energy/financial-assistance-opportunities or contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Division of Energy at 573-751-2254 or toll-free at 855-522-2796.