GM can move forward with expansion in Wentzville
General Motors can move forward on a proposed $380 million expansion of its plant in Wentzville, now that a union has approved local work rules for the plant. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that members of United Auto Workers Local 2250 approved the four-year local work rules contract on Thursday. GM has said the expansion will create up to 1,850 jobs for the region. GM plans to build a new mid-size pickup at Wentzville as part of the expansion.
The St. Louis region once boasted three major auto plants. But Chrysler closed two plants in Wentzville in 2008 and 2009, and Ford shut down its Hazelwood plant in 2006.
Cards face the Phillies in Game 5 tonight
All-Star pitchers Chris Carpenter and Roy Halladay take the mound tonight to determine whether St. Louis or Philadelphia advances to the NL championship series. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa calls the Game 5 starters a "dream matchup." The Cardinals beat the Phillies on Wednesday to even the series at two games apiece.
New ballot measure would require Mo. utilities to use more renewable energy
Voters approved a 2008 law requiring investor-owned utilities to use gradually increasing amounts of renewable energy to produce electricity. It called for utilities to use renewables for 15 percent of their electricity by 2021. Electric rate increases were capped at 1 percent. But implementing that law has faced stumbling blocks.
PJ Wilson, who pushed for the 2008 law, says he plans to submit a new initiative that could appear on the 2012 ballot. It would address whether renewable energy sources must be produced or sold in Missouri to count. The new proposal also would require that renewables be used for 25 percent of electricity by 2026.
