Ameren looks to build second solar-generation plant

Ameren Missouri has filed an application with the Missouri Public Service Commission seeking a certificate to construct, own, operate and maintain a solar generating facility in Montgomery County near New Florence.

Although Ameren already owns the land for the proposed solar facility, the company must receive approval from the PSC prior to construction.

Company officials said this would be their second such facility. It is scheduled to be in operation by next October.

Company officials also said the 6-megawatt solar facility is being built based on customer demand with almost 2,000 new customer subscriptions to Ameren Missouri's Community Solar program. Residential and small-business customers from across the state enrolled in the program so they could take part in clean energy generation without having to install panels on their own roofs or property.

All available subscriptions at Ameren's first Community Solar facility, located near St. Louis Lambert International Airport, were filled, and the facility went into service last year.

This is the first of several planned renewable energy projects for Ameren. In the next few months, Ameren officials said, they plan to acquire two Missouri-based wind energy facilities.