Smart Energy Plan project supports growth and reliability in Soulard

Project aids major expansion at Anheuser-Busch and surrounding community

Ameren Missouri's latest Smart Energy Plan project aims to support reliability and new growth opportunities for St. Louis' Soulard neighborhood, while also supporting a major expansion at Anheuser-Busch. The brewery has invested more than $160 million in its St. Louis campus in the past five years, adding new production facilities and a workforce development center among other improvements.

To power these new investments, Ameren Missouri built a new substation to replace the current one serving the brewery's campus and the surrounding area. The new, three-unit substation is located across from the brewery, on a previously vacant lot. The existing substation is near the end of its expected lifespan — many of its components were originally installed in the 1970s. It also does not have the capacity to reliably manage the new load from the company's expansion project.

Crews work to set equipment at Ameren Missouri's new substation in Soulard.

“This project allows us to retire equipment that has been in service for half a century, while providing the necessary, modern infrastructure to support the Soulard area, Anheuser-Busch and its flagship brewery here in St. Louis. Ameren is proud to continue supporting business and economic growth in the area,” said Darnell Sanders, director of Ameren Missouri's Underground Division.

Given its location, the new substation site includes a partial brick enclosure to help it blend seamlessly with the historic architecture of the Anheuser-Busch campus. The new substation, part of Ameren Missouri’s Smart Energy Plan, was placed in service in December 2024. To learn more about the Smart Energy Plan, please visit AmerenMissouri.com/Plan.