Powering significant economic growth through reliable and affordable energy
Thanks to Ameren's competitive rates, reliable service and robust partnerships, more than 2,700 new jobs were created in Missouri and Illinois in 2024
Through the technical assistance it provided to expanding and relocating businesses, Ameren announces it has helped companies create more than 2,700 new jobs in the utility's two-state service territory throughout 2024. In total, these businesses initiated 68 projects and generated over $3.6 billion in capital investment.
To encourage growth and investment, Ameren partners with several state and local economic development agencies to help make its service territory in both states an attractive place to do business.
"Energy reliability and affordability are among the top attributes businesses consider when they are looking to grow or expand," said Rob Dixon, senior director, economic, community and business development for Ameren Missouri. "At Ameren, we are proud to serve as the energy partner in economic development to all our communities across Missouri and Illinois. Our teams help facilitate new projects throughout the entire development process, including community assessments, site selection, infrastructure planning and incentive review."
In 2024, businesses across Ameren Missouri's service territory created 1,574 new jobs and invested $3.1 billion. A few of those businesses include:
Boeing, a leading global aerospace company, is building multiple advanced manufacturing facilities as part of its $1.8 billion expansion at its north St. Louis County operations.
Western Smokehouse Partners, a leading co-manufacturer of meat snacks, will open a facility in Mexico, Missouri, next summer, investing more than $67 million and creating 280 new jobs.
Capital Sand, a supplier of frac sand, invested $6 million to open Missouri's most recent compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station in Cape Girardeau, in October 2024.
"Boeing is bringing the world's most advanced aerospace manufacturing facilities to the St. Louis region, and thanks to our partners at Ameren Missouri, we will create new production capacity and capability using energy-efficient and sustainable strategies," said Dan Gillian, vice president and general manager of Boeing's Air Dominance division. "We appreciate the partnership with Ameren Missouri for their expanded offerings that support our journey toward 100% renewable electricity across the enterprise, decarbonize the local electricity grid and support of the local workforce."
To learn more about how Ameren Missouri is working to make the Show-Me State an attractive place to do business, please visit amerenmissouri.com/ecdev.
Ameren Missouri encourages policymakers to consider legislation reshaping the state's regulatory processes to promote policies to foster new, dispatchable generation in the Show-Me State.
"With power-usage rates expected to set record highs throughout our country in the coming years, now is the time to act to ensure Missouri's electric utility companies can continue to meet the needs of our state's citizens and its businesses," said Warren Wood, vice president of regulatory and legislative affairs for Ameren Missouri. "This legislation is about more than just access to reliable electricity; it's also about economic development and ensuring Missouri continues to be an attractive and affordable place to do business."
According to the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the state has several business-related projects in its planning pipeline requiring more than a gigawatt of power each. These projects represent the potential of thousands of new jobs and billions of dollars of investment in the Show-Me State. Missouri's ability to supply these projects and others with access to reliable energy will be critical to maintaining the state's status as an attractive place to do business.
Under the legislation, the Missouri Public Service Commission would still have broad authority to determine if a project is a reasonable means of meeting the state's needs and interests and to ensure the project is executed in a prudent manner. If a company meets these standards, the legislation is designed to provide a level of regulatory certainty and security for utility companies when it comes to investing hundreds of millions, or in some cases billions, of dollars in new dispatchable generation in the state.
"Missouri law shouldn't disincentivize the state's utility companies from building reliable and on-demand generation — it should support these investments to move our state forward," said Wood.
Several lawmakers prefiled legislation containing the Power Predictability and Reliability Act before the legislative session began on Jan. 8. Those measures include Senate Bill 6, Senate Bill 51, House Bill 445, House Bill 569 and House Bill 713.