ST. LOUIS (Jan. 19, 2022) – Ameren Missouri is joining forces with Delmar DivINe to install solar panels at the nonprofit’s Delmar campus in St. Louis. Energy generated by this project will benefit the surrounding community. The collaboration is part of Ameren Missouri’s Neighborhood Solar program, which takes advantage of underutilized land for solar energy generation – at no cost to the organization.
“Our mission is to be a catalyst for the transformation of the communities north of Delmar Boulevard, and we are always looking for ways to give neighborhoods the up-to-date resources they rightly deserve to build a brighter tomorrow,” said Jorge Riopedre, executive director at Delmar DivINe. “Partnering with Ameren Missouri will help ensure the community we serve has access to a more reliable and efficient energy grid.”
The solar panels will be installed above Delmar DivINe's parking lot on Belt Avenue, creating a solar canopy. The more than 200 nonprofit employees located at Delmar DivINe will benefit from shade and weather protection when parked beneath the panels. In addition, Ameren Missouri will provide efficient LED lighting in the parking lot.
Delmar DivINe opened its doors in late 2021 to serve as a hub for social, economic and community development, especially in north St. Louis City. In addition to the 18,000 sq. ft. of conference and meeting space for the nonprofit agencies on the campus, it will include a minority business incubator, a podcast studio, transit-accessible housing, and a Multipurpose Room that will host a number of community-oriented programs, including activities for older adult and students. Now, with Ameren Missouri’s $1.5 million investment, it will also bring more renewable energy to an underserved portion of St. Louis City.
The solar panels are expected to be in service in 2023 and generating enough energy to power more than 30 homes for a year.
In addition to generating more clean energy for local customers, the project will create more than 20 local construction jobs and provide valuable training opportunities for both the initial installation and ongoing maintenance. The company also plans to provide renewable energy education and outreach to the West End neighborhood. Ameren Corporation is also supporting Delmar DivINe with $300,000 in funding earmarked for their overall mission.
“Ameren Missouri has been intentional about investing in north St. Louis communities, so we’re pleased that Delmar DivINe was open to partnering on this project," said Patrick Smith, vice president of economic, community and business development at Ameren Missouri. “Not only will this installation add jobs and increase awareness of solar energy at the local level, it will also bring tangible benefits to nearby customers. Having renewable energy generation closer to neighborhoods reduces system costs while increasing energy grid reliability and efficiency for everyone.”
Ameren Missouri continues to pursue opportunities to expand its solar generation. In addition to Neighborhood Solar projects, the company is building its largest solar facility ever, located in Montgomery County, Missouri. The facility, visible from I-70 at mile marker 175, is expected to be complete and in service by this summer.
The Neighborhood Solar Program is part of Ameren Missouri’s larger Smart Energy Plan, which launched in 2019 and aims to create cleaner and more reliable energy for its 1.2 million electric customers statewide. Read more about the Smart Energy Plan.
About Ameren Missouri
Ameren Missouri has been providing electric and gas service for more than 100 years, and the company's electric rates are among the lowest in the nation. Ameren Missouri's mission is to power the quality of life for its 1.2 million electric and 132,000 natural gas customers in central and eastern Missouri. The company's service area covers 64 counties and more than 500 communities, including the greater St. Louis area. For more information, visit Ameren.com/Missouri or follow us on Twitter at @AmerenMissouri or Facebook.com/AmerenMissouri.