Latest Ameren Missouri acquisition pushes total new wind energy offerings to 700 MW

With the closure of a deal on the 300 MW Atchison Renewable Energy Center in northwest Missouri, Ameren Missouri could add as much as 700 MW of in-state wind generation to the grid this year.

While the Atchison purchase isn’t operating at full capacity yet, due to ongoing construction on some of its turbines, approximately 100 MW are now in service. Another 50 to 75 MW should be up and running by the end of March, with the remainder to come online later this year. This energy will be paired with the offerings provided by the 400 MW High Prairie Renewable Energy Center that began operations in December.

The acquisitions are the latest long-term shifts for Ameren.

“Ameren Missouri is taking major steps forward in our transformation to clean energy with the addition of these two large facilities,” Marty Lyons, chairman and president of Ameren Missouri, said. “We’re planning for the long term with deep carbon reductions to achieve our goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.”

Between the two new facilities, Ameren has invested approximately $1.1 billion into that clean energy approach. This fits into recently release plans that call for investing around $4.5 billion for a return of 3,100 MW of renewable generation by 2030.

“Missouri-based clean energy is good for our customers, the environment, and the economy,” Ajay Arora, chief renewable development officer at Ameren Missouri, said. “The ongoing operation of these facilities is the next step in getting the energy we provide as clean as we can, as fast as we can, without compromising on reliability or affordability.”

Invenergy is handling the ongoing construction at Atchison.