New Florence, Mo. (June 5, 2024) – Today, Ameren Missouri announced plans to build a new solar facility alongside the existing Montgomery Community Solar Center in New Florence, an hour west of St. Louis. The site, which will be part of Ameren Missouri’s Community Solar program, fills the demand created by more than 4,700 customers from across the state who want to expand their use of renewable energy.
Editors: A media kit with solar generation site videos and photos is available here.
“Customers continue to find the Community Solar program an easy way to grow their use of renewable energy, without having to install or maintain a single solar panel at their home,” said Greg Lovett, program manager for Community Solar at Ameren Missouri. “While we're meeting the subscriber's needs, all customers will benefit from the increase in renewable energy and reduced emissions.”
The proposed 7 megawatt (MW) New Florence Community Solar Center is subject to approval by the Missouri Public Service Commission. If approved, construction could begin as early as spring of next year and could begin serving customers in 2026. It will be the third community solar center Ameren Missouri has built since the program's inception. The first installation at St. Louis Lambert International Airport went into service in 2019. The Montgomery facility began serving customers in 2022.
Through Ameren’s Community Solar program, customers can choose as much as 100% of their energy usage to be sourced from one of the company’s dedicated Community Solar facilities.
This is the latest project to be part of Ameren Missouri's planned addition of 2,800 MW in new renewable generation by 2030. Today’s announcement comes soon after Ameren Missouri received approval for its largest ever solar investment, giving permission to build or acquire solar projects capable of powering approximately 73,000 homes, with facilities scheduled to go into service in 2025 and 2026.
All of the solar projects support Ameren’s company-wide goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2045. The goal is consistent with the objectives of the Paris Agreement and limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This goal encompasses both Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, including other greenhouse gas emissions of methane, nitrous oxide and sulfur hexafluoride. The goal depends on a variety of factors, including cost-effective advancements in innovative clean energy technologies and constructive federal and state energy and economic policies. Interim targets include reducing carbon emissions 60% by 2030 and 85% by 2040, in each case based on 2005 levels.
The proposed New Florence Community Solar Center is over 80% subscribed. Customers can take part in the program by joining the waitlist for this and future facilities. To enroll in Community Solar, customers can log in to their Ameren Missouri account or call 800.552.7583.
About Ameren Missouri
Ameren Missouri has been providing electric and gas service for more than 100 years. 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 at @AmerenMissouri or Facebook.com/AmerenMissouri.