Maryland Heights, MO. (May 25, 2023) – The future is bright at the Maryland Heights Community Center, thanks in part to the completion of a new solar array in its parking lot. Made possible through Ameren Missouri’s Neighborhood Solar Program, the array will provide more clean energy for the community at no added cost to the city.
The canopy-style panels maximize existing space and add shade and weather protection for parking at the community center without losing a single spot. Together, the 1,335 solar modules will provide about 500 kilowatts of energy per year, which is equivalent to the energy used by about 55 homes over that same time.
“Partnering with Ameren Missouri on this project was a win for Maryland Heights and the region,” said Mike Moeller, mayor of Maryland Heights. “They handled the construction and did an excellent job of minimizing impacts to regular operations during the installation process. Now we can all benefit from a new, renewable source of energy for decades to come.”
Ameren Missouri’s Neighborhood Solar Program utilizes existing buildings, parking lots and land for solar energy generation. It also creates local jobs and provides valuable training opportunities for not only the initial installation, but for ongoing maintenance. Installations are currently under construction at Delmar Divine in the city of St. Louis, and at Ameren-owned facilities in both north St. Louis city and Jefferson County.
“With the city of Maryland Heights, we have built one of the region’s highest-profile solar arrays to produce clean energy, supporting the city’s sustainability efforts which will benefit the residents here and across North County for years to come,” said Tara Oglesby, vice president of economic, community, and business development at Ameren Missouri. “It’s also one of the most recent examples of the investments Ameren Missouri has made in the region to upgrade aging infrastructure and modernize the energy grid through our Smart Energy Plan.”
North County Incorporated recently presented Ameren Missouri with a Community Development Leadership Award, recognizing the positive impact the project has already had on the region.
This development is a major milestone for the City of Maryland Heights, which has a multitude of sustainability efforts currently underway. Another major public-private partnership for the City, the Waste Connections Sustainability Center, is nearing completion, and will provide greenhouse space for Maryland Heights as well as classroom space for educational programs. In addition, Maryland Heights is a proud participant in the Tree City USA program and holds programming to educate residents of all ages on environmentalism and sustainability.
The City of Maryland Heights and Ameren Missouri will be having a ribbon cutting on Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. on the north parking lot of the Maryland Heights Community Center, 2300 McKelvey Road, Maryland Heights, MO 63043. Speakers from the City of Maryland Heights and Ameren will be present to give more information about the project and future sustainability efforts. We invite the public and the media to attend for more information.
About Maryland Heights
The City of Maryland Heights is home to more than 28,000 residents, 1,900 businesses, 4,000 hotel rooms, and numerous dining, recreation, and entertainment opportunities. Every year, the City welcomes approximately 9 million visitors. Since incorporation in 1985, the City has seen significant growth, both residential and commercial. The City’s mission is to provide superior municipal services in a safe and appealing setting in order to attract and retain residents committed to our city, thriving businesses, and premier hospitality venues. For more information, visit MarylandHeights.com.
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 135,000 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.