Governor Jay Nixon is pushing back the deadline for the state's Division of Energy to devise a comprehensive statewide energy plan.
Nixon said Friday that he was extending the deadline from May 31 to October 15 to allow the division more time to gather input from the public.
The governor appointed a group including consumers, businesses, utilities, energy companies, academics, local governments and environmentalists when he issued an executive order last year directing the division to craft a state energy plan.
Nixon said the plan will help guide Missouri in meeting future energy needs and encouraging economic development related to energy.
This year, Republican lawmakers unsuccessfully attempted to pass a measure that would have required legislative approval of any state energy plan.