Ameren outlines plans to provide more clean energy

Ameren Corporation outlined the steps the company is taking to provide affordable energy in an environmentally responsible manner to customers in a new report.

The report, Building a Cleaner Energy Future, details Ameren’s strategy for balancing key climate risks with customer costs and reliability. Specifically, it outlines how Ameren is moving toward cleaner energy to achieve a goal of an 80 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2050, as compared to 2005 levels. It also examines how Ameren Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), is expected to deliver significant carbon reduction in accordance with the 2-degree Celsius goal contemplated by the Paris Agreement. Further, it looks at how more stringent emission reduction requirements could affect Ameren’s plan.

“We are executing a comprehensive and balanced strategy that will meet the long-term energy needs of our customers in a safe, reliable and cost-effective manner, while significantly reducing carbon emissions and managing other key risks,” Warner Baxter, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Ameren, said. “Looking ahead, we will continue to invest in critical energy infrastructure and foster innovation as we remain focused on building a brighter and cleaner energy future for our customers, the communities we serve and our country.”

Ameren Missouri is planning to add at least 700 megawatts (MW) of new wind generation by 2020 and 100 MW of solar generation by 2027. Ameren Missouri has already entered into agreements to buy two wind generation facilities for 400 MW. Also, the company plans to retire its 832 MW fossil-fuel-fired Meramec Energy Center in 2022.

“We are committed to do our part to protect and preserve the environment,” Gwen Mizell, senior director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Ameren, said. “This report details our robust and thoughtful plan that will deliver results to benefit our customers and other stakeholders for generations.”