Ameren Missouri receives approval to build a vital dispatchable energy source and completes three solar power generation projects in 2024

ST. LOUIS, Oct 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Ameren Missouri, a subsidiary of Ameren Corporation (NYSE: AEE), received approval from the Missouri Public Service Commission on Wednesday to construct an 800-megawatt (MW), single-cycle natural gas energy center that is expected to be operational will be a reliable backup energy source in 2027. The Castle Bluff Energy Center represents an investment of approx 900 million dollars.

Castle Bluff is designed to provide energy on the coldest winter days and hottest summer afternoons, supporting the electric grid when renewable energy generation is otherwise unavailable.

“Our customers rely on Ameren Missouri to continue investing in reliability, whether through new sources of on-demand energy, including Castle Bluff, or by strengthening the grid by replacing aging infrastructure,” he said Mark BirkChairman and President of Ameren Missouri. “Through these continued investments, we ensure we have a reliable and resilient energy system that can serve our customers today and into the future.”

One of the key aspects of Castle Bluff is the ability to ramp up when needed and quickly change the amount of energy being injected into the grid. Construction on site in Castle Bluff is expected to begin next month and will create hundreds of construction jobs, several permanent jobs, and bring additional tax revenue to the region. Whenever possible, Ameren Missouri engages local and diverse suppliers and contractors. By leveraging existing infrastructure and transmission line access on the site the company already owns, Ameren Missouri can reduce overall construction time and costs for customers.

“When solar energy predictably rises and then falls each day, it is important to have Castle Bluff as a backup and working as a renewable energy partner,” said Ajay AroraSenior Vice President and Chief Development Officer at Ameren Missouri.

Ameren Missouri also announces the acquisition of the Huck Finn Renewable Energy Center, a 200 MW solar facility in Audrain And Rallies Counties in Missouri. Huck Finn is the third utility-scale solar facility Ameren Missouri has acquired this year. The Boomtown and Cass County Renewable Energy Centers were acquired earlier this year. Together, the three solar systems have a total capacity of 500 MW and cause total acquisition costs of approx 900 million dollars. All three are in later stages of development and are expected to begin producing energy for customers by the end of this year.

“We are implementing our strategy to invest in energy infrastructure for the benefit of our customers. These three plants represent the next step in providing our customers with a diverse generation portfolio of cost-effective energy,” said Birk.

Together, the three systems are expected to generate enough energy to power 92,000 households annually.

Ameren Missouri acquired the 150 MW Cass County Renewable Energy Center in June. Located in Cass County, Illinoisit will serve Ameren Missouri’s Renewable Solutions program. The 150 MW Boomtown Renewable Energy Center is here White County, Illinoisand will also serve the Renewable Solutions program. The Boomtown Renewable Energy Center was acquired in late September.

“As the final tests of Huck Finn come to an end, Cass County and Boomtown, we are also working on successfully setting up another 400 MW of solar power in three other projects,” Arora said. “We expect these.” Missouri Projects located in Bowling Green, Vandalia And Warren Countywill be operational by the end of 2025 and in 2026.”

Ameren Missouri continues to execute its Integrated Resource Plan, last updated in September 2023, with anticipated capital expenditures of 6 billion dollars to 2028, including today’s announcement to invest in renewable and dispatchable power generation as part of the Company’s plans to build and maintain a diverse power generation portfolio.

For more details on Ameren Missouri’s most cost-effective approach to meeting customers’ energy needs reliably and in an environmentally friendly manner, visit AmerenMissouri.com/Reliable.

About American Missouri

Ameren Missouri has been providing electric and gas services for more than 100 years. Ameren Missouri’s mission is to improve the quality of life for its 1.2 million electric and 135,000 natural gas customers in Central and Eastern Europe Missouri. The company’s service area covers 64 counties and more than 500 municipalities, including large cities St Louis Area. For more information, visit Ameren.com/Missouri or follow us at @AmerenMissouri or Facebook.com/AmerenMissouri.

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SOURCE Ameren Missouri