Ameren Missouri to acquire 150 MW solar facility to support 10 new organizational partnerships

Following news that 10 new organizations had partnered with it last week to purchase up to 100 percent of their energy from renewable generation, Ameren Missouri added that it will purchase a 150 MW solar facility in Illinois to provide for them.

The company’s new partners in its Renewable Solutions program, created specifically for them, include:

• Bi-State Development
• bioMérieux
• Emerson
• General Motors
• Mastercard
• SSM Health
• Walmart

The facility being created to supply them is under development by Invenergy and could begin service in 2024 at the earliest. Once operational, it will provide the equivalent of powering nearly 27,500 homes annually.

“It’s clear many business customers share our vision of a sustainable energy future and are seeking to power their operations with clean energy,” said Patrick Smith, vice president of economic, community, and business development at Ameren Missouri. “We created the Renewable Solutions program as an easy way for these customers to take an active role in reducing carbon emissions across the region.”

That program offers Renewable Energy Credits for organizations’ participation, which allows them proof of their reduction in emissions. It will offer predictable pricing while avoiding the large capital investment involved in producing one’s solar facilities. The program could also expand in the future, with further options for commercial, industrial, and governmental customers. Small businesses and residential customers already have their own options, such as Ameren Missouri’s Community Solar program.

Yet the company added that, even for those not a part of the new program, all will benefit from more clean energy on the grid at a lower cost, increased economic activity, and a positive move toward net-zero carbon emissions. Ameren intends to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2045.

“We know that reaching our goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2045 will take innovative solutions and partnerships,” Mark Birk, chairman and president of Ameren Missouri, said. “This creative partnership with local businesses and organizations is just one of the ways that we’re working to increase the amount of clean energy on the grid while still maintaining the affordability and reliability our customers expect.”