Ameren wants to build two natural gas-fired power plants in the next ... - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Ameren wants to build two natural gas-fired power plants

Alongside a continued wave of spending on renewable power, Ameren said Tuesday that it aims to build two natural gas-fired power plants, despite its own corporate goals to slash carbon emissions that heat the atmosphere.

The St. Louis-based electric utility’s plans to turn toward “new on-demand energy sources,” such as natural gas, is highlighted in its newly released 20-year plan.

In it, Ameren cites energy reliability as a focal point and rationale for a diverse mix of power sources as its coal plants— which currently provide the bulk of its generation — approach retirement.

Ameren plans to get one new, 800-megawatt natural gas plant in service by 2027, while the completion of a previously announced, 1,200-megawatt gas plant is now targeted for 2033, instead of 2031. The delay will accommodate the planned 2032 retirement of Ameren’s coal-fired Sioux Energy Center.

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The blueprint outlined by the utility, called an Integrated Resource Plan, is not binding and would still require approval from state utility regulators before coming to fruition. And some have previously voiced skepticism about whether Ameren’s plans to pursue generation from natural gas will happen at all — even before Tuesday’s expansion of that vision — largely due to the expected costs, while also questioning the need for such projects.

Beyond a growing emphasis on natural gas, Ameren’s new forecast offered other insights on how the utility aims to navigate the next couple decades and accelerate some investments. The company plans to put $1.3 billion toward 800 megawatts of battery storage projects, half of which would be in service by 2030 — five years sooner than previous targets.

And Ameren Missouri accelerated its planned additions of renewable energy projects by four years, with 4,700 megawatts of new capacity targeted by 2036 — a potential investment of $9.5 billion.

But targeted closures for the company’s remaining fleet of three coal plants have not changed.

"Thoughtfully integrating a new, diverse mix of generation sources while maintaining the availability of our existing energy centers through retirement is essential for a reliable, resilient and affordable clean energy future," said Mark Birk, chairman and president of Ameren Missouri, in a statement accompanying the plan.

This story will be updated.
Photographs from St. Louis Post-Dispatch staff and freelancers for the week beginning Sept. 17, 2023. Video by Beth O'Malley