Smart Energy Plan Drives Economic Development in Southeast Missouri
Upgrades designed to storm harden the area's electric grid, making it more resilient and reliable
In late 2025, Amazon opened a $15 million last-mile delivery station in Scott City, Missouri. As the first development to open in the SEMO Industrial Park, the facility aims to boost the company's ability to deliver in rural areas throughout the region. To support the power needs of the new facility and the rest of the SEMO Industrial Park, Ameren Missouri utilized its Smart Energy Plan to ensure the area had access to resilient and reliable power.
As part of the project in Scott City, crews built a new, storm-hardened power line to serve the SEMO Industrial Park and its tenants. The project included the addition of a mile of new overhead power lines, built with composite power poles at strategic intervals. These hardened fiberglass poles are stronger than traditional wooden poles and work to anchor the system during periods of severe weather or an outage — preventing cascading damage and often speeding restoration times.
Ameren Missouri's Smart Energy Plan project serving Amazon and the SEMO Industrial Park aims to ensure the area has access to reliable power.
“Reliable power is a driving force for growth and economic development,” said Shad Burner, CEO of SEMO REDI, a regional economic development group. “Ameren Missouri’s efforts to modernize and strengthen the electric grid support our goal of attracting businesses, jobs and investment throughout the southeast Missouri region.”
While these efforts aim to position Amazon and the SEMO Industrial Park for success for the foreseeable future, it isn't Ameren Missouri's only project in the area. Also in 2025, crews rebuilt 9 miles of subtransmission lines and 7 miles of distribution lines serving Scott City. The rebuilt subtransmission lines include not only composite power poles but specialized T-2 wire. This steel-reinforced conductor is designed to reduce galloping that occurs when smaller wires are tossed about due to strong winds.
“Wind and ice can be big challenges for reliability of the grid here in southeast Missouri,” said Russ Burger, director of Ameren Missouri’s Southeast Missouri division. “On a windy day you can literally see the difference. Where we’ve upgraded to T-2 wire, the lines are barely moving. That's how the Smart Energy Plan helps ensure our customers are better protected from the impacts of severe weather.”
Upgrades to the subtransmission and distribution lines feeding Scott City will support increased reliability for more than 4,500 residents and businesses. Similar T-2 wire upgrades were completed in 2023, supporting commerce and shipping activities at SEMO Port in Scott City.
To learn more about Ameren Missouri's Smart Energy Plan, please visit AmerenMissouri.com/plan.