Ameren Missouri partners with healthcare facility to create solar facility
Ameren Missouri and BJC HealthCare have agreed to build a solar energy generation facility on top of a BJC parking garage at its St. Louis medical campus.
When completed, the project will include more than 4,500 solar panels, which cover the area equivalent of two football fields. The BJC garage is a prime location for solar energy generation because it offers unobstructed exposure to the sky. The facility is expected to generate 1.8 megawatts of energy.
“This innovative program is the first of its kind in St. Louis and it’s a win for everyone. Our customers win through more renewable energy on the grid. BJC HealthCare wins by turning unused space into something productive, and Ameren Missouri wins by expanding our commitment to clean, renewable energy,” Michael Moehn, chairman and president of Ameren Missouri, said.
Ameren Missouri provides electric service to 1.2 million people in the region and natural gas to 127,000 customers. This is Ameren’s first project under its Ameren Missouri’s Solar Partnership program. Through the partnership agreement, BJC HealthCare licenses its property to Ameren Missouri to install equipment to generate solar energy. Ameren Missouri will own and operate the facility.
“We are pleased to join Ameren Missouri in leading the way in the St. Louis community to launch this renewable energy program,” Rich Liekweg, BJC HealthCare president and CEO, said. “While BJC is known for innovation in health care, we also seek to partner with others in ways that promise improvements and progress for our region. We hope to be the first of many organizations to join Ameren Missouri’s Solar Partnership program in creating renewable energy across the state.”
Construction is already underway and will be operational as early as this summer.
