ST. LOUIS (September 8, 2022) – Ameren Missouri announces today that its next two solar energy generation sites include its first large-scale solar installations in north St. Louis city and Jefferson County. The announcement comes shortly after Ameren Missouri announced plans to acquire its largest-ever solar facility.
“These next two sites were chosen for the positive impact they'll provide for decades to come,” said Mark Birk, chairman and president of Ameren Missouri. “In addition to producing clean energy, they will also provide jobs and important apprenticeships for underserved communities to learn about the ever-expanding field of clean energy installation."
Cumulatively, Ameren Missouri’s two new solar energy canopies will utilize nearly 1,200 solar panels and span an area approximately the size of approximately two football fields. These two installations, which are the latest locations in the company's Neighborhood Solar program, will utilize diverse suppliers for design and construction, creating more than a dozen jobs. Several pre-apprentices from diverse local communities will be involved in construction, giving them hands-on experience in the growing solar installation industry.
Ameren Missouri anticipates these solar energy sites will begin generating enough clean energy to power approximately 55 homes by the end of 2023. The north St. Louis site will be at Interstate 70 and Union Boulevard at Ameren Missouri’s North Metro Operating Center. The Jefferson County site will be at the Ameren Missouri’s Jefferson District Operating Center in House Springs.
As part of its Neighborhood Solar program, Ameren Missouri is partnering with organizations across the state to install and maintain solar arrays on their parking lots, enabling organizations to participate in generating clean energy without any cost to them. These locations are helping Ameren Missouri grow clean energy generation across the state as part of the company’s commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2045.
Increased solar generation is a pillar in Ameren Missouri’s Smart Energy Plan to deliver clean, reliable energy. The Smart Energy Plan includes investments in new power lines, stronger poles, upgraded substations and more smart technology to minimize outages and reduce the duration when an outage does occur. To date, Ameren Missouri has completed more than 2,000 Smart Energy Plan projects.
“Ameren Missouri's Smart Energy Plan is enhancing reliability and providing smarter energy infrastructure throughout the state,” added Birk. “We are already hearing from customers that our investments in clean and reliable energy, along with a competitive economic development incentive, are boosting economic development because businesses can operate more efficiently and expand more rapidly.”
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.